Mower County transcript., 1869-12-30


From the New York Sun. Dec. IL. .ssesszz
Souie years ago gentleman OF wealth,
residing in Albany, became involved il do-
mestic difficulties which eliminated In q
separation. Broken hearted, wretched and
wreckless, Gen. Ransom came 10 New York,
purchased an elegant brown stone mansion
adjoining an Episcopal church in one of
the fashionable ttreets up town, and OPEN
ed n flrst-class gambling establishment. :
The elegance and liberality OF the house
led many to predict that its grandeur could
be but temporary-that no faro bank could
sustain my such palace. All predictions
proved false, and to-day Gen. Ransom's
gambling house, not one thousand miles
from Chamberlain establishment in Twen-
ty-fifth street, is one OF the most sumptu-
GUS and most extensively patronized of any
in the United States.
The house is 5Ox15O, four stories high,
brown stone front, high stoop, and fur
nished throughout luxuriously. At the
ringing of the bell therimmense plate glass
doors arc opened, and q young colored boy
appears and ushers you into the drawing
room. A stranger is at once struck with
the magnifcence of the apartment. The
main parlor is long room, artistically
frescoed and elaborately furnished, and car
peted with velvet medallion. Between
the front windows is q long French mirror
stretching from ceiling to floor, and on it's
sides hang heavy blue satin curtains over
white lace. Mirrors are hung over the two
mantelpieces, which are of solid black wal
nut hung with blue and gold, and amirror
is iniaid in the back Of every door in the
entire house.. ~ = 'iHji} @ s
In the centre of the room is long black
walnut table,. where every night at eleven
O'Clock supper is served-supp that can
not he bought-suppers that would delight
the palate Of Epicurus. The steward Of the
establishment does not hesitate to boast
that no other man in the United States can
serve the suppers he does, and certainly he
should BE- permitted to indulge in little
egotism. Everybody is welcome. is pressed
to sit uown and eat as much as he will, free
of I'LL expense, whether inclined to gamble
or not. There is no obligation-the cour-
teous and handsome proprietor seeming to
be pleased that you enjoy the repast. Two
colorens servants noiselessly glide about
with silver trays, and it is q rule of the
house that they never accept fee, the
wages they receive being sufficient compen-
satisn for their services Two great side
boards, loaded with fruits and wine, stand
in the room close to the wall. Any one is
FREQ to call for liquors and cigars, and to
offer money in payment is an insult.
The wallis Of this banquet hall are fres-
coed in blue and gold; all the furniture
mounting dozen globes each, flooding
the room with gaslighI; and the oil paint
ings on the wall are valuable. In the par
lor there is no evidence OF gambling-no
tables, nor apparatus Of any description.
The men sit around in easy chairs, read,
|'smoke and talk. No singing, whistline or
dlsorderly conduct is allowed, and at all
times the profoundest quiet prevails. Ad-
joining the parlor is the faro bank.
You enter beneath q beautifully frescoed
arch into q large circular room, with an
umbrella ceiling, surmounted by cupola.
The walls and ceiling are painted in atdark
lsgreen and gold; the carpet is Of green
velvet With gold figures, tho furniture Of
blackwalnut and green reps, and q gor-
geous chandelier is suspended with gold
chains from above. A cosy, soft coal fire
| throws glare of scarlet light upon the
rich carpet, and the mantl ID ornamented
| by large mirror, and handsome bronze
clock. At the head of the room is long
table, around which are always seated q
number of men engaged in the game of
faro. s~e, 20 90 ~,
IL a nne lO0k1n& man, kpOWn oOutn as
/ '.Maior, - sits behind the 'tgreen cloth"
frequently from in the evening until 5
1.-The next morning. The cards are all of
lsfhe best material. and in the faro dealing
they are enclosed in case of solid silver,
pushed gently out one by one by the
dealer. On the other sido Of the room
stands the roulette table, elegantly mount.
ed in silver. Opposite is the whist, poker,
| and euchre table around which thronps
continually gather to play or to watch the
progress of the various, games. The
s.chips," s'counters,' &C., are all the best