The Portland daily press., 1869-12-20
THE GAMEsTER's PALACE.

Crossing the ssiIded ThreshoId of New
| York IaeII-FashionabIe Ruin in its
| nost Gorgeous Garb-Fhe Pandemoni-
nm of Poiser-The riaeIsirom of Many
| Ne" Aoriker's Forlumes-Tbe Costliest of
Gaming Houses.
Some years ago gentleman of wealth, re-
| siding in Albany, became involved in domes-
| tic difficulties which eliminated in n senara-
| tion. Broken hearted, wretched and reckless.
| General Ransom came TO New York. pur.
| chased an elegant brown stone mansion, ad-
| joining an Episcopal church in one of the
| fashionable streets up town, and opened a
trst class gamb ing establishment. The ele-
| gance and liberality of the house led many to
perdict that its grandeur could be but tempo
raty-tnat no faro bank could sustain any
| such palace. All predictions proved false and
| touay General Ransoms gambling house, not
| one Thousand miles from Chamberlain's es-
| taDhshmeht IN Iwenty-hfth street, is one of
| the most sumptuous and most extensively
| patronized of any in the United States.
THE BEwILDERNG DISPLAY.
The house is jOx15O, four stories high,
brown stone front, high stoop, ard furnished
throughout luxuriently. At the ringing of
the bell the immense plate glass doors are
opened, and young colored boy appears and
ushers you into the drawing room. A strang-
er is at once struck with the magnifcence of
the apartment. The main parlor is a long
room, artistically frescoed and elaborately fur
nished, and carpeted with velvet medallion.
Between the front windows is a long French
mirror stretching from ceiling 10 floor, and on
its sides hang heavy blue satin curtains over
white lace. Mirrors are hung over the two
mantel pieces which are of solid black walnut
hung with blne and gold, and mirror Is in
laid in the back of every door in the entire
house.
THE BANQUET.
In the centre of the room is a long black
walnut table, where every night at eleven
O'Clock supper is served-suppers that cannot
be bou2ht-suppers that would delight the
palate OF fEpicurus. The steward of the estab-
Iishment 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. Ev-
erybody is welcome, is pressed to sit down
and eat as much as he will, free of all expense,
whether inclined to gamble or not. There is
no obligation the courteous and handsome
proprietor seeming pleased that you enjoy the
repast. Two cOlored servants noslessly move
about with silver trays and it is the rule Of
the house that they never accept fee, the
wages they receive being sufficient compensa-
tioH for their services. Two great sideboards,
loaded with fruit and wine, stand in the room
close to the wall. Any one is free 10 call for
liquors and cigars, and to offer money in pay
ment is an insult.
THE GLITTER OF THE BANQUET HALL.
The walls OF this banquet hall are frescocd
in blue and gold; all the furniture cores
ponds the chandeliers are OF gold, mounting
dozen globes each, flooding the room with
gaslight: and the oil paintings on the walls are
valuable. In the parlor there is no evidence
OF gambling-no tables, fixtures, nor appara-
tus OF any description. The men sit around
in easy chairs, read, smoke, and talk. No
singing, whistling, or disorderly conduct is
allowed, and at all times the profoundest qui.
ct prevails. Adjoining the parlor is the
FARO BANK.
You enter beneath beautiful frescoed arch
into large circular room, with an umbrella
ceiling, surmounted by a cupola. The walls
and ceiling are painted in dark green and
gold, the carpet is green velvet with gold fig
ures, the furniture is of black walnut and
green reps, and gorgeous chandelier is sus-
pended with golden chains above. A cosy
soft coal fire throws a glare of scarlet light
upon the rich carpet, and the mantel is orna-
mented by large mirror and handsome
bronze clock. At the head of the room is
long table, around which are always seated
number OF men engaged in the game of faro.
THE DEALER.
A fine-looking man, known South as "Ma.
| jor," sits behind the green cloth" frequently
| from eight in the evening until five the next
! morning. The cards are all of the best mate
| rial, 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 side of
| the room stands the roulette table. elegantly
| mounted in silver. Opposite is the whist, po-
ker and euchre table, around which throngs
| continually gather TO play or to watch the
| progress of tie various games The 'chips,"
counters" &c, are all the best that money
can buy, and new packs of cards are called in
to requisition nightly.
THE PLAYING
| is, in gamblers terms, on the square," the
proprietor pridng himself upon his honorable
and conscientious dealings at all times. Large
| sums OF money change hands every night. and
| $500,000 is the reputed strength" of the
bank. The habitues of the elegant establish
| ment are men of all classes. Bankers, mer-
chants, lawyers, artists, generals, and young
| men about town, are frequenters OF this pal
| ace of the gamesters. Even the reverend cler-
| gy have been known to gamble here, and
once prominent General of the Union army
| is constant visitor and determined gambler
Many OF the stylishly dressed men who con-
| gregate in front of the Hoffman House during
the afternoon, or at Ford's famous bar, un-
der the st. James, are the friends" of the
house.
| DURING THE DAY
it is very quiet in and outside the place. The
shades are all pulled down, no one goes in or
out, and one at first regards the place as the
| private residence of some retired merchant.
Gen. Ransom is very popular, dresses in good
taste, wears no diamonds or jewclry, and Is on
good terms with his brother professionals and
associates