The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-01

A WANDERER.
The Fashionable III ellis Elegant
Bapauets-Thad. Steyens-The Vie
Tins.
Armed with card, l sought one of the
more famous of the four known to the bet
teri beg pardon-the upper class of the
sporting fraternity. | found the No.
brightly gilt on the transom light by the
glare of chandelier, in the most fire.
ouented part of Pennsylvania avenue.
Entering the unlocked door, passed along
the handsomely -carpeted hall and assembled
the stairs, found myself at door closed
and locked, and gave the bell-pull jerk,
that was responded to in a second by pair
of eyes peering at me through small gra-
ting that had not before observed. | put be-
fore the watchful eyes the bit of magic paste
board held, and Immediately the door flew
open and exhibited q well-dressed mulatto,
who invited me to walk in; and following
the guide, assembled more stairs, passed
along another hall, and was ushered into
large, well-lit, handsomel y-furnished suit
of rooms. On my right was sideboard,
glitteriDg with decanters and goblets; on
every side were paintings that came under
the popular head of cold masters" and
some under that of old mistresses and at
the further end of the last room, under
huge painting of tiger, large as life, that
looked like hearth, very gorgeously framed,
stood the fatal green table where men wa
gered their money and lost their souls. There
were few in the room, and those few were,
singly or in groups, reading the paper, or
conversing in o subdued tone, or slipping
quietly from glasses of mixed drinks. The
proprietor came forward in an easy, courte-
GUS manner, and babe me welcome. lie
was man Of sixty or sixty-fve years OF
age, with white head of hair 80 evenly
and regularly combed out that it suggested
a wig, and flowing whiskers, English cut,
of the same snowy tint. A smile sat anna
bly, in his grey eyes, and fingered about
his forehead and nose, but faded out near
the mouth, that was as poisonous, cold: and
rigid as that of an executioner. He had
the frmly-fxed old stilted politeness of
Virginia that goes 80 well with tho peculiar
dialect that comes from the much abused
African-as, indeed, the manner does.
have given the interior in detail, for the
description will serve for all Of the first
class establishments. This is one Of the
Oldest in Washington. Here you meet your
congressman, your rich contractor, your
head of the " ring" and respectable navy
and army officers. This was the favorite
haunt of the late Thad. Stevens, now eulo-
gized, lamentcd, and sainted-he who is
well canonized, and was so lately cannon
AIDED.
But, to return to our mutton | made the
knowledge of this wicked interior many
years since, and | cannot give a better
illustration of the destinations of the den
than by relating the manner Of it. was
passing through the rotunda of the capitol
Immediately after the adjournment flor the
day. of Congress, when | encountered, as
shall call him, the Hon. Dick Darshall, NJ.
c. from border State.
For what are you heading, mine an
cient ?" he asked, locking his arm in mine.
making for my daily indigestion, called
dinner" replied
"You don't mean to say that you have
had dinner since coming to Washington !?
That's all nonsense. But, say, pay for
the hack, and l'll show you a dinner"
"Dick," said solemnly, 81 know what
tn at means, and won't do it."
"Nonsense. / want only the princely
meal promise not to gamble. | am in
earnest; you may carry my purse-that is
the most eolemn assurance of earnestness
that can give. Now Gomez
! permitted myself to be persuaded, and
we drove to the place have described. 1t
was the hour of dinner, and the guests
were about taking their places at the gilt
tering board. Dick was hailed with de-
light. One and all knew that he had for
weeks back been on the reform, and they
laughed merrily on seeing him in the old
haunt again. The dinner was superb. The
choicest wines threaded their glittering
way through the rarest dishes, and for
nearly two hours the gay crowds ate, drank,
smoked, and talked. Itwould startle many
of our readers were to give the names of
the guests about that table.
The dinner over, Dick fingered. could
not get him away. He wished to watch
the playing for q few minutes. Then he
demanded v out Of his purse to pay for
the dinner. .'' - E'l'o.- 'n"j g.. =. e. 4
'But you promised me.'' -. Il
"Well, yes but ne can't sneak off, like
loafers, without paying for our dinner.
Come, give me a Y, and swear Pll gothen
like a gentleman III t5Dr.S !. .r'.[r IA
reluctantly gave him the golden five.
Unfortunately, it won. Again !, urged him
to 60, but he persisted in his determination
to pay for the dinner, and 50 continued
laying. In despair at last abandoned my
friend, carrying away his purse, believing
that the best way to stop his gam bling. > :.
At 10 o'clock ! went to his room to find it
deserted. T waited an hour without seeing
him return. Iwent away and came back,
but found no Dick. At Hast, about midnight,
| sought the hell i have described. The
rooms. we're partially deserted, and at the
table l found my friend with pile OF, gold
" Has he Won ali that % asked Of his
cousin, an old1ibitus of the place.,
Devil a bit,'' here piled; 90 he has been
sasek!ng out his pay and mileage, ind has
lor hours :eeen running up and down ike d
ro,een' ouoket'in:a well.n s.s,, % ..,l,.. -
! knew that rem anstrance would be use-
less, and standing bysI xstched Tia, ,yary:-
Ing run OF luck, SOMETIMES IN yo,sh1a - ~