Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-25
The GAME OF POKER.
Bateman, the ImpressariO, I'm n
New York Hotel, and What Came

New ROIe-A Little " DraW> at the
New York Hotel, and What Came
of IL.
From the New York Sun. 1sthl
About one. clock on Tuesday morn
ing party of distinguished gentlemen
were seated about handicapped table
in private room within the New York
Hotel The leading member of the par
ty was gentleman in the prime of life.
His manners were courtly and elegant,
and his conversation was marked by "a
tone of quiet dignity tinged with social
humor. His gestures were easy and
graceful, and he shuffled his cards with
the easy nonchalance of gentleman of
the olden time. His blue eyes twinkl I'd
with merriment. Fifty years had roll ed
over him and silvered the hair of his
head but his clean-shaven face was
bright with the roseate hue of heal tn,
He was a perfect picture of the Hon.
Richelieu Robinson, with ten years m ore
of life pinned upon his shoulde rs
This was the renowned General He nry
l.. Bateman the terror of the Manhat tan
Club, and of Col Hiram Cranston. The
gentleman opposite Gen. Bateman was
the handsome Col Langley Bruce, the
veteran boarder of the New York Hotel.
He was exquisitely dressed, and bore
himself with the air of perfect gentle
man. Col George Jordan, the well
known actor, Mr.. David Smith, and
another gentleman occupied seats at the
table. Col Jordan was in excellent
spirits, and for over an hour kept the
party in roar of laughter.
PASSING THE KNIFE.
The party were indulging in luxu-
rious game of draw poker, at dollar a
corner. The cards were as smooth as
ivory sheets, and the kings, queens
and jacks danced about the table as If
perfectly happy at the familiar way in,
which they were treated by the august
players. Small piles of bills were
ranged in front of each gen tleman, and
tiny pearl-handled knife was passed
from one to the other, as the pots were
taken down. Gen. Batems.n frequently
went blind and was uniformly sue
cessful. The room was fragrant with
cigar smoke, and a cheerful coal fire was
sleeping beneath the marble mantel
Col. Jordan shuffied the cards by placing
them upon the table and producing that
delicious r-r-r-r-ip so familiar TO Tam
many politicians and other gentlemen
who indulge in the exciting game. Gen
Bateman shuttle was hand over hand,
something after the stlye of the Hon.
William Marcy Tweed when playing
" forty-fves" " During the evening Gen
Bateman delighted his friends with
choice "reminiscences Of the Manhattan
Club, which drew from Col. Jordan
history of the rebel theatrical guard of
New Orleans.
The Colonels description of poor
Dolly Davenport, Mark Smith and him
self, in the dresses of Louisiana Tigers,
created much amusement A bottle of
the finest brand of Piper Heidseick was
opened, when Colonel Jordan described
the magnificent echelon movement of
the company of theatrical Tigers. In
fact, several bottles of Piper Heidseick
were opened and emptied Col Jordan
said that when the company was massed
by brigades it was the most magnificent
he had ever witnessed. Meanwhile the
glazed cards danced about the table as
If effected by the champagne, and the
little pearl-handled knife ran from one
gentleman to another with frightful
rapidity. Gen Bateman's blinds
continued to turn out gloriously. The
whole party were in a state of flowing
happiness.
COL. JORDAN GOES TO SLEEP.
At 2:45, am, Col Jordan, worn out
by the extraordinary fatigues of the
night, raised his arms, yawned, cour-
teously excused himself, and went to
sleep upon a sofa. Gen. Bateman g.
Co., however, continued their salaciou1,
game. Whenever the General won a
pot, he hummed lively airs from LaBerie
Helene He hummed the ope ra
twice through. At last Col. Jor1 IAN
snored magnificent base, and the II ,om
became filed with delicious mel ody.
This greatly enlivened the spirits of the
party, and they pitched into the game
with renewed fervor.
NOBLE ACT OF GEN. BATENAN.
At precisely thirty-seven minutes past
3 the knife was passed to Col Bruce,
Mr.. David Smith putting up the pot
Mr.. Smith dealt, and Col Bruce gal
lantly passed the blind to Gen. Bate
man, who went 81 80 blind.
" 1t costs Sc to come in, gen tleman,"
said Gen. Bateman, as he coolly planted
his stamps upon the pot.
One of the gentlemen raised" the
General a few dollars. The General laid
his cards face down upon the table, went
down into his wallet in a dignified man
ner, filled the bet and went several dol
lars better. Meanwhile the other gentle
man got into the jam. When each gen
tleman had deposited forty dollars on the
table, the good-natured Bateman called
He lost the pot. Colonel Bruce also got
caught in the jam. A little dispute arose
concerning Colonel Bruce's forty dollars.
General Bateman courteously said TO the
disputants:
fMy good friends. il always pains me
to have q gentle game Of draw poker in
terrupted in this manner To save
further trouble, viii gladly advance the
forty dollars myself which the Colonel Is
alleged to have lost" Then turning TO
the Colonel, be continued: | always