The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-12-08
Science Ys. Luck,
BY MARK TWAIN

r At that time, in Kentucky (saii the
Hon. Mr.. Knott, Nj c. the law was
vsry, stIict against what is termed "0ames
Vert daCUcttu playing seven up or ''oid
sledge' for money, and the gland jury
found a true bill agains. them. jim Stur-
l,;s was retained to defend them W hen tie
case came Up, of course. The more he
studied over the matter and looked into
the evidence, the palmer it was that be
must lose case at last-there was no get
ting around that painful fact. Those boys
had certainly been betting money on q
game of chance. Even public sympathy
was reused in behalf Of Sturgis. People
said it was pity TO see him mar his sue,
cessful career with a big, prominent case
like this, which must go against him.
But after several restless nights an in-
sIired idea flashed upon Sturgis, and he
sprany out Of bed delighted. He thought
he saw his way through. The next
day he whispered around a little among
bis clients ana few friends, and then when
the case came up in court he acknoHled
the seven-up and the beating, and, As his
sole cefence, had the astounding etTron,>
cry to put in the plea that old sledge was
not game of chance There was the
broadest sort of a suile all over the faces
of that sophisticated audience. The judge
smiled with the rest But Sturgis main
taned countenance whose earnestness
was even severe. The opposite counsel
tried to ridicule him out of his position.
and did not succeed. The judce jested and
joked in a pohderous. judicial way about
the thing, but did not move in the least.
The matter was, indeed beginning to look
grave. The judge lost a li'tle of his pa
tience, and said the joke had gone tag
enough. jim Sturgis said he knew of Nc
Joke in the Riatter-his clients could not be
punished for Inducing in what some peo,
pie chose to consider a game Of chance, u1
Ill it was proven that 1t was a game oi
chance Judge aud counsel said that
would he all easy matter, and forthwith
called Deacons job, Peters, Burke, and
johnson, and Domiuies Writ and Miggles,
TO testify and they unanimously, and with
strong feeling, put down the legal quibblt
OF Sturgis, by pronOuDcing that old sedgt
/ ,cas a game Of chance.
What do you call i: noW ? said the
judge
Il call it game Of science - retorteG
! Sturgis; and III prove it, too J.
They saw bis little game.
/ lie brou.ht in cloud Of witnesses, an
! produced an overwhelming mass OF tesil
rnony, to show that old sledgs was not {
/ game Of chance, hut game Of science.
/ lnste ad OF being the simplest case In th'
world, it had somehow turned ont to be al
excessively knotty one. The judge
sratched his head over it while, ant
said there was no way OF coming to de
termination, because just as many mel
could be brought into court who would tes
tifv on the other. But he said he va
willing to do the fair thing by all partie IS
and would act upon any suggestion Mr.
Sturgis would make for the solution of tn
difficulty.
Mr.. S,urgis was on bis feet in second
'Impanel jury of six of each, Luck VS.
Science-give them candies and couple o
decks Of cards, send them into the jury
: room, and just abide by the result y
There was no disputing the fairness o
the proposition. The four deacons an
the two dOminies were sworn IN as tn
"charce' jurymen, and six invcterate oil
seren>up professors were chosen to repre-
sent the Science" side of the issue. The
retired to the jury room.
In about two hours Deacon Peters sen
into court to borrow three dollars from
friend [Sensation In about two hour
more, Dominic Migges sent into court t
horrnv stake" from friend. lSensa
ton Daring the next three or fou
; hours. the other dominic AMI the ot',e