Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-12-05
Notable Gamblers.


IN the days of Clay and Webster. He
gossips thus freely of some of the old
leaders:
Gambling, and for large sums. was
common, particularly among Southern
and Western members. Scores of them
from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennes-
see, and the Gulf States squandered
their modest per diem, then eight dol
lars only. at the gaming table, and some
impaired their private fortunes by the
same indulgence. S. S. Prentiss was
reported to have lost $4,000 the first
winter he was in Congress.
The most notorious and dashinp
gambler of the day was Edward Pendle.
ton. He came from Virginia, where he
was well connected, his family being of
the best blood in the State, and he mar
rled a most respectable and accom-.
plished lady, whose father held ia re-
sponsible office under the Government.
Pendleton gave sumptuous entertain
ments at his club house, which were
well attended by some of the most emf
nent public men in the district. Mr..
Mangum, then President of the Senate,
John j. Crittenden, John NJ. Bolts.
John B. Thompson, of Kentucky, and
Linn Boyd, afterward Speaker of the
House, and others of lesser note, were
frequently his guests. Congress had
enacted stringent penal laws to prevent
gambling, but they were dead letter,
unless some poor devil made a COM
plant of foul play, or some feeced
blackleg sought vengeance through the
aid of the Grand Jury, and then the
matter was usually compounded by the
payment of money.
Whist was a favorite game with the
foreign ministers and the elder states
men. Mr.. Clay, Gen. Scott. Mr.. Bodis
CO, and Mr.. Fox-nephew of Charles
James Fox-who represented William
the Fourth and Queen Victoria, often
played together, hundred dollars be-
ing the usual sake. They generally
played well, as Hoyle taught the game;
but many of the members of the fashion
able clubs of New York play with more
skill than was dreamed of forty years
ago. Gov. Marcy was great lover of
whist, but he never would bet money on
the game. There were always inveter-
ate minister's in the Senate. A story was
current at one time of protracted sit
ting at the card table, at which Gov.
Stokes, of North Carolina, and Mount
joy Bailey, Sergeant-at-Arms of the Sem
ate, were two of the players. 1t ran in
this wise: The Senate adjourned from
Thursday over to Monday. The party
sat down to cards after dinner Thursday
evening. They played all night and all
the next day, only stopping occasionally
for refreshments. The game was con-
tinued Friday night and Saturday,
through Saturday night and all day
Sunday and Sunday night, the players
resting for snatch of sleep as nature
became exhausted. monday morning
the game was in blast; but at 10
o'clock Bailey moved an adjournment.
alleging that his official duties required
his presence in the Senate Chamber.
Stokes demonstrated, but the Sergeant
alarms persisted, and rose from the
table. The Governor grumbled and
scolded, but finally gave it up, swearing
that if he had suspected Bailey would
break up the game thus prematurely,
he would have seen him-anywhere be-
fore he would have invited him to ioin
the party.
Mr.. Webster played whist, but indif.
ferently only. The Virginians were adj
dicted to that stupid game known as
shoemaker loo. President Tyler was
fond of loo, and on rainy day, when
there was no great pressure of public
business, he has been known to make
up game at the White House, and play
all day, having dinner in his chamber.
His companions usually were William
Selden, Treasurer of the United States,
Cary Selden, his brother, store-keeper
at the navy yard, and sometimes Gov.
Gilmer, OF Virginia, with now and then
another favorite. The amount played
for was always small, but Mr.. Tyler was
as much delighted at taking a pool as if
he had won hundreds.
Public opinion was not SO averse to
gaming in Washington as in most of the
Northern cities. Probably the tone of
public morals is no more elevated now
than it was then, but there was then
less pretense and ostentation of purity.
At large party given by the wife of
Cabinet minister, Mrs. Clay, chaperon-
ing a young lady from the North.
passed through a room where gentle
men were playing cards, Mr.. Clay among
the number.
as this common practice ?" inquired
the young lady.
eyes," said Mrs. Clay they always
play when they get together"
Don't it distress you to have Mr..
Clay gambler"
"No, my DEAR" said the good old
lady, composedly; she most always
wins"
In the winter of 1S41 Gen. Scott, Mr..
Clay, Mr.. Fox, and Mr.. Bodisco played
whist once week, the stake, as usual,
being 500. They played a match
game, Scott and Bodisco against Clay
and Fox. They were we'll matched,
and for long time the game was pretty
even. At length fortune favored
Messrs. Clay and Fox, and they were
ten or twelve games ahead. "Gentle-
men," said the Russian Minister, rising
from the table, the game has closed
for the season. The appropriation is
exhausted" And sure enough not
mother game would he play, much to
the disgust and vexation of Gen.
Scott, who, of course, was a considerable