Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-12-13

The San Francisco Chronicle
says: Once upon time there came
to Pokerville a genius Of the stripe
commonly known as the reformed
gambler.
Nov, as the Pokerviliians had
no other amusements than playing
poker or. seven up, when il became
generally known that an individu-
"A was comipe that way whose q
fpwed purpose was the demolition
81 those popular institutions, and
consequently the destruction Of the
town, through the annihilation Of
tho very industry upon which
its existence depended, there arose
great excitement, and prepara-
tions were made TO give him warm
reception. A meeting was held, at
which the people attended in mass,
and the prospect for tho new light
of reform was anything but en-
couraging.
Notwithstanding all this--or,
perhaps, because thereof-the hall
which had been engaged for the lee
ture was Gro wded with an expec-
tant throng, who had gone there
for the express purpose Of robbing
the exponent Of unsavory trutha.
Among the assembled wisdom
was the head deacon Of Pokeryilie,
who never played cards except for
iun, with a nominal stake) just to
make il interesting, you know
and who. had such deep rooted
antipathy for card playing in gen
cral that no never had compunc-
ton against skinning any Of 'em
whom it did so happen that he was
induced to take hand.
The speaker stepped upon the
rostrum, punctual to the moment,
dressed in an ordinary suit Of the
pcpper-and-salt mixture, With
short, stubby hair and very red
nose.
In proceeding to his lecture he
threw down upon the table a pack
Of ordinary cards, and deliberately
rolled up his sleeves and spit on his
hands, at which demonstration Gu
riosity so far got the better of in
dignation that the murmuring and
scraping of feet subsidized, and the
lecturer knew, by the general cram
ing OF necks and the firmness with
which each listener clenehed in his
teeth his individual 'chaW' of tobac-
co, that he got 'em where he want.
ed 'em.
The proceedings were opened by
'prar' by the deacon, and to hear
the 'amens' and 20 LordsP which
gurgIod from the stomachs of the
listeners, one would have supposed
prayer-meeting was in progress;
but this is tho way they always did
in Pokcrville.
The lecturer went right into the
bowels OF his subject. He traced
the origin of cards back TO the faith
or Of sin, and said the first victim Of
the pasteboard was Esau, who
gambled on his patrimony at the
game of euchro, and who was so
dead broke in consequence that ne
was glad to accept of free lunch
at the hands of the victor. He was
down on cards of all kinds, as a
general principle, and he had as
ecrtaincd that the newiangled pos
tai cards were only devised as an
instrument of offensive warfare in
the Gands0f duns; he was down on
them, too.
But first he wished to explain to
his audience the means by which SO
many were skinned of their little
piles, and was willing to bet that
there wasn't any man in the room
that he couldn't beat, no matter
what the odds might be against
him.
There was general crowding
forward toward the rostrum, and
pretty soon the table was heaped
with the money Of betters. Trick
after trek was then explained, but,
somehow although everybody
saw III no money was seen TO re.
turn to the pockets of those who
vontured it. On seeing the cash
disappearing at the end of each
fresh experiment, they would
scratch their heads, as if in some
perplcxity, and then 90 over to
hold q conference with the deacon.
The hour of his departure hav-
ing at last arrived, the great re-
former took up his hat, stuffed his
lecture into his pocket, and was a.
bout to leave, when the deacon
rose to his feet and requested the
Indulgence of the lecturer, as he
had "a few words to offer.'
Although most of the folks here
present. he said, appear to eonsid-
or they've got their moneys worth,
] amt quite satisfied myself, and,
though Pm dead set against gam
blin', wouldn't mind enterin' into
trial of skill with my friend here,
andif Pm beat it may be concluded
that the knights of the pasteboard
are done in PokervilO.
The great reformer being ready
to accommodate tho two sat down
ut opposite ends of the table, the
crowd gathered round, and for
some moments nothing was to bC
heard bat the humping of the doa
cons fist and the scratching SOUND
of his fingers as he raked in tn,
cash.
The great reiormer began to loci
sicSly, and when he got up again
to leave it was observed that hi.
features did not wear that pleasant
smile which had overspread them a
the earlier stage of the svening,
Now, deacon, said one of tn,
original sufferers, there's abou
twenty of us in for it, and / cues,
you may as well divide mp
In that case said the deacon
sthe force of this great moral lessor
would be utterly lost. The Lore
giveth and the Lord taketh away.
Let US pray.
Since then it is dangerous for ;
greenhorn to pass through Poker
Vile.
We have sometimes thought thai
there is something in the owner
shin of real estate Which mo 10,