American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-01-11
Old Tine Gambling In Washington.

WHIST was favorite game with the for
eign ministers and the elder statesmen.
Mr.. Clay, General Scott, Mr.. Bodisco and
Mr.. FOx-nephew of Charles James Fox
who represented William the Fourth and
Queen Victoria, often played together, a
hundred dollars being the usual stake.
They generally played well, as Hoyle
taught the game; but many of the MEM
beers of the fashionable clubs of New FORK
play with more skill than was dreamed of
forty years ago. Governor Marcy was
great lover OF whist, but he would never
bet money on the game. There were al
ways inveterate minister's in the Senate.
A story was current at one time of pro-
tracted sitting at the card-table, at which
Governor Stokes, of North Carolina, and
Mountjoy Bailey, sergeant-at-arms of the
Senate, were two Of the players. 1t ran
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 oc-
casionally for refreshments. The
game was continued Friday night
and Saturday, through Saturday
night and all day Sunday and Sunday
sleep as nature became exhausted. Mon
day morning the game was in full blast !;
but at ten O'Clock Bailey moved an adj
journment. alleging that his official du-
ties required his presence in the Senate
chamber. Stokes demonstrated, but the
sergeant-at-arms 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 prematurcly, he
would have seen him-any where before
hewould have invited him to join the partys
Mr.. Webster played whist, but indifler-
emily only. The Virginians were addict
o IN fbaf gfI1Yt bn1
maker 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 Seldcn, his
brother. stOre-keeper at the navy-yard,
and sometimes Governor Gilmer, of Vir-
ginia, with now and then another favor
tie. The amount played for was always
small, but Mr.. Tyler was as much de
lighted at taking pool as if he had won
so averse to gambling in washing
ton as in most of the North
ern 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 a cabinet min
iseCi, 4uis. Ciay cudptIohhiS youiS
lady from the North, passed through a
room where gentlemen were playing
cards, Mr.. Clay among the number.
SIS this common practice?" inquired
the young lady.
play when they get togethe:."
''Don't it distress you to have Mr.. Clay
gambler
mo my dear" said the COOL old
lady, composedly; she 'most always
wins"
In the winter of 1871, General Scott,
Mr.. Clay. Mr. Fox ard Mr.. Bodisco
played whist once a week for some time,
the stake, AS usual being a hundred dol
lars. They played a match game, Scott
and BOdiscO against Clay and Fox. They
were well matched and Tor a long time
the game was pretty even. At length
fortune favored Messrs. Clay and Fox,
and they were ten or twelve games
ahead. ''GentlcmeD," said the Russian
minister. rising from the table, '-tiie game
has closed tor the season. The appropri-
alton is exhaust" Aud sure enough not
another game would he play much to the
disgust and vexation Of General Scott,
10, of course, was a considerable loser.
Karper for December.