The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-02-13
Cutting n Jack.

Cutting a Jack.
s-f have iived In ST. Louis great ma
ny years, and passed through many
vicissitudes, one of which, some years
ago took me down the Mississippi
river in the capacity of clerk on The
steamer Princeton. After landing in
New Orleans, the captain received an
advantageous offer 10 make . trip mp
the Wachita river, . very peculiar
stream whose waters are just on q
level with its banks. and appearing
more like stagnant canal than riv-
er, only moving at tbs imperceptibie
rate of six miles q day. Among the
passengers was q gambler, well known
as the brother of one OF the st. Louis
Tigers of the present day. For COM
venience we will call him Ohm. Well
John concluded TO make the trip with
us for the purpose of trying his luck
with the sleackensackers, who were
supposed to be particularly flush about
that time, as the cotton crop was Just
about being marketed. His success,
however, was not equal to Iiis hopes
for the Rackensackers are some on 9
Hgame of draw" and instead of his
cleaning them out as he intended, they
cleaned him out. One night the boat
lay up in fog at Milller's Bluff, and
smany natives came on board and re-
<meined until a. Eiate hour, but D chm
did not tsucceed in getting game dur
ing the evening. AS the small hours
came on a little company remained
gathered around the stove in the So
cial hall opposite the clerk g Office, and
J0ifnlset his wits to work to try and
make expenses out of them. He
slammed drunk and played the part
very well, although he had not touch
ed drop, and never drank. Taking
up pack of cards from the table, he
pretended to be trying to cat jack.
but failed oftener than he accomplish
ed ii. Al length he sueceeded in get
ting q bet Of twenty five doliafs that
he could not cut jack the first time.
The money was put up in the hands
of q confederate, but who OF course
was for the time being total stran-
ger to John, who then took ont his
iacknife and deliberately cut the pack
in two. John claimed that he had cut
rajack, which was the bet, ahd thecon-
-federSte handed him over the money.
] thought then that I would take q
hand in the game, just for little
amusement on my own. hook. So go
ing quietly to the bar, said to Jim,
the barkeeper, ssTake all the jacks ont
of new deck of Highlander cards
and put in four other cards, and if
send for q pack send me that" Jim
fixed them all right, and went back
tn the kofica Fhe wrangfe #as stil
. Hping pMofes the decision Of the BET,
and after q while / went out and in
quired, ssWhat is all this about cut
ting q jack p John replied that he
had won tyepty tsye do!Isfs on this
did not like losing his money.
"But," said /, "John, you don't mean
to say that you can cut a jack every
time.
"Indeed, but I do, said he; every
time.D
"WsiI, John; I,ve played cards some.
in my day and / don't believe it can
be done."
"Bet you s25."
ANo, but if you have $50 you like
"a risKsons such tooi game, I'm your
With tbat John drew out his $50,
.ahd saw that it WIS put with my
fifty. in responsible hands.
3 John then took d pack Of cards and
asked me 10 shnffie Them.
mo you don't, John, not If know
myself," said I. You don't ring in
cold decks on me; we"ll have q new
one.Y And u sent soie of the cabin
bows to Jim with the message for
him to send me new pack of High
lander cards. Of course her sent the
E1dRn Gnks, and i 1asked J ohm ifd might
shuttle them first, and he replied,
ayes, first and last too, if you like"
I shuffied the cards very carefully
and handed them 10 John to cut his
jack, and On taking Ethem he said,.
.sYou understand, am to cat a jack, .
emphasizing very significantly the
word "eut."
eyes, replied, understand what
cutting a jack means"
John then took out his jack-knife
again and proceeded TO cut the pack in
two as ! had seen him do before.
.What does that meanw I enqnir-
ed.
1T MEANS" replied he, ethat have
been cutting jaak, and guess have
cut four of them"
sAhd you think, John, that that is
a fair wy of construing the bet2Y
s.Of course it is, = said he; eany-
thi1g is lair provided you sick to the
point of the bet"
perhaps you are right" said I,
99and I am willing to abide by that
! 5decisipn ! but before consent to give
up the money / want to see those
jacks you have been cutting"
John commenced eagerly running
over the cards, his countenance falling
as he got almost through without see-
ing jack, pnd he was the perfect PicsI
ture .of blank amazemenf v hen he
found tfisre was nota single one in
the pack.
AS the stakes were passed over to
me, / said, "John, let me give you a
piece of advice. III ever you bet again
on cutting a jack, don't bet with a
steamboat clerk"
$50 gave $z5 of the money TO old
Rackensack to, make good his loss,
and the rest / spent for refreshments
for the crowd, and we had q gay old
time, which none. seemed to enjoy
more Than john 1sE Loafs Repu6li-
!ea P hI1M
Marriage Maxims.
A man is in great measure, what
shis evife makes himsr ~
: 1t is1 che mother which molds the
character aud destiny of the child.
MARRY inaosy yonl,own religion.a
Marry into different blood and
Steha than yeur own.
Marry into family you have long
known if possible, -
Never talk at one another, either
alone or in company.
- 1fVever both be angry at once