Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-04-24

THE "BOSS.n
New YORK, April u, 1874.
THE GAMBLERS
Have had for year past 4 rather hard
time Of it. The city officials got spasm
of virtue, and where the officers on the
beat were not properly ''seen, they were
liable to constant pulling" Pardon the
technicalities. But the gamblers have at
last silenced the guardians of the law, and
they are going on as usual. A first-class
gambling house is curious place.
The establishment is known among
sports as "Club House, Externally, it
is quiet, rather elegant house, that the
passer-by would suppose to be the dwell
ing Of some reputable, well to-do citizen.
You ascend the flight of steps-the outer
hall door is open, and you ring. You
notice that in the inner hall-door is wick
ct. This wicket flies open and a gentle
manly negro's face appears. If you are
known you are admitted without ceremony;
if not, a card or reference is required. En-
tering the hall, you find at the end of it a
reception room gorgeously furnished.
There is an elegant side-board on which
stands bottles of every possible variety of
liquors, which are free to all visitors. Nay,
more, if you desire mixed drink an oblig
ing waiter stands ready To mix them for
you. You need have no hesitation of par
taking the more you drink the better the
proprietors are pleased. In what in any
other house would be the back parlor the
faro game commences at eight O'Clock
The dealer is, as a rule, handsome man
with a dissipated mir, but who has 4 face
of marole. He appears to know nothing,
see nothing but tie cards which he deals
and the chips on the board. lie sits in an
easy chair under strong gas light, with
shade over his eyes, and shuflles, deals
and gives the winners chips, and hauls in
the chips Of the losers. You will see about
the table merchants in a small way and
merchants in q large way, bank clerks,
speculators, commercial and uncommer
SAui tLdECiClo, obIccICdE
conductors, merchants, clerks and con-
tractors seated side by side eagerly watch
ing the turn Of the cards. The proprietor
of the house mixes with his guests in an
easy, pleasant way, congratulating the
winners of his money, and saying pleasant
things to the losers the latter service be-
ing the mOst onerotls
At midnight precisely the game closes
for supper. A magnificent supper room is
thrown open and everybody is Invited to
enter. And such supper! John Cham
berlin pays his head cook $1,000 per an
mum, and the servants are of the best pos
sible class. The table absolutely groans
under its load of delicacies. If there is a
fish that is particularly rare-worth, say
81 80 per pound you may be sure of see
ing it on the table, game at no matter what
cost, dishes such as Roman emperor
would have mortgaged province for, are
as common as possible, and wines, bless
me ! Delmonico never had such-for the
public at least. And all this absolutely
free Many well-known gourmands who
do not play, frequent these houses, and
risk $40 or $40 just for an excuse to stay
at supper.
But as lavish as is this expenditure for
the business is wonderfully
profitable. The bank has abou: six chances
in nine of winning so no matter how the
game runs, the end is Inevitable. Play
long enough and you break That it is
profitable is shown in the way the proprie-
tors live-custly diamonds fash from their |
fingers and shirt fronts, they drive the best
and fastest horses and in fact. they enjoy, |
if it may be called enjoyment, every sensual
delight that the world affords. But there
comes an end. Fast living hurts the ply
sical man !; the frequent excitement of the
life tells upon the mental man, and they |
all die young, the merest wrecks. The |
laws of nature are inexorable and infexi- |
bic.