The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-09-03
Saratoga August IL Correspondence of the
New York sun.
John MOFPiSsey's Clubhouse.

Yesterday Senator Morrill,, CT Maine.
and Speaker Blaine were walking by
'tfhe States,n apparently in a deco
conversation. Several Journalists
watched them as they passed, and
thinking that the third term was tue
subject of discussion, one journalist
remarked to Sam Cox: "I'd like to
know what those politicians are talk
ing about. pd give five dollars to
know" "YOu would? ~ said Mr..
Cox. "Then pll ask 'em.' Turning
around he caught Blaine by the
sleeve and told him what the jovrnal-
1T had said. "Well," said Speaker
Blaine, 81 was telling n dog story. y
''What was it ? No eoncealment,
now" said Mr.. Cox. "WelI," said
Blaine, "Colonel +. s. Sanford, of
Brooklyn, and / were travelling down
South. The feed had been bad for
day or two, when one day at rail-
road station we had q big plate of
hash. Colonel Sanford stuck his
knife into it and looked at it kinder
curiOusly, when the landlord remark
ed: You needn't be afraid of that
thar dish, strangers longs bull-pups
is worth more than hogs" "Now,
what were you talking about, Lot ?''
asked Mr.. Cox, looking at Senator
Morrill,. "LOt was telling how he
went into John Morrissey's gambling
place last night" said Mr.. Blaine,
laughing. "He said he had wanted
to 60 for a long time" continued Mr..
Blaine, "but was afraid to go. By
and by Henry Wilson said why,
Lot, why don't you go? 1t WON'T
hurt you just to look On.'" $50 I
went last night" said Senator Nor
rill, Joining in; "went and saw the
whole thing ?n "Well, what did YOU
see, Senator ?'' l asked. 'fFirst.D
commenced the Senator, taking a
chair, 1--WE entered a big reception
room about twenty by thirty-fve,
carpeted with thick, downy tapestry.
Here there were a great crowd Of well
dressed people, talking in groups, and
smoking and drinking. John Nor
rissey stood in the room receiving
people, but l walked by unobserved.
Then we passed through large folding
doors into a wing room filled with
gambling tables" "What were they
playing ?" al don't know. I can't
tell one game from another but
some one told me that one man was
dealing faro, a man was rolling
two men were running ia
bles where they played rouge ct noiT,
and two men dealt cards in
game they called trente ct qlLdrente.
Crowds of eager men huddled around
the tables and large sums of money
were lost and won. The betters did
not look like professionals. They
were well dressed gentlemen whom I
see every day promensding the balco-
nies of the hotels accompanied by
elegant ladies / was surprised to
see how freely and with what little
concern many gentlemen mixed in
the scene and even gambled heavily
who would have shrank from enter
ing an ordinary gambling house.
Custom has made MOrriSsey's place
kind of free and easy where almost
every guest in Saratoga goes once,
and where many moral people con-
slider it proper to spend their time
Little by little their prejudices have
been worn away until they hardly
bling house." Then the Senator
drew long sigh. "Did you try John
MOrrissey's cooking, Senator ?" 1
asked. ''No; we went in and we
saw a great many people eating game
and drinking wine, and saw some
young gentlemen intoxicated with
champagne. That filled me with in
dignatioD, and left, and L never
went to see another gambling place
again." 'Did they gamble heavily ?"
"WhY, yes they said one man lost
s., 900, another man 81 500, and they
said night or two ago a man lost
SO, 900; and that's a good deal of
money don't you think so ~ I told
the Senator / did.