Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-08-29
GAMBLING AT SARATOGA.

GAMBLING AT SARATOGA.
SARATOGA, Aug. l4.-Yesterday Senator
Morrill,, of Maine, aud Speaker Blaine were
waking by The States, apparently 10 deep
conversation. Several journalists watched them
as they passed, and thinking the third term was
the sui ject of discussion one journalist remark
ed to Sam Cox:
I'D like to know what those politicians are
taking about. I'd give five dollars TO koow. "
You woud?" said Mr. Cox. 'Then l Il ask
en-" Then turuiug around, he caught Blaine
by the sleeve and told him what the journalist
had sid.
"Wvll,' said Speaker B.aine, 81 was telling
dog story
What was il 2" NJ couccalmcnt now, said
Mr.. Cox
Well" said Blaine, "Col. L. s. Stafford,
of Brooklyn, aud | were travelling down South.
The feed had been bad for a day or two, when
Que day at railroad station We had a big plate
Of hash Col. Sanford stuck his knife into 1t
aud locked at it kinder curiously, when the
landlord remarked
,Yuu needn't be afraid Of that thar dish
stranger, S longs bull pups is worth more than
hogs. o.,
Now, what we're you talking about L9t?'
asked Mr. Cox, looking at Senator Morrill,.
Lot was telling how he went luto John
MorIis,eys gambling place last night" said
Mr. Blaine, laughing. He said he had
wanted to 20 for long tlme," continued
Mr.. Blaine, "but was afraid to 70. By aud
tv Henry Wilson said: Why, Lot, why
don't YOU go? 1t won't hurt you just to look
on.
$50 went last night" said Senator Nor
rj imuing in; went and saw the whole
thing. a.,
Well, what did you see, scuator?' |
asked
First" commenced the senator, taking
chair, "wc entered big rcccptiou-room about
% by 50, carpelcd with thick, downy tapestry.
Here there were great crowd OF Well-dressed
people talking IL groups and smoking and
drinking. John Nlorr! !ssey stood 10 the room
receiving people, but walked by unobserved.
Ihcu we passed through large folding doors
into wing-room filled with rambling tables.
"Wha, were they payiugY'
Il don't know. | cant tell one game from
another but some Que told me that one man
was dealing faro, man was rolling roulette,
two men were running tables where they played
rouge ct nor, and two men dealt cards in q
game they called trente ct quarente. Crowds of
eager men huddIed around the tables, and
large sums of money we're lost and won. The
bctters dlu not look like professionals. Tncy
we're well-drcssed gentlemen whom l see
every day promcnading the balconies 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 heavl-
", who would have shrank from euterlng an
ordinary gambling house Custom has made,
Mortissey's place kind of 'free-aud easy ;
where almost every guest 10 Saratoga goes
once, and where many moral people consider it
proper to spend their time. Little by little
their prejudlces have been worn away, until
they hardly appreciate that they are III a gamb-
lug den." Then the senator drew long sigh.
did you try John Morrissey' s cooking, SEN
ator?" | asked.
mo. We went 10 and saw great many peo-
pie eating game aud drinking wine. aud saw
soue young gentlemen intoxicated with cham.
parne. That filed me with indignation, and
left and never want to see another gambllDg
place again.
'Dlu they gamble heavily?'
Why, yes. They said one man lost $4,000,
another mau $l;5O0, and they said ulght or
two ago man lost $4,000; SO that's good
deal OF money. don you think SO r
| told the senator | did Cor NcU l0rh
Sun
The grasshoppers now devouring the crops
on the burders of Kausas aud other Western
States remind one of the plaques OF Egypt.
How they treat anything III their way may be
seen fsom the following graphic little ltem ex-
tracted from long letter, all about grasshop-
pers, to the New York Tribune
AT times they came 10 such immense clouds
that on the uorth and west sides of bulldogs
bushels of them could be gathered, partially
stuuued by the sudden contact; aud the sound
produced in striking frame buildings III the
range of their flight was similar TO that OF a
moderate hailstorm In an exceedingly short
time they completely covered apple, pear and
beach trees, shade trees and grapevlneS, and
Immediately began their destructive work on
fruit and foliage. Much Of the fruit has the
stems eaten ctf, and after falling Is soon cover
cd by a hungry crew AT this writing they
have completely stripped favorite pear tree OF
lis fruit aud foliage. They even lntrude within
the precincts of our houses, aud at this mo-
nent one, bolder than his comrades, is trying to
dcvour newspaper BY my side. The sound
produced by his efforts is similar to that OF
wood rasp vigorously applied, The doors aud
windows are closed to keep the lntruders out.
1t is even unpleasant to be OUT doors, to have
thcm circle In myriads about your head and
cet ana near tue lucessdul uuu utuS. "a.
night they cease their travels, but do Dot fail
tosatlsly their voracicus appetite. Their gen.
erai actions and attitudes in the endeavor to
satisfy their hunger torcbly reminds one of lot
OF partlaIly.starved swine at their first meal
after long fast 1t is amusing to watch
them while on ao ear of corn or luscious
aypl lie, while it is undergoing change under
'helr maS'icating powers.
STrplD THINGS coming from the lips of pref
Vwoucu are laughed at and considered bright,
Then Sen an ugly woman's witty sayings fall Hat
lniS Is not always the case There are women
"hose faces are almost plain enough to ache,