National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-05
JOHN MORRISSEY ATHOME.

JOHN M0RRISSEY AT HOME
AN IETERTLER WITH TIE KING Oh
TILE FARO TABLE.
HIs VIEWS ON THE BEECHER SCANDAL
RUNNING COMMENT ON LIFE AT SARA.
ToGA-WHAF MoRRIssEY HAS DONE FOR
THE TURF-POLITICS, RAILROADS AND
RoULETTE-AIoRRIssEYA AS A MoRALIsT
Mr.. George Alfred Townsend, who has been
interviewing John Morrissey, writes as follows
to the Chicago Tribune:
Recent events having been unfavorable to
the pursuit Of morality IN better directions, I
went down to John Morrlssey's clubhouse
last night. He was at leisure, and communi,
cative. Said 1:
''Mr. Morrissey, have you formed an opinion
IN the matter 7. Hlton versus his Pastori"
'sNo, sir, haven't. have no desire to read
such scandals. They ssdden men and commu-
mites. They make us bow our heads, Such
3 tissue Of weakness and superstition as that
revelation seems to be is pItiful. And great
man, too, as always held Mr. Beecher TO bel
Such STYLE and stature of Americana Well,
five don't
RESPECT OURSELVES.
who WHIP
There was pause. Mr.. Morrissey brought
his powerful expression into form again, and
said:
ssir, 20 along the porches Of those big no
tells, and what do you find most frequentlyl
Noyel-readiny, or a woman coquetting with a
married man. The novel generally dealing IN
domestic iufelcities, and painting up the su-
periority of the outside lover to the prejudice
of the husband. Half the women living for
false IDEAL and deploring the monotoDy of real
life. Why, large part Of 'em think they
must have both husband and an adviser, in
stead of advising with the husband and of him,
as in the old days 1 respect the pastoral re-
lation, but your pastor is apt to be the first led
away He's the first to surrender to a woman's
sympathy. Pm orthodox, sir, in my views Of
them things. I've played cards, and stood up
In the ring, but never let myself forget my
domestic honor and duty. IT'S the first thing
to take care Of all the days Of your life. Now,
them people are all ruined, no matter which
started the offence. Nothing in this world WIN
give 'em the sweet sleep they had. Come out
and look at my
They were a fine lot, indeed, some fifteen
inches long, and all darting and swimming in
that perfectly-transpRren spring-water, which
isliquid as the air of Saratoga. There Is tonic
in the air, in the water, and the society Of this
place, which never appeared to the advantage
it shows this season. -Four or i've thousand
arrivals this week; g new hotel yet fresh with
paint, having LOO rooms; two more which
hold ], 200 each; three which hold 600 each;
and enough besides to confuse the idler. Prices
still up to high notch, yet everything full,
and everybody complaining Of hard times.
What Vanity Fair.
The celebrated gladiator who keeps the club
house, pool-room and rsce-Erack, besides the
chief restaurant in the place, is stlll
THE MYSTERY OF SARATOGA,
the stronger for standing in the social shadows |
We must 60 back to the model of Beau Nash |
to find such & career, and fail there for man /
who has been 50 battered as Morrissey, 90 be- |
rated as Morrissey: almost by the nation; so /
accused OF sinister work with Pool, and Hse-
nan, and Sullivan: 50 desired TO be threshed /
and put out Of the way so unprecedented as |
the representative gamester; 50 made q ne
proach for going to Congress-to be stiil alive.
aud very nearly respected, is q greater anomaly |
than youder pulpit silent and spiked after the
years Of comforting plstituEes it has bled. The
hooking bird of our land, who uttered all notes
with equal facility, and was in one the whole
feathered choir, has closed his song in mockery
while here this pugilist, whose hair is growing
gray, has nearly ceased to bea scandal. ''There
is just one reason" says Gen. Batchelle, the
chief man Of Saratoga "Morrissey has been
EVERYTHING BUT nSsINcERE."
1t should seem queer that dealing faro and
turning roulette can be attributed sincere pur
suits; yet, again, this man has been two or
three times nearly ruined at his own games,
and, as Mr.. Conkling, the chief real-estate man
OF Saratoga, said to me, "He has made as high
as $4,000 here q season, and lost Is high as
$l2O,O0O. Why" continued Coukling, 'fWhen !
such players as Ben Wood and John O,Brien
come here loaded up with money, resolved on
nothing short Of breaking that bank, acquainted
with every point In the game, and not to be | ,
fooled BY any trick Of the deal, It is literally
battle OF devils. They fight like Wall-street
operators on the stake Of chance"
To have been the champion Of the American ,
ring required something more than strength
1t required.
CONFIDENCE,
"That," said Morrissey, yesterday, going |
over his battles, 81 had q great deal 81 I t
came to New York q stout lad, determined 70 l
fight, and to fight the biggest man that couId t
De found. Ny father lived IN Troy. was the }
only boy In family OF eight, and had 10 sup 0
port the girls, and looked around me, very c
poor and very illiterate, and asked what could o
% best Of anything to get on. There was moth
could think Of but to fight, and had TO think
OF that; for was kicked ashore most every ]
day from the boat Of Captain Smith, who e B
now my fatheT-in-laW. I was a riyer-bov. s
handhng baggage and running for passengers, y
ana very ambitious with very little opportunity n
| had read Of Hyer and Sullivan, and the great b
pugiilsts IN New York, aud one day took nv
oundie and came to the city determined to get 81
light out Oft them. Ct
SIT was at the Empire Club, on Park Row. Of
hhere hunted them up. The first saw was u
Lsalah hynders, q famous political leader IN b
hem days, and went up to him, Surrounded Vi
oy his crowd, anc said: Mr.. Rynders, have u
sone down here from Troy to fight I've got | hi
20 money, but will fight for reputation. / d
WI night Mr.. Hyer, or you, or anybody Won
An PICK OUT They just all set on me at once OF
INC give me beating that made my head sore o.
or three weeks il
"After that laid for them individually. 50
'ald l: Gentlemen, I viii lick your crowd, and
make you acknowledge me, If It takes me pr
ears bs
Il was CT
- POOR AS A WHARF-RAF,
nd could barely pick up my food: but kent M
Z the WharTes, unloading steamers, working IN
beaten
ften that was hardly ever rieht we'll. AZ -,
ing as was poor nobody would do me the
~ 70 light me in the ring, and finally went
california In the mining times to make A
axe. There fought Thompson and whipped no.
In, and l returned TO New YORK with some m
,putation, The day I landed I chaIIengeJ - -.
yer to fight for $4,000 He came around cor
IN Fill Poole to whip me before got out Of he,
a one morning, and was 50 Determined AZ,
ont II that they saw IEould never leave beI
CIV iork III had that belt. Finally, l ha,
ught Sullivan at Boston Corners barSs.t d. d.
yht ever had. He was an artist, and he hes
oEe my nose, and cut me ali to pieces but / snd
We always known that could keep nv legs Ola,
- stand up until any Of my opponents were 5er
IIu cut. That was ny calculation with Re
eenHn; endurance against strength u.- ne
yer could bring to the scratch. he had LOST Nh,
moral force, and never would Eight me. has
? Llelu foole, as you know, set on me with M
JACK oi MS friends, and expected to bring me b5rt
NJ Hf,eU