The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-03-25

selves with. and that the whisky that they
were playing tor was the last OF i've
gallon keg sent to me from Frisco, and
here they were squandering imaginative
millions over it. Well. l lay still until
they had bet about a hundred millions,
when | got up quietly and took a look at
their hands Grant had a pair of deuces
and Ingalls, had three jacks. ! waited
half an hour to see who would get the last
drink, but my eyes were too heavy. and |
dropped asleep on my stool. When l
awoke it was broad daylight, and Grant
and Ingalls, were both under the table. |
measured the beans piled up on the table,
and there were Just three pecks and Il
quarter"
"Who got the whisky"
IN never tell you that, but its my
opinion Grant did He had the bottle in
his hand, any how y
1T is by no means improbable that Gen.
Bristow, Secretary OF the Treasury, can
sit as quietly behind three kings and a
pair OF aces and not betray his feelings as
any one in Washington. | do not say that
he knows how to play, but l have yet to
see kentuckian OF his build and nature
who did not drink sugar in his whisky,
and play poker. A man in Kentucky who
cannot play cards would be like one in
Cincinnati who could not eat pork
have not yet even touched the Senate
nor the House big bonanzas, both OF
them. Let me run over the list of Sen
ators, | don't know how
SENATOR ALLISON
is OF late years, but when l used to play
with him, he was the pluckiest better to
be encountered around the board Tie
didn't seem to care for money, and he
never let his opponent run off his blind"
without knowing what he did it on.
Sometimes he lost, and sometimes he
made, just like all players One thing is
certain, he paid his losses like man,
Nobody ever carried his coup" over
twenty-tour hours. He was always ready
for a game when member of the House
and has sat up until daylight many a time.
He and Schenck were very intimate, and
have had many game together.
Carpenter does not play, nor does
Chandler OF Conklin@ 1t has been as
certained, however, that Chandler will
do the drinking while Clayton is doing
the playing. Cameron would not, | think.
hesitate at little game OF draw, proyid
ing there was lots Of champaign to drink
Probably the man in Congress who has
lost more money than any other, is Fer
nando Wood He has been playing in
Washington now well-nigh twenty years.
and he has been steadily losing. He is
the same at a poker table as he is in his
seat III the IIouse-the model Of deport
ment. lie never takes off his coat nor
moults his dignity He is the same calm,
impassiye, opaque individual that is daily
seen in the House. He swears Il little oc
casionaiIy, but he scarcely unbends for
this purpose. He also occasionally takes
a little brandy and water, but this needs
no unbending. His face is perfect mask.
If he holds three aces and a pair Of kings
his face gives out no indication, and Inc
can bet a thousand dollars on pair of
hines and nobody could tell that lie was
blutling. \ ct somehow or other he does
not seem to get along, and the boys get
his money. Probably mgersoll. Schenck,
Allison, and Wood have played together
ottener than any tour men N Congress.
They used to meet at Welckcrs, where Il
room was provided and where lunch and
drinks We're served OF the best and in the
best style. What inducement was there
to go home? A nice, warm fire, pleasant
company. cigars to smoke, everything to
eat and drink, and the possibility of max
ing several hundred dollars; and, indeed
the possibility of losing it - but that is
another matter.
EX-SENATOR NESNITu OF oRFGD\