The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1876-10-20
A Pair of Gamblers.

The two boss gamblers Of the coun-
try undoubtedly are Jshn Morrissey
and John Chamberlain. The one is
summering at his gambling house at
saratoga, and the other at his 'sclub'
at Long Branch. These men have sur
passing influence and enjoy certain
KIND OF popularity among their social
Superlors which can be only accounted
Tor by the intimacy of their business
relations across the board of green
cloth.
Morrlssey, State Senator, and ex-pu-
gilist, seems to be acquainted with
everybody at Saratoga, except the
ladies, and he cares as little for them
as they care for him. He never saws
anything very blllliant. but men of
five times his ability look up to him as
an oracle. Gambler though he is. he
is said to be fair in all his business
dealings, and his word is considered as
good as his bond. He allows no swind-
ling on his race-coarse and his gam
bling house, or clubhouse, as some
of the newspapers glngerly term 1T, is
the resort not only of fast men and
mer about town, but of leaders in both
political parties. Morrissey and Cham
berlain, once partners. have been for
years not only rivals, but personal en-
emies, and openly profess the most un-
bounded contempt for each other. :
MorrisSey is a domestic man, strongly
attached to his wife and family. He
cares little for theatres. and less for
display. His New York Office is in the
open air, outside the Hoffman House.
where he holds leyee every fine af-
ternoon when he is in town. In per-
son he is far from handsome, although
he is six feet high and large in proper
ton. His forehead is low, his short,
black hair and beard are thick and
bristly, and his nose is battered down
in the middle almost to level with the
rest of his face, one of the results of
one Of his great pugilistic contests,
His voice is hoarse, unmusical whis>
per, which, however, has much power
when it's owner is moved to excite
ment, as he not infrequently is the
night before any important horse race,
when he is generally to be seen direct
ing the business Of his betting room in
Broadway.
His rival. John Chamberlain, is a
combination of contradictions: ShreWd
and careless, rough and polished, wise
and foolish, good and bad. He looks
fat and unwieldy he is supple, active
and strong. His face is dull in repose.
but under excitement has the keen
look of the Yankee and the passion of
an angry Italian. Chamberlain never
does anything, yet is never idle. He
pays little attention to what is passing
around him, yet notes everything and
forgets nothing. Above all things, he
can smile. Schuyler ColfaX is not a
circumstance to him. He dresses
richly and fiashily. He is most fastid-
ious in eating and drinking. His cook
is the best in the country and his
taste in wine is unsurpassed. He is
said to be good judge of pictures,
has an ear for music, commands fair
stock of miscellaneous knowledge,
| tells good story, and knows how to
listen to one. Chamberlain has most
of the professional gamblers good and
bad qualities. AS is natural with a
| man who has lived such life as he
has lived, he has no belief in religion
or in human nature. 1t is his business
| to be liberal, and he is so, to the eX-
tent of furnishing refreshments to the
victims who may find their way into
his gambling den. He is generous
and faithful to his friends and open in
his dislikes his physique, originally
magnificent, is well preserved, not
withstanding his irregular habits, and
he is probably "good" for twenty
years to come.