The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1876-10-27
THE TWO BOSS SPORTS or THE
COUNTRT.

John Morrissey and John Chamberlain
are the two boss sports of the country.
They have surprising influence and en-
| JOY certain kind of popularity among
their social superiors, which can only be
accounted for by the intimacy OF their
business relations across the board of
green cloth.
Morrissey 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 says anything
very brilliant, but men Of five times his
ability look up to him as an orator.
/ Gambler though he is, he is said to be
/ fair in all mis- business dealings, and his
word is considered as good a his bond.
He allows no swindling on his race
! course and his gambling house, or CLUB
house, as some of the newspapers gin
gerley term it, Is not only the resort of
fast men, and men about town, but of
leaders of both the political parties.
Morrissey and Chamberlain, once part
but personal enemies, and openly profess
the most unbounded contempt for each
other. Morrissey is a domestic man,
strongly attached 10 his wife and family |
He cares little for theatres and less for !
display. His New York office Is n the |
open air, outside the Hoffman house,
where he holds a levee every fine after |
noon when he is in town. In person he |
IS far from handsome, although he is six
feet high and large in proportion. His
forehead is low, his short, black hair and
beard is thick and bristly, and his nose
Is battered down in the middle almost to
a level with the rest Of mis- face, one Of
the results OF one of biz great pugilistic
contests. His voice Is a h0arse, unmu-
sieal whisper, which. however, has much
ment, a. he not unfrequentiy is the night
before any important horse-race, when he
Is generally to be seen directing the bus
mess ofhis betting-room in Broadway.
His rival, John Chamberlain, is a COM
bination of contradictions; shrewd and
careless, rough and polished, wise and
foolish, good and bad. He looks fat and
wieldy; he IS supple, active and strong.
His face is dull in rePose, but under ex-
citement has the keen look of a Yankee
and the passion of an angry Italian.
Chamberlain never does anything, yet
he is never idle. He pays little atten-
tion to what is passing around him, yet
he notes everything, and forgets nothing.
Aboyeall things, he can smile. Schuyler
Collax IS not circumstance to him.
He dresses richly and fashy. He is most
fastidious in eating and drinking. His
cook is the best in the country and his
taste in wines is unsurpassed. He is
said to be judge of pictures, has an ear
for music, commands fair stock of mis-
cellaneous knowledge, tells good story,
and knows how to listen to one. Cham
berlan has most of the professional gam
blers good and bad qualities. As is
natural with a man who has lived such a
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
extent of furnishing refreshments to the
victims who may find their way into his
gambling den. He is generous and faith
ful to his friends, and open in his dis
likes. His physique, originally magnif
cent, is well preserved, Notwithstanding |
his irregular habits, and he is probably |
good " for twenty years longer I