Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-09-07
Rernum as q Poker PIarer.

"We came on the Scythia with
Barnum. He's a full company by
himself, with the orchestra thrown
in. The second day out from
Queenstown we encountered a fear
full storm, and it did look at one
time as though we were all going to
the bottom. Men and women were
scared, and lots of folks were on
their marrow bones. But Barnum
said we were on the right track.
AS soon as we got our sea legs on,
nearly all Of the gentlemen amused
themselves at poker playing; and,
by the by, that reminds me to tell
you that Barnum is crack poker
player. | think he could beat Po-
ker Schenck all hollow"
6 You don't mean to say that
Barnum is a poker PLAYER 2"
eyes, l do, and he is o tough one
to beat sometimes. He chips in
heavy when he's got a good hand.
But let me tell you about the play.
A day or two after that heavy storm,
johnson, the dry goods merchant,
and several more Of us, were in the
smoking room having a quiet little
game. By the way, Johnson's a
tip top poker player. Somehow or
another he'd beat everybody, and
then with laugh he'd tell his op-
ponents to get a fresh pack of cards
and practice a little in their state
rooms. Well, there we were, deep
ly interested in our game, when who
should come in but Mr.. Barnum.
He looked on in silence for awhile,
and then made a bet or two, and
lost. Appearing much interested,
he said, after a time: Gentlemen,
can't you make room for me? Id
like to take hand We thought
it good joke, and laughed heartily.
One Of the party remarked: why,
Mr.. Barnum, you're so good a hand
in the show business, we fear you'll
change the cards before our very
eyes 'Oh, no l won't, boys re-
piled Mr.. Barnum if you let me
in Pll play square with YOU So,
by unanimous consent we let Bar
mum in, and from sundry winks
and mods around the table | think
several Of the party fattered them
selves they'd lay him out easily.
"Ihe game was twenty-five cents
ante, and limited to a dollar and a
quarter raise. For the first three
or four hands nothing unusual oc-
Cured. Barnum lost every time,
and several of the party smiled at
his discontinue, and winked know
ingly at each other. On the fifth
or sixth deal, one of the old players
caught a full Jack-the best hand
out that far-and, when it came his
turn, he Clipped, and all passed
around to Barnum. Mr.. B. quietly
said, 'I'll see you,' and then went
dollar and a quarter better. The
old player-a portly gentleman,
with a ruffied shirt front, in which
sparkled an antique gem-6lled and
then called, and l'm blessed if Bar
mum didn't have a king full. There
was a twinkle in the old mans eyes
as he raked in the pot. The Joke
of the whole business was about
Barnum's infrmity, the pain in the
back, which invariably seized him
after he had quietly fobbed five or
six pounds at one sitting. He
would complain dismally Of that
pain in his back, and, begging to
be excused, would leave the table /
and deck, and seek other society in |
the cabin or on deck. But when he |
was losing his woolly horse we
never heard a murmur; it was not
until fortune favored him again,
and the pounds sterling recon-
menced slipping into his pocket !
that the pain in his back returned. |
81 remember on one occasion
there were six Of us IN the party,
and it was my deal. | caught four
kings, and, by the way the other
gentlemen clipped, it appeared as
if every one at the table had good
hand. They edged in cautiously at
first about twenty-five cents apiece.
When it came to Barnum he raised
fifty cents, | was sitting next to
Barnum, on the left, and noting his
raise, | raised to the limit. 10 my
every one else came in, and |
when it came to Barnum's turn he
called us. Feeling sure of my hand,
| hung off to see what the other
gentlemen would do, and to have
the laugh on Barnum. BY gracious
| never saw such hands in my life.
There was a jack full, two cases of
four of a kind-though small-and |
the lowest hand out was an eight
full. With a smile OF satisfaction
| spread out my four kings, and
reached for the pot, when Barnum