, 1877-01-07
WASHINGTON GAMBLING
The Crudsade Against the Knights
OF the Ii ger in the Capital.
Some "reminiscences of Poker
Playing Many Years
Ago.
John Morrissey's Congressional Faro
Bank and It's Patrons.

John Morrissey's Congressional Faro
Bank and It's Patrons.
Decline OF the "Tiger" Since
&the Flush Times Of
War.
From Our 0nn 'CorresDondens.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 3.-"Down with
the gamblers!n is the motto on the top Of the
first page Of the police journal Of the new year.
There is curious Investigation Of gambling be-
Ing made here, In which one at least OF the
stakes seems to be the scalp Of the Chief Of
Police. The evidence is not very explicit that
the police have done wrong, but there are strong
suspicious. And, in the absence Of evidence
suitable for Grand Jury, the preachers are
trying to exercise the gamblers with prayer.
Meanwhile the gamblers Live, probably have
always lived, possibly always will, live.
Th2ckcray, in writing Of the -Four Georges,
tells us that, when we try to recall social and
political England, we must fancy It playing at
cards for many hours every day. 4 hundred
years ago and more there was journal known
Journal and IN organ. In that Journal its ed
itor, David Seymour, wrote, "Gaming has be-
come so much tho fasbion that he who in COM
pany should be ignorant of the games in vogue,
would be rcckoncd 1ow-bred, and hardly fit for
conversation George the Second himself is
represented as always furious at the sight OF
books, and his Queen, who loved read
ing, had to practice 1t in secret in
her closet. So that Old Sarah Marlborough
ech7cd the spirit Of Fer time when she said:
ssBooks, prithce, don't talk to me about books.
The only books know are men and cards."
Even wise old johnson said that he regretted
that be had not learned to play, as tit is very
useful in life; 1t generates Kindness and consol-
idates society" This was in the time when
sturdy, honest Martin Luther used to drink his
bottle Of wine, and play backgammon to pro
mote digestion, IS In days still older much the
some thing is reported to have been done for
:tthe stonlach's sake.'' The same love Of
Rambling and the dice-bo1 is seen all
oter English social history. In the clubs,
to the young men OF fashion the dtcc-box WIS
King. Gibbon writes Of dreadful gambler, one
Charles Fox, who lost 600, 600 sterling at play
and who played for tTcnty-two hours at sit
ting. Byron, Brummell, and long list OF dis
tinguishcd names, were yotaries Of this vice. It
cards and the dicc-box, played for money,
ceased to be recognized BY the leaders OF society
and fashion
The same has been mcasureably true in our
own country.
GAMBLING IN WASHINGTON.
The Washington gambling-houses OF the old
dlrs were never supported to any great extent
by the resident population. Members Of
congress,-.psrtfcularly those from tho newer
erous patrons Of the sporting men. To
these must be added the contractors lobby, and
the large class Of transient, adventurous popu-
laiou, which, in the days before aud
dufing the War, so filled Washington
and Franklin Pierce were among the Con-
gressncn who used to risk great deal of
money at the Capital. In these later days Of
big stakes of professional gamblers, the sums
bet probably would seem tritling, but they were
all the Congrcssmen of that day could afford:
Stevens Is reported to hare played entirely for
the excitement, and not to have cared for the
money. An old stager, who claims to have Wit
his methods: ssHe played with consuu1mate
coolness, never lost his temper, and never i'll
creased the amount OF his bet, either to re-
tricve his losses or moro rapidly to IN
crease his winnings. His sarcastic remarks
upon the discomposurc Of his fellow-playcrs,
who sometimes exclaimed with rngc and pro-
family at their ll-luck, were always witty us we'll
as cutting. While they were eating and drink
ing with tue yoracity OF cor1norarts, he never
indulgcd in anything more stimulating than
cracker and cup Of water. The contrast be-
tween his coolness and apparent apathy and
the eager, fierce excitement Of Others sitting at
the same table, and engaged i'll the same
pursuit: was amazing: l have rarely seen
more pitiab)e and painful exhibition than was
often presented by the ungoyerncd passions Of
gamcster after run OF ill-luck. To Mr.. Ste
yens such displays Of weakness seemed to at
ford amusement rather than to excite sympathy
H.
capable Of acts Of bencvolence under strong
emotion, but gent1eness or tenderness was not
his ordinary mood. He threw off more good
things In conversation without effort than any
man ercr saw. aud his sayings were pointed
with degree Of ep1granlmatic force that 1
never witnessed In aty other man."
At 4 still earlier time, turf-ganbling had
great nlnny yotarics among congressman. Gen
Jackson was noted tuIflnan, aud often had
heavy bets upon races. If the old chroniclers
arc to be believed, fair race was as much
laughed at in those days as it Is now. On one
occosion, Jackson had heavy bet pending on q
race, and demonstrated, the story goes, with one
OF the riders in this manner:
You black rascal, mind what you are about.
None OF ysur old tricks with me. If l catch you
squirting your tobacco juice In my boys eyes,
Ill cut your heart out"
EARLY GAMING.
The first gambling-bauk is said to have been
started in the old house called the Mansion
House. on the site OF the present Wizards Ho-
tel. At the time Of the Kansas agitation there
was great deal Of gambling. The - - dens' u
were mostly kept by Southerners aud Washing
tonians: LIZ Buchanan's time, there was one
conviction for gambling, but Lincoln WAS 50
tender-hearted TINT he pardoned the convict. It
appeared that the gambler had had some sort Of
aquarrel with Robert Uuld, WHO was then Dis
trict Attorney, aad had pressed his conviction
without sufficient evidence.
TIRE VICES OF WAR.
During the War about 500 ganbing-houses
were in operation in Washington. One OF these
MAS said to have cleared more than half mill
ion dollars annually for three years. In 1866 its
proprietors closed it, because, with the cessation
Of iostiitics, the departure of the soldiers, and
of the.large number OF adventurous contract
ors, the times had become too dull for persons
accustomed to such large gains. In that year
the profits OF the place were $50,0 900. In 1S65
the Chief OF Police estimated that there we're
$50 professional gamblers in the city. This was
about one to every 21S OF population. Since
the War the number Of gnmblers has steadily
decreased, and IT is probable TINT there are CON
siderably less than 100 professionals who gain O
livelihood at this occupation In this city At pres
ent. OF this number there are very few who