The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-12-07

"reminiscences of the Golden Age Nheh
Solid Old Statesmen Fought the
Tiger.
An Old Gamblers Talk in the Washing
ton Post.
In old times l don't believe there
we're more than half q dozen men,
bers we didn't know we'll in a bust
ness way, but I swear now as gen
tleman that not more than four mem
bers of the last Congress ever came
to our rooms. They get together on
short cards in their room at the hotel
and play on twenty five. cent ante
and S. limit, and if man losos $40
in the course of a night he goes out
next day and puts Grape on his hat.
Why, the man that wins S23 on
turn now thinks his reputation tor
gambler is established, and he be-
gins to talk about us fellows that
play. If we can't do Letter than
that, we'll have to turn in and eat
each other up.
Now, in old times we thought moth
ing of having Thousand or two up
on a turn. There was old Humphrey
Marshall. lie was a Prince. | never
saw an amateur in my experience OF
forty years who would put down as
much cold money out of bis hands as
Marshall. Some fellows, you know,
are queer about cards. There was
the other Marshall. He was differ
ent from Humphrey that way. lie
laid himself out on piling his stack Of
chips up to the ceiling. But Humph-
rey would come in and pull the cold
cash out of his clothes and put it all
down on turn. He made lots OF
money, lived like a lord and never
seemed to be short. Hold up. Yes,
he was short once, that's a fact. 1t
was about the time that he came from
Chill, where lie was American Minis
ter. He came into the rooms one
day and said his wife wanted an adj
dition to the house, and he was going
to give her money to build it with
right off that table, and, by the Lord,
he did! He walked off with 4,4O0
on three turns, and next day began
work on his house. Ho played just
like one of us-cool as ice all the
time.
One of the grapdest old men at the
business was Tbad Stevens. Thad
played pretty game, not very big,
but scientific and then, too, he was
regular about it. Never came across
any one who had a bigger soul OF
honor about him than Thad. l used
to love him like brother. He play
cd blue chips, never got excited at
all, but took more solid comfort out
Of it than most any one l ever saw
Poor old Thad!.. l. remember when
he was on his death bed. The doc
tors had been giving out that he was
sick of this thing and that, and
wouldn't let any ono come into his
ROOM. He sent for me. When | got
therethe housekeeper said that she
had been positively ordered not ia
let any person talk to Mr.. Stevens;
but Thad happened to hear my voice,
and he called out: "Bob,". said he,
"these old fools are trying to find
some excuse ::for killing me off, but
it's all nonsense. Seventy EIGHT years
is my complaint. wanted to see
you, old fellow, before passed in my
chips for the last time," and he died
that day, the grandest and best old
fellew' we've had in public life fol
many day, tell you. .
Some of those foreign fellows use(
to be game, especially. the Russians
l guess it's in the blood with them
any how, they all had it in the ole
days, from Bodisco down. He was {
queer coon, but the most systematic
man at the game you ever saw. HI
used to set aside just so much mono,
for this little fun. II he was in lucl
he'd play ahead, and sometimes clear
ed stake, but generally lie didn'
turn up we'll, and when so much wa
gone he'd push his chair back from
the table and say quietly, in Away
the same words: "Ze appropriation
for Eat is all exhaust Then, if h
didn't feel tired, he looked on for
J ! while before going home. He neve
1 went over his limit on the appropria
t ton. The fellows connected wit
. tho Russian Legation then used t
. come around nearly every day, som
Of them playing big. If they didn'
3 have the cash it. made no difference
for, they we're just as good as ol
D wheat. Tile bank kept a regular &C
o count with them by the month, an
when their. sinews of war cam
b around they'd clear, the slate. Blu
D Lord! l don't believe any Of thos
g good old fellows are in the cotlntr
Q any more: just appears like pest
;, lence or = hurricane had come alon
:. and swept the whole crowd into =
o grave. .ev in
= In tho old days there was.fne and
:" the game, and it paid 81 a gam,
. wine your patrons. Of 100000 il
~ ~ used to clear upwaiford to be gene
It q season, we coSay the lunch. l cal
'e rous and give year: when we 60
" Remembering the season with tiftee'
3. away d, baskets Of champagne Yes
%. bo36rse, it cost q good deal less tha
=, L.5w, but other values were in pro
. fportiop. We never thoughtof askip
Q 3 gentleman what he'd have to drin
:: when he looked thirsty" We jul
J Wr RI the neck of : bottle, and ths
. was tie end, Of it,. Champagne the
= was the only drink. But wsda!
y there isn't = customer who comes
Y the rooms who doesn't eat up h
3 = head and drink up bis jaws thr
y times over IN twenty :fonr hours:
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