The New York herald., 1879-02-09

amusement which involves chance skill.
the vital consideration whether the prejadees
20 sna ssn uy .aShs sa seq HSSs
different aud yet in harmony with tue laws of the assceia
he should compel others ride who prefer their owns The
s .n s S
and habits OF different creed. and customs sasnsa .o
upon a common plane and with equal rights our
and bylaws II.
Of chance ., Of seii sids article section s part
Of our domestic economy and subject 90 those laws u
aois o de woala be to poserisse s,.
psesson 80 oecapa.' ,ss.o hAo' ef'sa OF '"'''"'
Resides oppose cards what they consider
rs social amusement and adopt their use 10 ths
hsm De 70, bsss ssnasmsn forsst thai the
club is the only family eireeha some OF the members
Many of those who will FOR cards do not Intend TO
ieve that the expressed wish
OF number IN favor of An additional social amusement
In deserving Of liberal construction ana fair trial IL
any the svisdarky limited by sone-shond arise, u
punish the osnders or sy amended bylaw 70 prohSs
this or any other amusement which constitutional ma
tSoa.' ton. 'D'' '''A' ''p'S'''' ' '''
WHAT THE OLD
II know that gambling will necessarily accompany
card playing" says who sides with the old boys.
"Thats what broke up the Reform Club when they
were in their old building, and that's why SO many
but used to hear young men mentioned by name as
losing $500. 5000 and in one instance 81 ooo at
for money is openly carried on at the Philadelphia
Club. II We permit cards why shouldn't it he so
with us?"
The reporter gave it up and sought for another vic
tim, who happened to be very prominent old boy.
He had very decided opinions and no hesitation
about expressing them. He exclaimed: -
What! play cards at the League house! No,
sir 1t would be contrary to all precedent in
the club. 1t would change its whole character, and
would ultimately result in running it, 1t would be
beneath the dignity of q club with the noble record
of ours to permit gambling, for that's what card
rla yippa n yyay
the founders OF the club that that sort OF thing
should be tolerated.
bylaws, if the founders were down that sort of
thing
We'll suppose it was never imagined that any
one would dare to attempt such practices and they
therefore didn't think it necessary to provide against
them"
ION the principle that the Greek laws provided no
punishment for parricde, because they held that
the crime was too terrible to ever be committed? 2?
"Wel-ah-yes; suppose so."
GAMBLING INEVITABLE.
"When there is card playing in club" said
prominent bank officer and solid citizen. there is
to be gambling. 1t cant be prevented. That
has been the experience OF the Reform Club ever
since its organization, so ! am told ON good
there is a terrible amount Of gambling done
there. That's what these youngsters would bring
the, the League to 81, they aa had IL their s way I'm
demanding this innovation was turned out OF the
Philadelphia Club for gambling. II cards are adj
mited to the League it would destroy the club. but
don't think they will be, for believe have
settled this question tor good 1t is true the majority
Of cast against the other side small but
and that next time they will succeed don't you be-
leve it. Well euchre-no. that's not the word, for
I'm opposed to the game-I mean to say we II beat
them next time"
PROM COMMON SENSE STANDPOINT
'Lets look at this question entirely from COM
mon sense standpoint" said an old merchant lean
ing back in his chair placing his hands together
that only the tips OF his fingers touched and looking
the tops of his glasses ut the quesoner. II
a card player; take hand in q game ut home and
at the houses OF my friends but l am opposed to
permitting it at the League for the reason that
while and my wife habtually take wine at dinner
always forbid its being brought on my table when
have young people dining with me. In either case
the cards the wiue-I think that by induging in
the presence of young men l might be setting bad
example. l am cool-headed old fellow and never
tempted to go too far with either drinking play;
but there's no knowing what dissipation young
like you might be led into il men of my age set
the example; is there nowY'
The reporter humbly admitted that the excuses he
might commit in such were frightful to think
1.-THE great point to remember is that the League is
not like ordinary social clubs, and many of its men,
bers are not what you would call club men in the or
binary isSi isise; & course YOU are familiar with
| Club Of Philadelphia. You know that it
helped to save the nation and that it had q
| great mission to accomplish when it started.
With such glorious and dignifed record in the past
would be great pity for the League to degenerate
! or less gambling in spite of all precautions.'I
"Then you believe that the introduction Of cards
would necessarily be followed by gamLlingY'
'.Yes: and know that if the rule on this point
that We have followed for NO many years be broken
down. the best element would leave the club and the
dissolution OF the Union League would follow"
THE PHILADELPHIA CLUB.
The Philadelphia Club is one of the oldest in the
country. 1t is very exclusive, and nearly all its
members wealthy men their sons 1t resem-
bles in many ways the Union Club of New York, and
quite number OF its members belong to the Union
men and the Coaching Climb in turn corresponding
members of the Philadelphia. The Philadelphia
Troop oiuP are also on the ro e ely
dephia. The number of members in about
$780, and the daily average attendance in the neigh
borhood of eighty, which is considered very large
for club of that size. Elderly appear TO be In
the majority among the regular attendants. About
twenty OF the eighty card players. The old fell
lows have been for many years in the habit of play
ing whist and chess, but the boys are grad
uay inducing them to indulge in the livelier fasci-
nations OF Boston and euchre. Poker is not allowed.
There Is kind Of doubt that there have been some
deeply interesting" games at tho Philadephia and
that large sums OF money have changed hands at q
sitting Belated Quakers who pass the old-fashioned
mansion of the club ut Thirteenth aud Walnut streets
shake their heads at the lighted windows and wonder
who is losing tonight and how much, for the club
house has earned a reputation Tor being the
of great deal of gambling. Many young
fellow of wealth has been forbidden by his mamma
to join this select society because of the many
naughty stories concerning it. But the members Of
the Philadelphia Club willie they admit its sins of
the past desirous to have IL understood that
they'll never do so any more-that is, hardly ever.
They say that the days of high play During
tne war, When e'cryDouy plenty Oh money, there
dozen tables going every night. with the
crowded with men waiting for opportunities TO
sit in, while large stakes changed hands the
games went 1t not avaricious gambling,
the players were all gentlemen. II merely
pour pdsser ie temps. Now the average number of
tables IN every evening is only three, and there
is more heavy play But the card playing and
billiards always feature of the attractions at the
Philadelphia Club, and the "upstars set." as the
players known, claim that they the life and
support of the club especially in their patronage of
the "sideboard" and restaurant, and the down
sef'' Lg/i
that they do at least, their share in paying the
penses of the house.
THEY
Several leading members of the Philadelphia Club
unanimously OF the opinion that the League IL
very poky and dull club. They think 1t very foolish
In the OF the League alter they have lost
many members and are continuing to lose them. to
refuse the request OF the younger and liberal
minded to permit card playing They think 1t sui
cdal to attempt to club after forpidding gem
tlcman member the privilege Of quiet aud enter
tanning game at cards.