Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-01-10

tent among the troops on the frontier.
This gambling, the President said, was
carried on, not only in the usual
way by pitching pennies and playing
marbles to keep, but by game of cards
called, if he remembered rightly, 'sledge-
hammer" or "tOngs." With this game
he was glad to say he was totally unac-
quainted, but he feared that there was
no doubt that it was wicked game and
one that was so fascinating that the
soldiers would frequently sell their BIZ
bles and hymn-bOOks in order to raise
money with which to play. He wished
to hear the views of the Cabinet on this
subject, and their opinions as to the
expediency of in order from the depart
ment fOrbidding all games of chance.
Mr.. Key begged to correct the PreSi-
dent. The games to which he had re-
ferred were doubtless "Old sledge" and
poker" The former, he was free to
say, was game unworthy of officers
and gentlemen, and as to poker he must
confess that it was ruinOus both to the
body and the pOcket-he should say soul.
Il remember" pursued Mr.. Key, that
while was an erring Confederate SOL
der we used to play poker every day. /
once raked in 81, 900 in Confederate cur
rency Gt was worth about $500 i'm a
single night, just did hold the most
alfred hands. There was twice / drew
to three kings and filled. / reckon |
made about four times my pay by poker
while / was in the army"
Permit me to enquire" said Mr..
Eyarts, IF my learned friend adduces
these facts as evidence of the ruinOus
consequences of poker? If so 1 will
call the attention of his Honor the Presi-
dent, to the fact that they 60 to prove
| that this sO-called poker is one of the
most profitable of American industries"
II gan not blay any of your BOXER"
said Mr.. SchurZ, "but know my bianO
| is far better. Twill blay somebody's for
you now if you like. But so! gan / be-
lieve it? Is der bianO away from der
room gomez"
The President explained that Mrs.
Hayes had moved the piano up stairs so
as to make more room for the Cabinet
melting,
at is curious" continued Mr.. Schurz,
when game to Washington there is a
bianO i'm every house to which l vent.
Now every one has been up stairs taken.
/ gan not ACCOUNT for it. What is
'Irecklect," broke in Mr.. Thompson,
with the slightest apology for his inter-
ruptiOn of Mr., Schurz, Il reklect when
was abOy raftin' on the Wabash, we used
to play old sledge and poker, and go the
odd man for quarters all daylOng. One
wage scOOped the cabin and all hands
and came into New Orleans with all the
money of the whole crowd in my pocket.
But, as Mr.. Hayes says, gambling is
wrong, very wrong. Still, theirs this to
be said for it. While the soldiers are
playing poker they can't be reading
| POpish books or liStenin' to Jesuit priests
and there's no manner of doubt that
ROmanism is sight worse than gam
bling. I'd like to see general order re-
curing every soldier to make an affida-
Wit once a month that he is good
Protestant, and is determined to fight
the Pope to the last gasp"
The President here asked if Brother
Thompson would kindly explain what he
meant by a quarter of an odd man.
Mr.. Thompson said that he could illus
trate what going the odd man for quar-
tiers" meant very easily, if Mr.. Hayes
and Mr.. Key would each put a quarter
of a dollar down on the table and cover
it with their hands while he did the
same with another quarter. He then
asked them to lift their hands and show
the coins. Both the Presidents and Mr..
Keys quarters lay with their heads up,
while Mr.. ThOmpsOn's lay with its tail
up. you see," explained Mr.. ThOmp-
son, that your quarters are just alike,
while mine was different; so Pm the odd
man so / scoop i'm your money"
Mr.. Hayes regarded the disappearance
of his quarter of dollar with some I'M
easiness, but suggested that they had
better try it again, as he did not yet full
ly understand the game, and wished to
know the full extent of its wickedness.
In the next three experiments the Pres
dent won, and remarked that he did not
see but that if it were played within
proper limits it would be an innocent
and amusing game. AS the investiga-
ton still proceeded, Mr.. Evarts and the
rest of the Cabinet, with the exception
of Mr.. Key, and Mr.. Thompson, gradual
ly withdrew. Twice Mr.. Thompson sent
the call boy out for change, and his
brow grew darker as the hours went on.
1t was full 10 o'clock when the Presi-
dent rose up and denounced the game as
being of clearly satanic origin. Mr..
Thompson conceded with him, observing
that its character had entirely changed
since his early Wabash days, but Mr..
Key, with his pockets loaded down with
silver, protested that he saw nothing
wrong about the game, and would be
glad to assist the President i'm any fur
ther investigation of the kind that he
might feel disposed to make.
This is the story of the Cabinet meet
ing, which certain wicked army officers
assert is the only true and authorized
account of its proceedings. There
is reason, however, to doubt its
literal truth. 1t isprObable that either
the President, the Postmaster General,
or the Secretary of the Navy would have
told what occurred at a secret meeting
of the Cabinet? If they did not, it is
evident that we have no trustworthy ac-
count of how the game stood when the
meeting broke up.
A Witty ParsOn.