South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-02-06

/ Gambling IN the Army.
The Presidsat Diseuses ~i,h the Cabiae, the
sinfuieess Of Games Of Chance
There is q general impression at
Washington. says correspondent OF .
New York paper. that the soldiers in
our frontier forts spend their spare time
In Gambling. Naturally the Congress.
sional mind is filed with horror at the
thought that sinful games should be
played by men in the service of the
United States. and bills have been inbro-
ducea by virtuous Legislators to put q
stop TO the practice. The President is
understood to have been greatly panied
on learning that tho officers and men OF
the Federal: army are addicted 10 gam
bling, and tue other day. just before the
appointment OF a new Secretary OF War
lie called meeting of the Cabinet to
discuss the propirety OF requesting Mr..
McCrary's successor. To issue an order
prohibiting gambling und er heavy pen.
allies.
Mr.. Hayes opened tho proceedings
with a brief speech. in which. after a
passing aliusion to the crops Of ihe past
season, he said that he had learned hat
gambling prevailed to q very great ex-
tent among the troops on the frontier
This gambling, the President said, was
carried on, not only in the usual way
by pitching pennies AMI playing mar
bles to keep,but game OF cards called,
II he remembered rightly, 'sledge- ham
mer. or 'tongs.' With this game he
was glad to say that he was unacquain-
ted. bu, he feared that there was no
doubt that 1t was n wicked game, and
ono which was so fascinating that the
soldiers would frequently sell their BIZ
blcs and Ia, mn books in order to raise
money with which to play lie wished
to hear the views OF the Cabinet on the
subject. and their opinion as to the ex-
pediency Of an order from tho depurt
ment forbdding oil games OF chance.
Mr.. Rev begged to correct The Presi.
dent. The games to which he had re.
Terrell were doubtless 'old-sledge' & DO.
Kerr. Tho former, lie was free TO saw
was game unworthy Of officers and
gentlemen, and as TO poker, he must
confess that IL was ruinous both to the
boiy and pocket-he should say soul.
remember pursued Mr.. Key that
while was an errIng Confederate SOL
dicr we used TO play poker every pay :
day. once raked in $4,000 in Con-
federaie currency CT WAS worth about
| SS00) in q siugla night. lust did hold
the most alfred hans. There was twice
| drew to three kings and GIled. Ireck-
on l made about four times my pay by
poker while was in the army
Permit me to inquire said Mr.. Evarts
III my learned friend adduces these
facts rs evidence of the ruinous conse
quences OF pokerp If so, Will call the
attention OF his Honor the President TO
the Tact tina. they go 10 prove that this
so-called poker is one of the most pro-
iitable OF American industries
cannot blay any Of your boxer
said Mr.. Schurz, 'but know my biano
is far better. l will blay Something's for
you now if you like But. sol gan
blieve IL? Is der bano away from der
room gomez
The President explained that Mrs.
Hayes had moved the piano up stairs to
make more room for the Cabinet meet
| ing.
1T is curious continued Mr.. Schurz ::
when l game tc Washington there is
biaDo in every house to which vent
Now every one has been up stairs ta-
ken. L cannot account fer IL. What
| is
i rccklect,' broke in Mr.. Thompson
without the slightest apology for bis
interruption Of Mr.. Schurz, Il reckelect
when was al boy raftin' on the Wabash,
we used To play old sledge and poker.
and 60 odd man for quarters all day
long. One voyage SO COPIED the cabin
ami all hands, an come into New Or
leans with all the moaey OF the whole
crowd in my pocket. But as Mr.. Hay es
says gamblin' Is wrong, very wrong.
Sill there's this to be said for it
While tho soldiers are playin' poker
they cant be doing anything worse
Ihe President here asked if Brother
Thompson would kindly explain wha,
he meant by quarter OF an odd man.
Mr.. Thompson said that he could IL.
luslrate what going the odd man for
quarters meant very easily, il Mr..
Hayes and Mr.. Key would each put n
quarter OF dollar down on the table
and cover il with their hands while he
did the same with another quarter. He
asked them TO lift their hands and SHOW
the coins. Both the Presidents and Mr..
Keys quarters lay with their heads
up. while Nr. Tbompson's lay with its
tail up. You see explained 81
thompson, that your quarters we're lust
alike, while mine was different; so I'm
the odd man, and | scoop in your mo-
ney.'
Mr.. Hayes regarded the disappearance
oil bis quarter Of dollar with some un.
easiness, hut suggested that they had
better try " again. "a nc did not yet fol.
~ understand the game. and wished TO
know the full extent OF its .ickedness.
IN the next three experiments the Pres
ident Won, aud remarked that he did
not see bot that il il we've played within
proper limits n ,vo,II n, on ir,o..o,,