Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1880-02-05
Poker in the Cabinet.
The Mysteries Of the Game Explained
to Hayes and his Co,snseliors. :

The Mysteries Of the Game Erplaiae
to Hayes and his Counseltors. 81
There Is general impression a
Washington that the soldiers in ou
frontier forts spend their spare tim,
in gam bling. Naturally tho Con-
gressional mind is filled with hor-
ror at the thought that sinful game,
should be played by men in the
service OF the United States, and
bills have been introduced by vari-
ons Legislators to put a stop to the
practice. The President is under
stood to have been greatly panied
on learning that the officers and
men OF the Federal army are adj
djcted to gambling, and the other
day he called a meeting of the
Cabinet to discuss the propriety OF
requesting Mr.. McCrary's successor
to Issue an order prohibiting gam
bling under heavy penalties. Mr..
Hayes opened the proceedings with
brief speech, in which, after a
passing allusion to the crops of the
past season, he said that he had
learned that gambling prevailed to
very great extent among the
troops on the frontier. This gam
bling, the President said, was car
ried on not only in the usual way
by pitching pennies and playing
marbles to keep, but by game of
cards, il he remembered rightly,
-''s!edehammer" or ''tongs." With
this game he was glad to say he
was totally unacquainted, bnt he
feared that there was no doubt it
was a wicked game, and one which
was 80 fascinating that the soldiers
would frequently sell their Bibles
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
opinion as to the cxpediency Of an
order from the department forbid
ding all games Of chance.
Mr.. Key begged to correct the
President. The games to which
he referred were doubtless cold
sIcdgc" and "poker - The former,
he was free TO say, was a game un-
worthy of officers and gentlemen,
and AS 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 Confed-
crate soldier we used to play poker
every payday | once raked S75.>
300 in Confederate currency Git |
was worth about $500 in single
night. | just did hold the most
alfred hands. There was twice l
drew three kings and filled. l rcck-
On 1 made about four times my pay
oy poker while in the army
s'Permit me to inquire" said Mr..
Evarts, "if roy lcared friend ad-
luces these facts as evidence of the
-uinous consequences of poker
Il so, | will call the attention of
Ms Honor, the President, to the
act that they 60 to prove that this
80 called poker is one Of tho most
profitable Of American industries"
81 cannot blay any of Your
ooker," said Mr.. Schurz, "5ut l,
know my biano is far better. l
Will blay Something's for you now if
you like. But so! gan l believe (
t? Is der biauo away from Ger
'oom gone 2"
The President explained that
Mrs. Hayes had moved the piano
Up stairs SO as to make room for
he Cabinet meeting.
cit is curious" continued Mr..
Schurz "when game to Wash
ngton there is a biano in every
louse to which l vent. Now every
,ne has been up stairs taken. l
sanrot agount for il. What is"
+" I recklect," broke in Mr..
Thompson, without the slightest
apology for his interruption of Mr..
schurz, 81 recklcct when / was "a
10Y rattin' on the Wabash, we used
o play old sle,lge and poker, and
GO THE ODD MAN FOR QUARTERS
I'll day long. One v'yge l scooped
he cabin and all hands, and come
nto New Orleans with all the mon
~ of the whole crowd in my pocket.
But as Mr.. Hayes says gamblin' is
wrong, very wrong. While the
soldiers are playing poker they
;an't be readin' Popish books or
istenin' to jesuit priests, and there's
10 manner of doubt that Roman
SIN is sight worse than gambling.
I'd like to see general order re-
luiring every soldier to make an
affidavit once month that he is a
good Protestant and is determined
% fight the Pope to the last gasp. =
Tho President hero asked if
II