The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-01-02

There is 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 Congressional
mind is filled with horror at the thought
that sinful games should be played by
men in the service of the United States,
and bills have been introduced by vir-
tuous Legislators to put stop to the
practice. The President is understood
to have been greatly panied on learning
that the officers and men OF the Federal
army are addicted to gambling, and the
other day, just before the appointment
of new Secretary of War, he called a
meeting of the Cabinet to discuss the
propriety of requesting Mr.. McCrary's
successor to issue an order prohibiting
gambling under heavy penalties.
Mr.. Hays opened the proceedings
with brief speech, in which, after
passing allusion to the crops of the past
season, he said that he had learned that
gambling prevailed to 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 and playing
marbles to keep, but by a game of cards
called, if he remembered rightly,
"sledge-hammer," or "tongs." With
this game he was glad to say that he
was unacquainted, but he feared that
there was no doubt that it was wicked
game, and one which was so 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 the subject, and their opinion as to
the expediency of an order from the
department 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 pocket-he should say
soul. " remember" pursued Mr.. Key,
that while was an erring Confederate
soldier we used to play poker every pay
day. / once raked in $4,000 in Con-
federate currency Git was worth about
5000 in single night. just did hold
the most alfred hands. There was
twice [ drew to three kings and filed. 1
reckon 1 made about four times my
pay by poker while I was in the
army"
Permit me to inquire said Mr..
Evarts, if my learned friend adduces
these facts as evidence of the ruinous
consequences of poker? If so, / will
call the attention of his Honor the
President to the fact that they go to
prove that this so-called poker is one of
the most profitable of American indus
tries"
Il cannot blay any of your, BOXER"
said MIR. Schurz, but know my biano
is far better. will blay Something's for
you now if you like. But, so gan 1
believe it? Is der biano away from
der room gomez"
The President explained that Mrs.
Hayes had moved the piano up stairs
to make more room for the Cabinet
meeting.
1T is curious" continued Mr..
Schurz; when game to Washington
there is biano in every house to which
vent. Now every one has been up
stairs taken. cannot ACCOUNT for it.
What is"
II recklect," broke in Mr.. Thompson
without the slightest apology for his in
terruption of Mr.. Schurz, II recklect
when was boy raftin' on the Wabash,
we used to play old sledge and poker,
and go the odd man for quarters all
day long. OLe wage I scooped the
cabin and all hands, and come into New
Orleans with all the money of the whole
crowd in my pocket. But, as Mr.. Hayes
says, gamblin' is wrong, very wrong.
Still there's this to be said for it: While
the soldiers are playin' poker they can't
be doing anything worse"
The President here asked if Brother
| Thompson would kindly explain what
he meant by quarter of an odd man.
Mr.. Thompson said that he could il
lustrate what going the odd man for
quarters" 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
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..
Thompson, @that your quarters were
just alike, while mine was different; SO
I'm the odd man, and scoop in your
money"
Mr.. Hayes regarded the disappear
ance of his quarter of dollar with
some uneasiness, but suggested that
they had better try it again, as he did
not yet fully understand the game, and
wished to know the full extent of its
wickedness. In the next three expert
ments the President 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
investigation still proceeded, Mr.. Ev-
arts and the rest of the Cabinet, with
the exception of Mr.. Key and Mr..
Thompson, gradually withdrew. Twice
Mr.. Thompson sent the call-boy out for
change, and his brow grew darker as
the hours went on. It was fully 10
o'clock when the President rose up and
denounced the game as being of clearly