Omaha daily bee., 1882-09-27
GAY GAMBLERS.
The Extent to Which G ambliug at
Long Branch Ia Carried on-Mag-
niscent Facilities for Games
of Chance.


Since the time when Joseph's
brethren "spreRd his raiment between
them and cast lots" men seemed to
have loved games uf chance. All our
large cities are well stocked with gam
bling tables, and even when people 90
to the s]eagiou tur y season Of rest they
still cling to this subtitle passion, and
hug to their bnsornB the goddess of
chance. Tho facilities at this place
,or "bvcki { the tiger" axe unexcelled
by auy Amor,csn nummer resort, and
tnD tlroug If sad-heGrted, light.
pockeled men who do nor retire until
ratIy morning hear testimony to the
fact. just below tho West End
hotel AZ Long Branch is one of the
most celebrated gambling palaces in
America. 1t is the custom here to
call all gambling resorts "club houses"
and 30 this one Is known as the Penn
aylvaRia club house.
II was formerly kept by John Cham
berlain, and within it's walls many d
goodly fortune has been lost and o
1t stands, n large, elegant, square
mansion, with many shady piazzaa, in
the center of a broad green lawn. The
grounds on either side are hand
somely laid out and ornamented with
flowers and statuary. In the center
of the lawn is a large fountain, sur
mounted by beds of magnificent how-
ers and exotius and other beautiful
plants, and the whole place looks more
ike the country villa of some weSlthy
gentleman than ore of the most no.
torious gaming houses in all the long
list of American summer resorts.
When Chamberlain kept it the place
was noted for Its sumptuous midnight
banquets, but now, since it has come
into the possession of Phil. Day, q
notorious Philadelphia gambler, theBo
feasts have been discontinued. Here
it was thai a we'll known Illinois sena-
tor lost the handsome sun of $4,000
in Ii night, and the place numbers
among it's victims many of Americas
great men. 1t would astound the
average person to know that many
who have earned a name and reputa.
ton in the world Of science or of let
ters have here offered up a golden
sacrifice to the sickle goddess" The
Pennsylvania club house is furnished
in a most sumptuous style from attic
to basement, and also glories in a host
OF retainers.
At the other end of Ocean avenue,
in the rear of Leland's hotel, another
''club house" has this year been
erected. 1t is a handsome structure,
built after the Queen Anne style of
architecture, three stories high, with
elegant broad piazzas on the north and
east sides. This piazza is, to a height
of four feet, covered with an open
lattice work, while the exposed space
between the lattice and tho caves is
filled with hanging baskets of luxuri-
ant vines and blooming flowers, 30
that parties passing on the street can
catch but the faintest glimpses of tho
long, open corridor, while the inter
nal workings Of the machine are COM
pletely screened from the vulgar gaia
of the outside world. The lawn is
rather narrow, as the house is but
about fifteen yards from The street.
The interior is furnished in even more
exquisite style than the Pennsylvania
club. Entering the house from the
front piazza, you find the long, broad
corridor Handsomely papered, and car
poted with the richest of tapestry.
In tho center hangs an enormous
chandelier, that lights up the dinmeat
corners.
On each side are handsomely FUR
uished apartments, provided with ele-
CANT gaming tables. In the rear, on
the easterly side, 10 the large general
assembly room," where giddY mon of
tho world ansuccessfully ''buck against
tho house," Here are the faro table,
the roulette layout, the black and
white table, and all the paraphernalia
of a frat. class gaming salon. Up
stairs are ten luxuriousiy furnished
"poker.rooms," which are lot to quiet
parties at tho rate of $40 a night, and
often they are occupied until the gray
light of dawn makes dull the glare Of
the gas Jets. Colored retainers are in
waiting in oil these apartments, aud
no pains are spared 10 lneke these sur
roundings IS pleasant as possible. The
most iAterestlng portion Of the plaos
Is the large assembly con on the FIRST
floor. The ceilings and walls are of
elegantly polished hard woods, while
the floor ia covered with a carpet 80
luIuriantly soft hat il never echoes a
footstep, The windows are decorated
with lambrequins and lace curtains,
while the surrounding walls are hung
with rich sporting pictures.
In this room the tables are alWsYs
crowded with players, Not a sound 10
heard ave the rattle Of chips and the
monot0nous calls of the dealers. The
players converse In low tones and not
a sound sVer reaches the specialized
man of letters sits next TO the beard
less STRIPPING, while tho staid la of