Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-05
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1t happened the other day that a re.
porter of the New Y ork Sun found himself
in company where the superstition of
gamblers was the topic OF conversation.
"Tell me there is no such thing as luck !
| You might as we'll try to convince me there
are no poor people in the world, " said a
veteran of the turf, continuing. 81 used
to have an old penny that | found on the
track. I would put my mind on any horse
that 1 thought pretty well of, and then
throw my penny in the air. If the head
turned up backed that horse for winner,
and l always won. l made pile of money.
One day lost the copper, and after that /
lost nine bets in succession.
"What is your opinion ?" was asked OF
a long time faro dealer.
ooh, of course, l believe in luck, was
the answer, "and l could tell you some
curious stories. Some years ago, when
was dealing back on Broadway, black cat
found its way into the place, and from
that time we had luck without end. We
believed it was the cat that did it, and we
took the best of care of her. The cat was
with US six months, and night after night
the bank was ahead, and made big win-
nings There were three of us and we
made $50, 900 apiece in that time. One
lieved some of the boys put it out Of the
way, because they had gotten into our
notions about the animal, and three
months afterwarI we were completely
cleaned out.
Gamblers have acquired something of a
reputation as free givers to charitable OBJ
jects. In part the performance on which
this reputation is based is no doubt due
to the we'll established law that what is
easily won is freely spent. But there is
another cause for the phenomenon. Char
ity with gambler is in the nature of a
propitiatory sacrifice to the goddess of
luck. He is especially generous to the
blind, because luck is said to be blind.
"I know gambler" remarked mem
ber of the party, 'who used to give a
quarter every morning to bind woman
who ground hand organ on the corner of
Sixth avenue and Fourteenth street. Once
or twice he forgot himself, and I have
known him to go back mile or more to
make his offering. If it rained, and the
old woman was not there he would not
gamble. He kept that up ever so long and
he was one of the luckiest players | ever
knew"
81 am not professional gambler" re-
marked still another of the party but |
do love a quiet game of poker now and
then. l am not superstitious, and have
often had my joke at the expense of some
of the boys for their fancies, but when
man tells me there is no such thing as luck
| put him down as wrong. Luck runs in
streaks, and when fellow has it he can
make the most foolish bets and win. |
have had just such streaks, made the most
ridiculous bets, and yet won right along.
Again, have been very careful and calcu.
latinp, and lost without intermission.
When you are in luck the thing to do is to
force it. That's my advice.
Some gamblers will not play unless they
can do so in particular seat at the table.
They must face east or west, north or
south. Others will not play while a cer-
tain person is present, having determined
in his mind that the individual has an evil
eye-or, in the language OF the profession,
is hoodoo. Gamblers employ only colored
men as attendants in their gaming houses,
because, as they say, there's luck in
change OF color. They are careful to note
the first number they see On Car or othtr
object in the street each morning, and
whether it be odd or even makes a great
difference in their feelings during the day.
There is no schoolgirls superstition that
does not find resting place in the mind OF
the average gambler. 1t is with him, rs
with them, unlucky to spill the salt, ornin-
GUS to be in house when a mirror
IN 4n
pin pointing toward you in your
path, fruitful of evil to see
new moon over your left shoulder, bad to
meet cripple first after quitting the house,
far worse to see cross.eyed person first,
dangerous to pass between the carriages In
a funeral procession and an act of reckless
ness to count the same carriages. Newly
gained possessions are closely watched by
gamblers. If gambler wins his first risk
after purchasing ring nothing can induce
him to part with it. Ii he loses he Will
give the ring away sooner than keep it.
Each suit of clothes he puts on are sub
iected to the same test. Even the days of
the week and the houses where he plays are
considered lucky or unlucky, according as
he observes an apparent tendency to win
or lose on certain days or in certain places.
Every act of veteran gamblers life is thus
regulated to meet the exactions of self
imposed fatalism.
when he walks he must be on certain
side of the street, and, with some, when
the sidewalk is tagged, they must never
take more than one step to each flag.
This produces an exceedingly uneven
gait. with now and then a tremendous
Jump, by way of variety. Many are sub
iected to the plague that beset Samuel
johnson, of touching with a cane each
successive paling as they pass along a
fence, and under no circumstances permit
ting themselves to miss one. OF course
none could be gotten to make one of
party of thirteen at table. At most
gambling houses free dinners are served,
and the plates laid are always either
over or under this tabooed number. Ii it
happens that only twelve are seated and
the thirteenth comes along, he will wait
for the fourteenth Should it happen that
the thirteenth man is an outsider profess
sionally speaking, and not being under the
spell of the superstition, rs disposed to
take seat he will either be reminded OF
the terrible calamity to which he exposes
the whole party, or some member already
seated will without ado absent himself un-
til some supposed lucky number is again
made possible by the addition OF his pres
ence.
OF course every gambler has his favorite
card on which he takes extra risks. Some
make ventures with particular sums OF
money, sometimes represented by curious
fractions. Others make Only prearranged
number of ventures. But let the gambler
be outwardly ever so cool and Indifferent,
inwardly he is the slave, and not only OF a
general dominant passion, but Of an endless
variety of childish and inconsequent super
stitions.