The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-08-05


publican Journal of unquestioned ortho-
doxy. 1t prints the following laugha-
BILE gambling story, without qualifying
the allegations it contains:
"Johnson was a fine poker player
i one of the best in Tennessee. He used
to tell of game he played with Grant
In 1866. Grant was then at Washing
ton, and visited the President one
night. After short talk, Johnson
proposed game of poker. Grant,
who was an inveterate player then,
jumped at the chance. Cards were
brought and they began to play. Grant
lost steadily and heavily. The game
was 81, call SO, and no limit. At last
Grant said: johnson, will play you
one more deal around and we will quit
Il am tired of this d-n foolishness.'
johnson dealt and wouldn't come in.
They made it a jack pot.
"The jack pot went on increasing in
size; neither could open it. At last
there were $64 in the pot. Grant was
dealing. Johnson picked up his cards;
he had pair of aces up. Grant looked
at his cards and quietly laid them
down. Johnson said:
eel will open for $780,
"Grant, without moving a muscle of
his cast-iron countenance, leaned back
in his chair and said slowly, looking at
his cards all the time;
eel will have to raise you $50, Andy.
can't help it,
"Johnson was little surprised, but
stood the raise. Grant asked him how
many cards he wanted.
eel just want one; how many do
you want?'
Eh?' said Grant, carelessly, Il
don't want any this time.'
"Johnson picked up his card. 1t
was an ace. He bet 500.
eel will see your 800, Andy, and
raise her $4,000
"Johnson said afterward the bet
came near taking his breath away from
him, but something told him Grant
was bluffing. He felt presentinent
that he was.
"sGrant, I will see your $4,000 and
raise her $780,
s'Grant clenched his teeth, and his
lips came together like a steel trap.
"sI will see your $500 and raise you
$4,000 better
eel got little scared said johnson,
land thought maybe he had tours on
me. So I said, sPll just call you;
what have you got?'
"Jack high,' said Grant, and, with
an oath, jumped up from the table,
got his hat and left, giving johnson
his note for all he had lost"
Now, it is possible that there is some
truth in this. Nothing could be more
natural than for. President J Johnson and
Gen. Grant to play poker. Every
Tennesseean and every army officer
knows that beguiling game, and both
johnson and Grant had love for it,
and played it whenever favorable
opportunity was offered.
! But in one interesting particular the
tale of the Louisville Commercial is
certainly untrue. 1t AYERS that during
the. play Gen. Grant said: "T am tired
of this damn foolishness;" and also that
on leaving off he jumped up from the
table "with an OATH" This is false
and slanderous. Gen. Grant never
swears. In all our acquaintance with
him, we never heard him utter a pro-
fame word. His example in this re-
spect was as consistent as it was con-
spicuous. Most army officers will
swear; when they are excited Gen.
Scott used swear, Gen. Sheridan will
put in an oath now and then to Civ c
emphasis to his ideas, and Gen. Sher-
man can make tho air lurid with his
cursing. Not so Gen. Grant. We
have been with him in some Of the
most trying circumstances of his mill
tary career, and can testify that no
cause of anxiety or Of anger has ever
drawn any sort of an oath from his
lips.
The Louisville Commercial ought to
apologize.--[N e'c York 'su''.
THE GEORGIA s'CRACKER.'
Mr. Quad in one of his letter thus de-