The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-04-05
Betting on . Certainty.

In tho British army in India betting
among the officers often runs 10 IN ex-
treme Of vico that il sometimes fearful
to contemplate. Perhaps IL 10 no worse
than in club lifo in London, whore the
most amusing rs we'll as tragical stories
are told Of the curious bets that are
made. Betting on certainty il held
10 be unfair, unless tho avowal il dis
tinctlv made, SO that no undue advant-
age is taken.
An officer in the army Ind imported
for his private apartments new and
beautiful mahogany table. A day or
two after II had arrived and had been
duly installed in his quarters, a brother
officer. great swell and very unpopu.
lar, dropped in familiarly. and greatly
admired the beautiful table. The own
er was shaving himself at the glass with
his back to his visitor-Col Brown
hut continued the conversation until tho
Colonel withdrew, the latter remarking
that he hoped soon to have his legs
under that elegant mahogany.
The owner of the table, whom We
must call Mai Jones, made up little
dinner party in the course Of few
days. and Col. Brown was one Of the
number. II was natural that the new
table should bc the subject OF remark,
and Brown, who affected to be con-
noisseur in oil matters, said the table
was perfect. with one exception.
Jones-"And pray what Is that,
Colonel?"
Brown-"It is just little too high"
Jones-"Do you think SOP How high
would you suppose it to be?"
Brown-"I presume it is the usual
height, Just thirty-six inches, and il
ought to be less than that by at least
half an inch."
Jones-"That il the exact height,
thirty five and half inches, not thir-
ty-six, as you suppose
Brown--"Pardon me. I am certain IL
is three feet high; I will make you Q
bet on il.
Jones-"You will lose il you do, for
give You notice that l know its exact
height to half an inch. and il bet
shall bet on dead certainty"
Brown--~l am Just ~ sure ~ You are
! am betting on y certainty. also; my
eye never deceives me. l will lay you
q hundred or u Thousand pounds that
this table is thirty-six inches high; no
more, no less.'
The Major sought to dissnade his
guest from his purpose to make q
bct, assuring him that he kHen the
height Of the table. and did not want to
bet on certainty, hut, when the excite.
ment grew furious. the wager was
/ finally laid Mt an enormous sum- have
heard it stated as high as S5o. OOO---
-fl0,MN. That seems prerosterous
when such tritic was the subject, hut
the gambling spirit does not stick al
tribes. When the betting was finally
arranged. Col. Brown exclaimed,
exultingly. 4 told You knee the table
was exactly thirty-six inches high;
did know it, because when l called
just after it arrived, took its measure
on my cane as sat hv it. and after ]
went out measured. and found it tc
be-. as | have said, precisely thirty-sis
inches high"
"Ycs." said Maj. Jones, II was sit.
ting with my back to you, but l was
shaving before the looking.glass, and
saw YOU taking the measure from the
table with your cane. Snsrecting tina,
you were preparing for bet as to its
height, after yon left | had half M
inch taken of, and it Is now precisely
thirty-iivc and half inches high"
The applause that followed this result
was tremendous. aud completed the
discontinue Of the unpopular Colonel
II was evident that he had beer
laying plan to cheat, and would have
pockcted the money il he had won. HI
was sent to Coventry. He sold his
commission and returned to England
being unable to stand up against tht
contempt Of the officers, who thorough
~ disguised his character. Harpers
| Mdoustns