Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-06-15

WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFrom Our Regular Correspondent. ]
WAetttxorN,y 1u,a II 1899

There is good deal oi gossip going
round jus, now about gambling in WASH
ing,on, especially among Nrn,y officers,
some of whom have lately been IN 6nan
cial embarrassment attributed 10 that
cause Undoubtedly some foundation ex.
irts for this tnll, as certain form of gam.
bling is carried on 10 considerable extent
among the Idle officers and their Initiates
here, though few of the former can very
well afford the luxury. Poker is the game
indulgcd in, and II is generally regarded
mild form Of speculative amusement; but
there are people who known II to he pretty
lively and expensive under certain circun-
stances. So fur as sgambling houses proper
are concerned we have none of them here
n ow, except, perhaps,a a few small policy
shops among the colored people. Our
gambling dens we're all closed more titan a
year ago and can be kept so as long as the
police authorities do their duty in enforce
Ing the strict laws of the District pertaining
thereto. But the seductive game of poker
is played in quiet way in private apart
ments TO n considerable extent. There are
many men among all classes, officials and
others, who are fond of little game of
draw" and though quite considerable
sums change hands in these gaines some
times, IL is still not clnsse,l as low gamb.
ling. II is regarded merely little gen.
tlemnnly amusement.
Bu, the time was, l,owever,"in the golden
days of the empire" when the old WASH
ington ring wins in it's glory, that gambling
here hourished most prsperously. Gsmb.
ling houses 10y The dozens we're open and
above board. Every hotel and restaurant
had its poker-rooms. The clubs were
little else than polite gambling houses. and
there were poker parties in many OF the
h"ndsomest private houses. Looking buck
on those daysit appears that every one
played poker-cabinet officers, bureau
officers, army and navy officers, senators
and members of congress nearly all played
1t ,s said that the then President, himself,
used 10 take a hand now and then. Al
that time the famous gambler, John Cham
berlain, now retired from the cloth, occu-
ried the residence OF Sir Edward Thornton,
the British minister. Sir Edward moved
out OF his beautiful house one day, and
Chamberlain moved in the next, with all
| his gambling outfit. He gave glorious
suppers, and some of the best people of
Washington visited his place and enjoy ed
his hospitality. But they never were per.
mitted to join the play, and never saw what
was going on in the other parts of the house
Senators, foreign ministers and socel,
gentlemen IN the highest ranks were ofle,
seen in these same parlors, where The Brit
ish minister entertained his company.
Ex-Sergeant at Arms French recent,
gave private reading of his lecture enti
tied "Ten Years Among the Senator's" to
party OF invited guests and it is saic til
paper proved an interesting entertainment
There is no reason why it should not !; am
; if Mr.. French is anything of an orator til
subject is one out of which he ought t
make n success as lecturer. The desir
. to hear and learn about our public men
| universal. Whatever pertains to the
o history, their struggles and triumphs, the
habits, their person, their intellectual pe
' culiarities, is eagerly devoured. "Gatt
/, has caught hold of the idea, and the pa
season, with success OF course, gave Il
country lecture upon "The Presidents
The field MIR. French has TAX il lare,
y = and richer still. The decade treated WI
an interesting period of senatorial histor
and character, aford;ng such capital SUI
jecls for the lecturers Itching M Mess,
l. tessenden, Sumner, Morton, Bayar
is Chandler. Anthony, Sherman, Wiiso
v Burnside, Thurman. Buckingham, How
!. SciIrz, Carpenter, Frelinghuysen, Eaio
Blaine, Edmunds, Conkling, The two Mo
'e rills, Window, Davis, Runsom, Gordo
e. Allison, Garland, etc.; etc. Mr.. Frencl
NJ long term of office certainly gave linn ra
= opportunity for learning the character Al
y" ways OF THESE senatorial magnates.
1t ltisexpected that the Star-route ca
will go to the jury by the end OF this wee
n. AS II draws to "A close the newspapers ow
ed or subsidized by Brady and his compa
'e ions can hardly find space enough
ID contain the abuse with which they dec
It rate, from day to day. the administrati
W and the officers of the government a,
attorneys who are engaged IN the prosec
" tion. The testimony of the defenda,
q, themselves, however, has shown TO the in
m the motives that prompt those who ma
4. these attacks. The defendants are app;
:, emily of the opinion thai abuse and sland
III are the most powerful arguments viii
IN they can Use in reply te Mr.. Merric
IL masierly and convincing analysis Of I
p. evidence against them.