The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-21
BETTING ON A CERTAINTY.
An Episode in British Army Life in India
An Unpopular Colonel.

An Episode in British Army Life in India
An Unpopular Colonel.
Harpers Magazine for April.
In the British army in India betting
among the officers often runs to an extreme
of vice that is sometimes fearful to contem-
plate. Perhaps it is now worse than in club
life in London, where the most amusing as
well as tragical stories are told of the curious
bets that are made. Betting on certainty
is held to be unfair, unless the avowal is dis
tinctly made, so that no due advantage is
taken.
An officer in the army had imported for
ms private apartments new and beautiful
mahogany table. A day or two after it had
arrived and had been duly installed in his
quarters brother officer, great swell and
very unpopular, dropped in Familiarity, and
greatly admired the beautiful table, The
owner was shaving himself at the glass with
his back to his visitor-Colonel Brown-but
continued the conversation until the Colonel
withdrew, the latter remarking that he
hoped soon to have his legs under that ele-
CANT mahogany.
The owner of the table, whom we call
Major Jones, made up little dinner party
in the course of few days, and Colonel
Brown was one of the number 1t was natural
that the new table should be the subject of
remark, and Brown, who affected to be con-
noisseur in all 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 50? How high would
you suppose it to be?
Brown presume it is the usual height,
just thirty-six inches, and it ought to be less
than that by at least half an inch.
Jones-That is the exact height, thirty
five and half inches not thirty-six, as you
suppose.
Brown-Pardon me. 1 am certain it is
three feet high. l will make you bet
on it.
Jones-You will lose if You do, for give
you notice that l know its exact height TO
half an inch and if l bet [ shall bet on a
dead certainty.
Brown am just as sure as you are; l am
betting on certainty also; my eye never de-
ceives me. l will lay you 9100 or FL, 900 that
this table is thirty-siE inches high; no more,
no less.
The Major sought to dissuade his guest
from his purpose to make a bet, assuring him
that he knew the height of the table, and did
not want to bet on a certainty, but, when
the excitement grew furious, the wager was
finally laid at an enormous sum- have
heard it stated as high as $50, 000-910,000.
That seems preposterous, when such tri6e
was the subject, but the gambling spirit
does not stick at trihes. When the betting
was finally arranged, Colonel Brown ex-
claimed, exultingly: 81 told you l knew
the table was exactly thirty-six inches high.
I did know it. because when I called, just
after it arrived, 1 took the measure on my
cane ash sat by it, and after I went out L
measured and found it to be, as L have said,
precisely thirty-six inches high"
YES said Major Jones, 81 was sitting
with my back to you, but I was shaving
before the lookingglass, and | saw your tax
ing the measure of the table with your cane.
suspecting that that you were preparing for
bet as to its height, after You left I had
half an inch taken off, and it is now pre-
cisely thirty-fve and half inches high"
The applause that followed this result Was
tremendous, and completed the discontinue
of the unpopular Colonel. 1t was evident
that he had been laying plan to cheat and
would have pocketed the money if he had
won. He was sent to Coventry He sold
his commission and returned to England,
being unable to stand up against the con-
tempt of the officers, who thoroughly de-
spised his character