The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-06-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent. ]


WASHINGTON, D. c., June 5, 1888.
There is good deal of gossip going
round Just now about gambling in Wash
ington, especially among army officers,
some of whom have lately been in finan-
cial embarrassments attributed to that
cause. Undoubtedly some foundation
exists for this talk, as certain form Of
gambling is carried on to considerable
extent among the idle officers and their
intimates here, though few of the former
can very well afford the luxury, Poker
is the game INDUCED in. and it is gen
orally regarded a mild form Of specula
tive amusement; but there are people who
know it to be pretty lively and expensive
under certain circumstances. So far US
gambling houses proper are concerned we
we have none of them here now, except,
perhaps, few small policy shops among
the colored people. Our gambling dens
were all closed more than year ago and
can be kept so as long as the police
authorities do their duty in enforcing the
strict laws of the district pertaining
thereto. But the seductive game of
poker is played in a quiet way in private
apartments TO a considerable extent.
There are many men among all classes,
officials and others, who are fond of u
little game of draw" and though quite
considerable sums change hands in these
games sometimes, it is still not elassed as
low gambling 1t is regarded merely q
little gentlemanly amusement.
But the time was, however, lin the
golden days of the empire, when the old
Washington ring was in its glory, thai
gambling here flourished most prosper
ously. Gambling houses by the dozer
were open and above board Every
hotel and restaurant had its poker-rooms
The clubs were little else than polite
gambling houses, and there were poke
parties in many of the handsomest private
houses. Looking back on those days i
appears that everyone played poker
cabinet officers, bureau officers, army ant
navy officers, senators and members Of
congress nearly all played. 1t is SAT-
that the then president, himself, used tt
take a hand now and then At tina
time the famous gambler Johl
Chamberlain, now retired from
the cloth, occupied the residence of ST
Edward Thornton, the British minister
Sir. Edward moved out of his beautifu
house one day, and Chamberlain move
in the next, with all his gambling outfi
He gave glorious suppers, and some G
the best people of Washington visited hi
place and enjoyed his hospitality. BIT
they never were permitted to join in til
play, and never saw what was going o
in the other parts of the house. Senator
foreign minister's and society gentleme
in the highest ranks were often seen
these same parlors, where the Britise mil
lister entertained his company.
Ex-Sergeant at Arms French recent
gave private reading of his lecture ell
titled Ten Years Among the Senator
toa party of invited guests and it is sa
the paper proved an interesting entertain
ment There is no reason why it shou
not; and if MIR. French is any thing of
orator the subject is one out of which
ought to make success as lecture
The desire to hear and learn about o
public men is universal. Whatever pc
tains to their history, their struggles a
triumphs, their habits, their person, tn
intellectual pecularities, is eagerly devol
ed. Gath" has canght hold of the id
and the past season, with success of cou
gave country lecture on THE Presi
ents." The field Mr. French has taken
larger and richer still. The decade tire
ed was an interesting period of senat
rial history and character, affording su
capital subjects for the lecturers etchi