National Republican., 1883-07-05
Old Gambling stories.

Boston Journals Washington Letter.
Thaddeus Stevens and franklin Pierce. the
"Old Stager" says in his Recollections,"
were among the congressman who used to
risk their money nc the gambling table of
Longs well known establishment on the
corner of Sixth street and Pennsylvania
avenue. The Washington gambling houses
have never been supported to any consid-
erable extent by the resident population
Mem bers of congress, particularly from the
south, southwest, and west, were the largest
contributors to the incomes of the SPORT
ing men. Contractors and Indian traders
were generally bold and sometimes despe-
rate players. Members of the house fire.
quently staked their mileage and per diem at
the faro table, and they played all sorts of
round gam les" short cards." as they were
called in the club rooms. Probably the
amount risked would not constitute what is
termed high play in these days. But the
losses of these men of limited means were
often sufficient to keep them impoverished
and embarrassed during their entire con-
gressional service. Some men played for ex.
element chiefly, not caring much whether
they won or lost Thaddeus Stevens was one
Of this description. He was like Fox, who
described winning at hazard as the greatest
pleasure in life, and losing at the same
game as the next greatest. Stevens lost
and won with the same apparent indfer-
ence. He played with consummate cool
ness, never lost his temper and never in
creased the amount of his bet either to re-
trieve his losses or more rapidly to increase
his winnings. His sarcastic remarks upon
tho discontinue of his fellow players, who
sometimes exclaimed with rage and profanity
at their i'll luck, We're always witty as we'll
as cutting. While they were eating and |
drinking with the voracity of cormorants he |
never INDUCED in anything more stimulating |
than cracker and sip OF water The con- |
trast between his GOODNESS and apparent ap-
athy and the eager, fierce excitement of
Others sitting at the same table and engaged
in the same pursuit was amazing. l have
rarely seen more pitiable and painful exhi-
bition than was often presented by the un-
governed passions of a gamester after run
of i'll luck. To Mr.. Stevens such displays of
weakness seemed to afford amusement rather
than to excite sympathy or compassion. He
was q hard, cynical man. capable of acts of
benevolence under strong emotion, but gem
tleness or tenderness was not his ordinary
mood. He threw off more good things in
conversation without effort than any man /
ever saw, and his sayings were pointed with
o degree of epigrammatic force that never
witnessed IN any other man. Gambling on
The turf had its votaries as well among the
dignitaries Of the land. Then, as now, on
the race course the outsiders used TO be taken
in and plundered by the knowing ones. Ex-
perionced turfmen were accustomed to laugh
At the idea of a fair race. The result was
known to u few favored ones in advance.
This was the case in important races with
hardly an exception. And even men of the
highest repute and of the incest sense of
honor got their notions of right and wrong
sadly confused under the temptations of the
race course. A more chivalric, high toned,
and gallant gentleman than Gen. Jackson
lid not live among his contemporaries.
And yet story was current in Tennessee
some fifty years ago, whether true or false
am not able to say, which goes to
show that even he was shrewdly sus-
pected of playing his game with the "ad-
in the dainty phraseology of
sporting men. The story ran in this wise;
. He became discontented with q mulatto
BOY who had been his favorite rider and sold
lim to neighbor, who was his great rival
IN the turf The boy was to ride in very
important race against favorite horse of the
general. Jackson had heavy bet pending
m the race, and he was overheard remon-
trating with his late rider, You black ras-
AL mind what you are about. Mono of your
I'D tricks with me. If l catch you squirting
obacco juice in my boys eyes III cut your
leart OUT"