Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-29
Something New in the Charity Line.

LET THE POKER PLAYERS CONTRIBUTE.
To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR:
1t is currently reported, and generally believed
that there Is a vast amount OF "poker playing
INDUCED in In this city. Every poker player knows
If he plays In club, hotel, or public house. tina,
there Is always taken out from the pot or swidow'
a certain number OF chips on every hand played by
the banker, to pay for cards. refreshments, use OF
TOOm &c. Any excess over and above the amount
necessary for the expenses referred to is equally
divided among the players
In addition to the games played In the places
mentioned, there are at least Upe hundred games
going on erery night in private houses and private
rooms. VI course no gentleman, as host would
think OF assessing his guests to the expenses
ne 1ncurs for refreshments, cigars, &C., furnished
them.
Therefore would 1t not be good plan for eyery
most In whose house or room where the game Is
played 10 take say ten cents, from the pot for euers
mana played, retain the same as treasurer and
place the amount retained every week in the hands
OF grand treasurer, and he in turn to pay the
money so received over to the treasurers equally
dyided OF the different charitable associations OF
the city for the alienation OF the many poor and
distressed applicants for charity In our midst.
Now; Mr.; Editor, some win say the money that
would be raised from such source would be too In.
significant to amount TO anything.
But such is not the fact, as will conclusively
demonstrate.
suppose there are only one hundred games OF
poker played in all the private houses or rooms
Where as above stated there are expenses for the
player and the host, acting banker, should take
out OF every pot the Of ten cents on each hand
PLAYED. ana there were only EJty hands played at
each sitting or game, the host, acting as banker
would receive five dollars from such games OF
course there would be more than fifty hands at q
sitting, and II the same amount, ten cents, was
continuously taken out every hand until the game
was finished, much larger sum would be received
than five dollars for each game. II that sum only,
1t would amount, from private parties alone, To
ve hundred dollars evening; that is II O,.ly one
hundred games were played, and an Increased
amount II larger number were played.
In addition to the private games, II the hotels
clubs, &C, would, after all expenses were paid
take out the same amount, viz: ten cents on each
hand, there would be fully as much received as
from private games, viz: $500.
Thus you see II only two hundred games were
played, {whereaS there are five hundred), and the
amount named was taken out OF each hand PLAYED
there would De realized at least one thousand do,-
lars from the combined games
am not an advocate Of card playing and know
no one VINO plays poker that would not be liberal
enough to contribute in this way to 80 worthy a
cause. Hosts or parties acting as bankers at the
different games, II they did not wish to be known
as card players, could send the money so received
TO the grand treasurer without giving any names
II only the amount named was received for the
two hundred games, VIZ: one thousand dollars IL
would go far to swell the amount already collected
by the worthy solicitors appointed by the citizens
committee to make collections in aid OF the DOOR
think, MI. Editor, II you viii urge this matte,
through your popular paper to the poker players
you viii be adding another to your MANY noble
acts In the cause OF charity which will have its in
nuence. MEMBER OF THE "GO SLOW CLUB."