The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-11-06
AS A SCIENCE.
GAMBLING VIEWED FROM MASTRIcrLY
-,"i PROFESSIONAL STANDPOINT. 300
Founded Upon the Foibies Of Mankind 1.
Is an Evolution OF Certain Phases OF
.,.,I Human Nature-How Different
Ii. .,a,t.t E,t.f, Men Play. s,Hf ...,
New York Times. |

founded upon the foibles OF. mankint, as
tutely remarked zone of than" to . reporter
the other day as the two were seated in the
main room Of q watering place gambling
resort, and as the reporter glanced down the
. vista Of Turkish carpets and frescoed cell
tings OF rich draperies and costly furnish.
i ings, and saw the obsequious servants laden
with their viands and expensive wines Gid
I ing to and fro at the beck, Of the players,
the thought obtruded that il all this ele.
gance and luxury were the superstructure
the foibles Of mankind made rather salts
factory bedrock
"Yes,' went on the card diplomat, at Is
truism TO state that the successful gam
bier must be O close student Of human
nature or course he must, for his whole
business Is an evolution, simple and direct,
of certain phases or human nature. Why,
the other day. while running down to New
York on the special from here, heard two
or three rich Old Jews talking about this
very place. One Of them was complaining
that he had left $2 600 to enrich the house.
no ~'Ohr said another, spreading out his
pudgy hands, Il left more than that. much
mors.' with chuckls. But what do you
expect. mani We must have our pleasure
THE PLEASURE OF PLAY.
"AEd that is just the keynote Of the whole
thing. There is a large class Of men who
find their pleasure at the gaming table
alone, and 1t is this class which supports 1t.
No other form Of dissipation SO panders to
certain natures as q game OF chance, and
th ess make and maintain the bank.
There goes O man now," he continued,
passing into the restaurant, who Is q fair
type of the bone and sinew Of those places.
He does not come often, but with fair regu-
larity. He was in ten days ago and made a
night Of it I took a cocktail with him just
before he went to breakfast He had lost
but $50, but had sacrificed his sleep, and
would waste the coming day in making it
up yet he confessed with entire honesty to
having had fine nights sport He often
leaves $500 behind him, rarely wins, but he
can afford it. or thinks he can, and counts it
only as paying for 'pleasure.' --.-. ...
"Of course others than these find their
way into this and similar places, but they
are comparatively few. Men come to re-
trive fortunes, lost in natural channels, to
drown grief or disappointment, etc, but not
In the numbers that come to indulge in the
to them rleasureable rack OF suspension,
the pain Of loss and the always to be hoped
for flush Of victory"
IL suppose, then" observed the reporter,
quietly, "t!.at when man shoots himself
through tn, head in gambling den the
pleasureaLle pain Of loss has probably been
q little severer
1It is possible" was the reply, ignoring
the sarcasm. Nothing annoys proprietor
more than tragedy. He will take any
measure to keep such emotional, high
strung tsmperaments from his rooms II
all the sentimental and sensational story
book frequenters OF these places we're elimi-
mated the bank would scarcely notice their
absence They are not the bone and sinew
Of the gambling harvest 1t is the great
majority Of average commonplace men that
yields the profits"
Undoubtedly" assented the reporter. re-
fecting that the average commonplace man
helps along most Of the stupendous move
ments Of the worlds machinery. Then, not
eager to discuss the moral ethics Of gamb-
ling, a more practical question was put:
1Can you tell me what is the real percent
age Of risk the bank possesses against the
playerr
IN THE BANKS FAVOR.
sWeIl," was the replp, "the apparent per-
centage Is small ami varies in the several
mes-roulette, faro, and others carrying
different rates-but the real percentage Is
enormously In the banks favor. It lies in
this same principle of human nature that
have just commented upon. The average
player il he wins several consecutive bets
becomes cautious, anticipates q change in
luck, and ventures his money accordingly.
The result Is II his good fortune continues
hi, winnings are small and unimportant
On the other hand, let him lose continuously
and he becomes excited. He loses his head.
and, pursuing the same line Of argument
that il is long lane that has no turning, he
increases his stakes Thi, policy, with con-
tinusd misfortune, ends In large losses.
Thus when the bank is loser 1t Is for small
sums, but when winning the gains are
large.
@What the bank Is afraid Of are the con-
servative, persistent players, but there are
not many Of them. There is q class Of men
at tho European gambling places, and a
very small class, who have reduced the
thing to fine point These men risk every
evening o single bet always the same
amount II the bet wins they continue to
Play. but only 80 long as their profits will
permit II, however. the first venture fails
they quit the table until the following even.
ing. In this way their loss is limited to the
original bet, while II fortune favors them
they may win large Mount This policy
is pursued daily, and single nights win
nings will often furnish capital enough
for a long period Of bad luck. These men
do not enjoy gambling. but It supports
them, and / have ~ doubt that they
accumulate valuable statistics In the ratio
and proportion Of games Of chance. They
are detested by tho officials Of the place,
but their right to plr Is they please can
not be questioned"
@But II this be q fact" said the reporter,
@why is not the practice more universalP
because" was the emphatic response,
snot one man in thousand possesses the re-
quisite characteristics to 30 control himself
under the spur Of such excitement as the
aiming table can Offer"
"Do professional gamblers, as rule, al.
ways have money!
"The average professional gambler" was
the reply. ais dead broke nine months out OF
the twelve =