Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-29
Card Sharpers i'm Paris.

FONDNESS OF PARISIANS FOR GAMBLING
THE DEVICES OF UNSCRUPULoUS DEALERS.
From the London Saturday Review.
II we may judge by the pages OF NJ. des Per.
reres the Parisians are restless and hardened
gamblers and ready to play anything anywhere
with anybody. There are three places where
they may play chiefy-in the real clubs, in the
clubs which are open to almost any one and
which, in fact, exist only that gambling NAV
be carried on, and In the illegal gaming
houses. OF real clubs there are not MANY i'm
Paris and access is not easy; but there is no
end OF gambling clubs dignified by some e,it~
tering and loud-sounding title. Strangely
enough there Is greater danger of being
cheated In the former than in the latter for in the
gambling clubs there are always a lot of cheats
proprietor, who is up to their little games. while
for an adventurer to gain admittance, there is
cheat with impunity il he were in eau.
tous and not over-grasping. At ecarte or
piq1et where he has but one opponent
to win what he likes; but at baccarat where he
plays against the whole table, the simple de-
NJ des Perrieres reveals the secrets of the pIav-
ers who cheat the dealer and Of the dealer who
cheats the playee: By collusion with card
cards carefully arranged in what the conjuror
would call q chaplet. With chaplet the dealer
reduces the chances against him to those ex-
pressed IN the old formula, "Heads win, tails
you lose" A thorough shuttle is q sure cure
for the chaplet; and Of course cutting has no
erect. There are various chaplets known TO
the Initiated. NJ. des Perrieres tells us OF
player who was losing steadily to the dealer and
who suddenly recognized the sequence OF the
cards as they fell on the table. "Why, that is
the Marseilles chaplet" he cried, "the next
card will be the king Of hearts" and the dealer
turned IL up and 1t was the king Of hearts, and
then the player proceeded to declare every card
before It was turned, to the great amusement OF
the players, who ceased betting at once. The
ably language could not do them justice.
Another device which an INSCRIPTIONS dealer
may employ Is o survival from the last century:
ct least It Is closely akin to trick of that tme
In which q snuf-box took the place of a cigar.
cite case. II Is OF q great simplicity. The
dealer provides himself beforehand-to use the
pleasant phraseOlOgy Of the old-fashioned hand
books OF conjuring-with q highly polished sill
yer cigarette case. This he places on the table
before him aud Immediately under his left
hand as he distributes the cards. II he has
some slight manual dexterity, q quick eye and
unlafling selfpossession, the rejecting surface
Of the silver will keep him fully informed as TO
the value OF every card before It leaves his
hands, and he may act accordingly. Selfposs-
ession, and indeed selfconndence, arc neces-
when he 10 not given 70 aiding chance Fortune
ming In that the nrst touch or fear 10 fatal
Especially must the dealer ct baccArat abound
In courage; let him but begin 70 show the white
feather and his banking funds viii speedily
take WINS end ~ away to feather the nest Of
oo9ao Y1a4eB o( moro stomach.
The revised sstimate OF the loases By The South |