Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-02-09
TWO Uppss.raN HoooLUMs.
4 Couple Of Had boys Aboard a Train
En- RankH tn School.

When the New York train pulled out OF
the Michigan Central depot one night not
long ago two boys, whose aggregated ages
lid not exceed "a years, had the porter
procure a card-table, after which they
produced a deck of cards and small pile
# silver, and were soon deep in the game.
Their berth was the last to be made up,
and no sooner was their breakfast washed
down in the morning than the game was
renewed For hours their play was the
chief attraction OF the other passengers.
They were well up In the mysteries of the
game, and the technical terms shrieked
out in the piping childish voices seemed
half ludicrous, half sacreligious.
On the same ear was q staid, severe
looking Scotch doctor returning from his
irst American trip, and to him this evil
ience of precocious young America was
more than usually shocking. He observed
their play for some time, and indulged in
homily upon the virtue Of compelling
children to know their place in the world.
but this was allthrowu away on the youth.
full gamblers The Scotchman observed
to neighbor that he thought he could
teach the boys a wholesome lesson
by taking hand in the game himself He
proposed this, and with ths assistance OF
another on-looker a pretty stih four
handed game of poker was soon in pro
gress. 1t WAS plain by the winks and
whispered communications between the
two youngsters that Scotchy's knowledge
Of the great American game was going to
be put through very severe test.
One Of the lads observed in the most
naive tone imaginable to their severe op-
ponent that they were only two small
American boys on their way to school in
New Jersey, that they were all alone, and
that they hoped he wouldn't take advan-
tage Of their ignorance Of the game. They
were partners. but insisted on sitting on
the same side Of the table. Their grim
friend promised not to Gake unfair advnn-
tage of his superior knowledge, and the
cards were dealt ont. Then followed
game, the crcokedr ess of which would
have put the celebrated All Sin TO the
blush. Skin" trio Ks that would have
done credit to city gambler were sue
cessfully employed by these two young
sharps, and every underhanded subter-
fuge resorted to TO beat their opponent.
All this was observed and highly relished
by the onlookers.
During the progress of the game the
boys learned the Scotchman's profession.
they, however, shortened his title to
Doc or called him "Sawbones." Their
irreverence was shocking, but every time
any one criticised them the boys came
out ahead by reason of their sharp wit
and ready tongues. Three games were
played in all, and at the end of the last
one the doctors "sillerr was in the boys
pockets The old gentleman looked a
little foolish when he returned TO his seat,
and his embarrassment was not at all I'M
proved by the offer OF one of the boys to
secure for him the chair Of draw poker in
their college During the afternoon they
amused themselves by kicking football
about the car, and at night they closed
the berth above them till the dude who
occupied il was nearly smothered. They
palmed of a loaded cigar on the doctor
and persuaded him to sing the Cooper o.
Fife;- they drank beer at all their meals.
and made fun of Niagara falls, and
smoked cigarettes. The reason Of their
being sent so far away to school was self
evident, and we are all disposed to look
upon the parents as especially long
headed. Two tougher specimens Of the
upper ten hoodlum il was never my fort
une to meet.