The Washington critic., 1886-08-04

lns-ing along iuls noted rendezvous,
was slluird 10y iri,ndly Statesman
and invited tu occupy thr arm of nu
occupied chair in owe ui these group,
ol worldly Wisdom with becoming
muGesly he o,sculrd an, wa then aud
there edited by "a Discourse winch was
going on in relation 4, the
NOBLE oaME OF nRiw.P)EEG,
to tlc Gu ciuutious Of which game The
CWTIc man wa, novice, aud hence
Lis absorbed interest IN the subjoinel
rCcilals upon that national subject.
1T is remarkable how popular and
universal the American game Of drag
poker has become, remarked u well.
known Congressional statesman. II
presume that hundreds Of games are
In progress in Washington this even.
ing, and the game is going on as gen
clUlly throughout all the cities and
towns Of the United States. ltis rap.
idly becoming the favorite paslimc
throughout the civilized nations to
crafty, in part, the natural spirit of
gambling or speculaling on chances,
which seems inborn in all of God s
male creation the world over"
FAsCISATipNs OF the GAME.
"That is true" chilncd In an Admiuistra-
ton ofllce-holdcr; "lt is the most attractive
aud seductive way of satisfying the natural
propensity to gamble that am familiar
with. The fascination Of the game consists
IN the rapidity with which it Is played; the
continuous iluctuation Of the chances
keeps the players on the alert and their
hopes buoyant as the loss In oue deal is
likcly--at least 1t is In the chances es--to be-
come gain IN the next. Each deal also
ends game, and the next opens up au en-
tircly new field of speculation
"lhen In poker" interrupted an eYCOu-
sui, "each player exercises his own iudg-
ment. he manages his own cards; he studies
tie clsraCteli-tics Of his colleagues In the
game and CANDLES to a certain extent on
his diagnosis of their pecuiIrtirs to blum or
play close"
ms SOCIAL CHARACrEusTlCs.
"1he game of poker is also an exceed
ipgly social amusement" )" remarked q some
what noted Washington Major, "aud is full
Of incidents which give rise to mrth and
provoke hllarlty, affords opportunities
FOR abundance Of chail and sparkling wit.
In this respect 1t is entirely unlike whist or
Boston, IN which the players are as silent
ne mummes, except during the Interval OF
fresh deals. Poker is the most captivating
and interesting game of cards ever iu-
vented" concluded the Major, with the tone
aud enunciatlon ofa expert.
TAKEN AS A TONIC.
81 only indulge in the game,n remarked
an NJ. c., "as "A relief and relaxation from
the continuous pressure Of duties forced
upon me 10y my constituents in looking
after their personal matters. And / Ger
tainiy do feel relieved and refreshed when
occasionally step out of the rut and have Il
good time with the boys Ia lively game OF
draw. 1t reinvigOrates me for renewed
tread-mill labor for my people"
ITS ECoSOMIZING INFLUENCES.
"Did you ever experience how econom
ical one becomes after having had run oi
bad luck at the game ~ queried grizzly
headed member of Congress. "Last week
was in q lively Jackpot game with some OF
my colleagues; the cards run red hot bic
hands Were out against each other, and q
fellow luctuated a hundred dollars in nc
time. The party were all liberal players
and every one put his ten dollars In each
Jackpot as freely as If 1t was only penny
At the close of the game was minus just
$50. AS got into the horse.car TO ride
home bought package of tickets, six fOI
quarter, and found myself carefully
counting them, to ascertain II the package
contained the full number Here Twas de
liberately figuring on the chances Of al
error In a fraction OF twenty-five cents
when ten minutes before didn't hesitate q
moment In putting up ten, twenty or thirty
dollars on the chances OF the draw!n
"That is not remarkable" responded an
old army officer. "Why, I've known mer
among the most liberal poker players, after
an all-night session, In which luck had
been against them, to walk half dozen
blocks TO get morning paper for three
cents instead Of paying the first newsboy
trate the difference bttween poker liberality
and business economy
"Thgre Is no mistake about the nuctua,
tions VI game of poker bringing to the
surface meu's peculiarllies," remarked a
noted Congressional advocate or lobbyist
"If a fellow wins liberally he is very gcn
erous, often proflgate, in his expenditures
but if he Is a loser he suddenly becomes
economical, often parsmOnious. Thes'
peCuliarities OF character change ms lucl
lluctuates. One day spendthrft, thC
next miser, and vice versa
PECULIARITIEs 1T DEVELOPS.
~ mere 10 no NOcalluH III me- halu on
who is honestly entitled to be addressed "a
Judge, "that develops the true inwardnes
of man, that reflects his real nature In It
true light, like the game of draw-poker
All the honest, manly, liberal, consderate
generous, cautious, bold, timid, grasping
deceitful and other good aud bad qualitie
OF his nature are sure to develop themselve
in the fluctuations OF lively game OF poker
! tell you, II !s great school in which h
study human nature"
ITS INDEX TO CHARACTER.
"la confirmation of what the Ju lge ha
just said" remarked a prominent Western
operator, "the late Commodore G. X. Gar
rlson, who was fond Of a game OF draw
once said TO me at dinner party, that b.
considered game Of poker the best occa
sion to oascertain PERSONS real nature of am
other test that could be presented that tn
rapid fluctuations of the game were sure Il
reveal the true inwardness OF the man In al
Of Its various phases; that he had selected
many OF the managers Of his numerous ant
extensive commercial and other enterprises
which at one time extended over a larg,
part OF the western continent, from among
persons whose characters he had observed
at the poker table, and that he never mad,
q mistake In such selections
BY this time The CRITIC mans menta