The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-20
81 AM A PIRATE KING.
That Is what Henry watterson said at

That Is What Henry Watterson Said Mt n
Poker Party, and He WAS Believed.
Like all thoroughbred Kentuckans,
the editor of the CoUricr-Journdt. Henry
Watterson, is great poker player. One
evening some years ago he was in New
YORK city and went TO see the first Amer
lean production Of Gilbert and Sullivan's
opera, ''Thc Pirates of Penzance." Be
ing an admrer of pretty women and
pretty musicthe performance caught him,
and he was especially taken with the
song, II Am Pirate King" He hummed
the air between the acts and between
cloves until he had 1t down pat" 1t
was on his lips when he left the theatre
after the performance, and the melody
welled up from his broad chest when he
dropped into well-known resort aud en-
countered number of professional
friends.
There were Ned Harrigan, Nat. Good
win, Ned Thorno and other choice spirits,
and to them Mr.. Watterson laudcd the
new opera and chased snatches of the
Pirate King through his puckerod
lips. Soon modest game was suggest
ed, and the custodian of the star-eyed
goddess of reform willingly consented
to take hand Luck was not with him
at the start, and the stack in front of
him dwindled perceptibly He warbled
his favorite song, but the melody brought
no substantial solaee. Then he began TO
relate "reminiscences Of the times when
"he was with Grant Meanwhile, Billy
Barry had dropped in as an on locker,
and when Watterson, whom he did not
know, mentioned his intimate acquaint-
ance with the old hero, Billy stepped on
Ned Harrigan's foot. and in a stage
whisper asked:
who's his slobs?' He was informed
that 'his slobs" was all right, and then
he appeared satisfied. Pretty soon there
was a jackpot Theeditor picked up his
hand, slid the squeezers past his good
eye and began to softly whistle the
pirate King" Ned and Nat investi-
gated and stayed ill., Thorne dropped
out. Tony Hart, who was dealing, re-
NAMED in with the others. Nat bet $40
and Harrigan saw him. Then Mr.. Wat
terson passed his cards in review before
his valuable optic, unsteady declared
himself a pirate king, and showed up n
$50 stack. Tony Hart gazed at him
searchingly over his hand, saw the 500
and held his breath. Nat. and Harrigan
passed out, while Billy Barry shifted to
the other foot and began to take o deep
interest in the fun.
Watterson carefully "slsun" his cards
again and called for zone paper" Hart
breathed a sigh of rdief and wanted two
cards. 1t was the laiters bet, and he felt
his way carefully with Zone seod.' The
man with the mclodv and the uncertain
vision hoisted him blue stack Tony
elevated him back Then the editor
again used his good eye as reviewing
stand, and the five cards passed by in
single file. Again the air which had
charmed the Louisville editor floated
upon the atmosphere. and he shunted
two blue stacks to the leeward of the
rake off aperture.
Tony looked at him aghast, and simply
called, throwing upon the table, face up.
ward, three large aces and two tives.
Watterson adorned the green baize with
four stalwart jacks, and softly hummed
81 Am Pirate King" AS Tony wit.
messed his appropriation of the pot, he
responded:
I'm - If ] don't thing you are" and
Billy Barry tiptoed softly out of the room.