The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-16
a GAMBLER TELLS SOME TRUTHS.
In His Opinion Everything Hinges on
Luck
From the Detroit journal.

-
Luck.
From the Detroit Journal.
"These 'gillies' IL find that gambling
doesn't pay" said a pleasant-faced, genteel-
looking young man to the reporter.
The remark, made in all sincerity, was
brought out by the recent developments in
the case of trusted, but dishonest, employe
In this city, and by the methods adopted
by a Detroit merchant who recently got
caught on a racing scheme he had
evolved in the hope of getting a sure thing.
"You see" continued the speaker, who Is
known as one of the most quiet, Self-pos-
sessed and usually fortunate gamblers of
Detroit, gambling is like most any bust
ness in one respect. One must devote his
its rights with any other business, and the
best way is to go into it body and breeches
or let it entirely alone"
Does it pay even Them
"No it doesn't. There is no return pos
sible which is the equivalent for the contin-
nous nervous strain and physical drain UNI
dergone by the genuine and habitual gam
blern
But putting it purely on the basis of an
Investments
mo, even then it doesn't pay A man
may have good run of luck for two or
three years or longer, wear fine linen and
diamonds, smoke good cigars and have every
outward appearance of prosperity, but his
luck is sure to change at last"
"Then you figure that the whole thing is
luck"
That's about the size of it. Recollect l
am talking about honest games, for now
and then you find one of that kind. L re-
peat an honest game is absolutely governed
hu 111olyi A dishonest IS--waIl
body knows what that is whether they be
gamblers Or not"
But how is it one sees wealthy gambler
once in whileg
Eyes, once in while one does show up,
but his wealth doesn't last. Look at John
Morrissey. He died poor man compare
lively, and there's Pat Sheedy, Mike Nc
Donald, and one or two | might mention
here in Detroit. They all make a good
on 'em. It's collar buttons to cuff buttons
they'll quit the big, game about as they
came into it--naked."
"Then you figure out that life is a game
governed by luck, just the same as faro or
any other games"
with this difference. We all enter the
game of life whether we will or no. After
this start, however, it's just like any other
betting en- deal. A straight life like dip
db dCROAANAo Va ANNht "ASA SAS
odds against the player"
"Wnat do you figure are the odds against
the professional gambler"
81 think that the estimate made by some
chap-Pve read his book, but ] forgot his
name-some scientific mathematician who
says that ON square game the gamblers
chances are as az to ~ | think that is
about it, But there it is again, | simply
think so, and in telling you my opinion I'm
ha+% arctbaV. Y11pn1S and If hp
isn't cock sure he's right. He's just betting
on his opinion. Neither of us can verify our
belief with absolute proof"
"It's all luck, then"
Eyes, sir, all luck. Pm superstitious,
most an gamblers confess to the same weak
ness, and majority of people not gam
blerS are also superstitious. only they won't
acknowledge it. My scientific friend
who says our chances are 215 to ~ against
us is superstitious, else he wouldn't try
TO figure out the percentage of chances
against us. He acts on the declaration
that figures won't lie, and figures do very
often lie."
"Hence he is superstitious."
Exactly. For instance, [ had a part
ner in Denver few years ago who had
method"
whats thatp
''Most all gamblers, from the &c. policy
method, system, a superstition, about the
best way to make bets. Well, this partner
of mine had a system, or method which he
claimed had won for him regular whenever
he used it He was as crazy over it as any
person could be over anything, and actu-
ally thought he was going to become a sec
ond Cruesus He gave it to me, and tried
it one night in Leadv1lle and quit over
81, 800 loser"
|'Did you haye it down finer
''Too dead to skin | went back and re-
ported progress, and the next night my
friend saws: Come up with me and I'll
show YOU how it works. l went, but |
didn't sit in the game. My friend did and
before morning we were both broke "
''W hat was the trouble"
'Luck That's all there was to it; but it
busted one partners life, for my friend said
I'd 'hoodooed' his SYSTEM and that week he
left me for Galveston"
But what does. that prove about the We
racity of figuresp
ut proves that while figures may tell the
truth Tor one NANNY friends method was
a combination of sequences i'll which abso-
lutely accurate mathematical calculations
had to be made-they may lie to another
man"
'But that was not the fault Of the figures,
but of the consequences"
Call it what you like, gambling doesn't
pay. Still, what am TO DO if Iquit it2 /
can't work at my trade; have no profess
sion, except that of a gambler, and don't
want to go to work on the dump. o, it's
all right. Everybody to his calling, and
mine is at the gaming table--even if it
doesn't nav u