, 1888-11-08
CHINESE GAMBLERS GAME.
A Description Of Tau-Tan as Il IL PIayes
In Los Angeles

GAME
A Description Of Tau-Tan as Il IL Played
In Los Angeles.
Tan-tan is a very simple game and Is
very fair. There seems to be no opportu-
nifty to cheat. The dealer takes his seat
on the bench and opens the game. He isa
thick-set Chinaman, with broad and re-
pulsive face. He wears a dull and sleepy
expression from excessive opium smoking,
but be is far from stupid. He conducts
himself with a great dignity, and looks
with naughty glance at the washmen
and gamblers who crowd about the board,
anxiously waiting for the game to open.
He takes bag of cash" from the
pocket Of his blouse, and draws long.
tapering wand from the ample folds Of
his sleeve. He draws from another
cover of butter-disb. All these he
places on the mating which covers the
table. In the middle of the table, Just
under the gas jet. is n square painted on
the mating. The lamp or gas jet is coy
cred with tin screen, which shields the
eyes OF the dealer and throws the rays Of
light directly on the center of the table.
This is the only light in the room. The
effect is peculiar one: The dealer opens
the table. He takes handful from it
and places them on the mating near the
square and covers them with
The bets are then made, the
money wagered being placed on the differ
ent corners of the square. The dealer
then takes up his long wand, and with a
point dexterously draws out four coins at
a time. The number left after he has
drawn out the last four leash" that can
be drawn from the pile determines the
disposition of the bets. II one coin or
cash" is left, corner number one wins;
If two 'cash" are left, corner number two
wins; il threeI cash" corner number
three wins, and il four are left, corner
number four wins, and all other corners
lose. The players bet against the bank.
the winners getting one for one, and the
losers losing. of course.
Fan-tan is simply betting on the equali-
zation of coins.
There are, of course, rules governing
the game. by which bets are made condi-
tional. These bets are signified by ''cop-
pering," II that term may be used by
strips of red leather and black and white
beans. When wager is made and Q
large sum Is staked, it Is the custom TO
roll up the money md place 10 in ''blind
bet" II the bet should win, the cashier
Of the game conots the money, and gives
the player an equal sum, and IL it loses
the cash is dunn ped into the capital of the
game. me.--American Paradise.
General Grant on Guard.
1t was drizzly day, only short time
enemy from Petersburg and moved to-
ward Five Forks and Appomattox. A
chill northeast gale made overcoats COM
Portable even there, and more men who
could wore them than left them of
A sentinel, down toward the river, near
some storehouses, shivered as he strobe to
and fro on his post, his gunlock under his
arm to keep of the wet. He wa, u raw
recruit from Down East" sent ont to
help fill the ranks of regiment which
had lost one.half Of its men since the
began.
He saw a man in regulation overcoat
and with slouch hat, but with the steady
carriage Of q veteran. passing along a few
rods away, and he called out to him:
Say, friend, have you any terbacker in
yer clothesp"
The passerby was smoking a cigar.
mo; he replied, IL can give you cigar,
but don't chew"
"And don't smoke, but I'm starving
for chaw." replied the sentinel, as he
looked over TO the other wistfully. AN
| chaw. and dasn't smoke on post. Say,
conldn't you stand post a minute till run
over to the suffers yonder2"
~ conldn't," said the other, with q
grim smile on his face and then he added:
II will. Give me you gun and orders"
There isn't no order, only to hail any
body going aniRh them stores, and to stop
'em as has no business there"
So the sentinel, relieved Of his post,
hurried 20 the suffers for the desired to-
bacco. Returning promptly, he took bis
gun and quietly said:
IF yet chance I'll do as much for
you. friend What regiment be you imp"
mot any. belong to headquarters"
what. to the generals guard? What's
your name?"
Grant"
Great Jerusalem" gasped the sentinel.
III have been relieved by General Grant
himself and didn't know hlp."
How could he when not a mark of the
generals rank was in sight, and the poor
ellow was yet too green in the service TO
xnow what a fault he had committed in
Yielding post aud gun to any but his reg
liar relief?-Hartford Post.
That Accident some More.
ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 3.-fhe Official
Messenger states that the cars foot and
he czarina's hand were injured in the &c
ident to the imperial train. Monday.
ma devoted themselves to other persons
Who were severely injured. Most every
member OF the imperial suite received
Twenty.one attendants we're
lilled and thirty-seven seriously injured.
me of whom has since died. All persons
70 the imperial train confirm the official
ersion OF the cause of the calamity as be.
ng defective track.
Collision 1T Toledo.