Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-05-04
Poker and Alcohol.


fession. But the former is even yet
exercising its baleful influence upon re-
porters and editors everywhere. These
children of Bohemia seem particularly
subject to the fascination OF the game
which will in five cases out OF every
six utterly disrupt and destroy any or
ganization OF the craft that can be got
together. Not until the habitual play
ers in the New York Press Club began
TO throw one another through the win
dows, in their excitement over compar-
isons OF hands, did the governing COM
mittee venture gentle interference,
while in other cities gentlemen Of the
guild have gone even further in their
pursuit OF the delights OF draw. "
With view to avoiding such little con-
tretempts, the Press Club in Boston
has entirely prohibited indulgence in
poker within its apartments, the atmos-
phepe OF which is one Of studious re-
pose. Nevertheless, there was an at
tentive crowd gathered in the library,
a night or two ago, about sporting
man Of more than local fame, who was
relating some gambling experiences OF
his. Among other things he told OF a
scene he witnessed while acting himself
as croupier at roulette table here
some time back. A man, evidently a
westerner, was betting heavily against
the bank His luck was bad, on the
whole, and he made a great fuss every
time he lost. In the seat next him was
an elderly person with a grizzled beard,
who wore his hat slouched over his
eyes, his right hand thrust into the
breast Of his coat He was losing
enormously, but he said nothing and
no emotion exhibited itself in his face.
"Confound it!' the visitor from the
west exclaimed, as he pulled in good
sized stake, that's the first bet I've
won for two hours. | never saw such
luck in my life. never did" Then
turning 10 the man with the SLOUGH hat,
he broke out with: II say, are you
made OF stone or ice? / haven't seen
you win bet since | came in. and
you must have lost pile. Yet you
sit there like an Egyptian mummy, and
never a word escapes you"
The elderly man with the grizzled
beard smiled ghastly smile. Then
drawing out his hand from tho bosom
OF his coat, he showed five long horny
fingers covered with blood. He had been
tearing his flesh beneath his garments
with his nailsl
But the funniest story the gambler
told was about Jim Joralemon. Jim
was mississippi river steamboat clerk
and something OF poker-player in an
amateur way. One night when he ar
rived in New Orleans about year
ago it was-he was introduced by a
friend OF his TO a poker party at pri-
vate club. Jim went into the game quite
innocently and played away until he
had lost $500 or 800, every cent no
had in the world. About this time he
began TO find out that, although the
game was high, very little money was
being put up-in fact every one was
playing more or. less on wind. This
made Jim mad, for he saw that he had
lost his money without having n show
70 win any. So he turned the thing about
in his mind for n while, 10 see how he
could get back what he had lost. FL
nally there came big jackpot which
a man named Wilkins or Bilkins, who
sat on the opposite side Of the table,
opened for a considerable amount.
Jim came in and after the draw raised
it.
II raise you $500" said Bikins,
throwing an !. 0. U. Tor that amount
into the middle OF the table.
Jim oombed over his cards carefully.
He had only pair OF duces. but he
was as grave as judge, and for all
you could tell he might have had four
aces in his hand.
II raise you $4,000" he said, and
threw piece Of paper with his auto
graph on 1t into the pot His worldly
wealth at that moment consisted OF
just rs cents in coppers.
Mr.. Bilkins turned trine pale.
"Ain't you betting leetle high, Mr..
JoralemonP" he inquired with some
mo higher than I'm in the habit OF
betting, Mr.. Bilkins," replied Jim,
cool as cucumber.
Mr.. Bilkins was staggered. He laid
down his hand--it had three kings in
Jim raked In the Doodle. There
was about $3.50 cash in IL beside the
]. o. Us; so jim excused himself, say
ing he had an engagement, and got out,
delighted TO escape with his original
capital.
Boston is an important station for
all sorts Of edibles from foreign lands.
which are distributed from this point
all over New England. Some Of these
things are very curious and interest
ing, brought as they are from various
corners of the eartb