Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-09-26
nov r4N-l,aN = rLAYsp.
The ERvnr,te tsambitns Came of the
Chinese EaIly ssescribeG.

Chinese hhlsy aheNcFtDeH.
A writer in tbs RAJ Mall GGEstta in
describing tie Postuppese town of Macao
IN the far eRst, civea tho following ex-
planstion OF tho Chinese game of Fan tan.
After speaking Of tho extensive SNUG
Cling OF opiac. and this difficulty the
government had III ropressI 6 the evil the
writer continues
''For when one wiokodness wna opped
in Macao il was quick 10 find another,
and to-day it is tue Gully place Ia tbs far
east where you can play fan. ian under
fosoign flag. Macao is the Monaco OF tie
east, and from its gaming tablos its i'm
pecuioua government relp5 $3.50 N00
year, the price said to be paid by tie
syndicate OF OhiuesS prnprietors for tha
monopoly. This garue is pecuiariy
Ohinese one, well fitted to afford full
scope 10 the multitude OF rennenentS
and Hypothetical eiaborations with which
the OhinamNn, the greateSt gambler on
earth, loves to surround his favorite
Woe. IL is played on mat
covered table, with small square
of sheet lead aud hosp OF artificial
gildod cash. 0a one SIDE stands the
croupier, OF the adjoining side sits the
dealer, and between them, little to tue
rear, is the desk and treasury of the
| cashier. The sides of the leaden sqlate
| are called enc, two, three and four. The
dealer takes up from tine heap as many
cash gs he con grasp with both hands
and pl4ceH them apart upon the table.
pbsn the players, who sit and stand
| around the othar two sides of the table
make their bets--that is, they place at
either side o.. the square any sum from SO
| cents to $500, or at either corner any
SUN up to 81 500.
"When all have done, the dealer slowly
counts the heap out i'll fours, and the last
| remaining fous or three or two OF one, rs
the case may be, is the winning number.
| Those who have placed their money at
the corresponding side Of the square,
which is called playing fan, are paid
three TO one; thcse who have staked NJ
the corner, covering two numbers or
| playing tan, are pad even money If
either number wins. From oil winnings
the bank deductg : per cent. Besides
the above ways there are mgry others Of
! initiate complication, scored with but
tons and cards and ivory counters,
which no fellow except a Celestial can
possibly understand. But they play with
the GREATEST eagerness, the coulis who
works week to save his dollar, the
shopkeaper wno calmly stakes his watch
and chain if he is short OF ready money,
and the well-to-do merchant, who watches
the game for half an hour to Judge Of the
chances, aud then lays down his hundred
dollar bill and walks imperturbably
away, whatever the result may be.
"Uf course everybody asks, cannot
n u knlr
a fixed number OF cash according to
the sums staked upon the tablei II
seems probable, bnt have watched him
fuf q long time, 'and l am convinced thai
il he could il would DO in nearly all caHe'
tmprauticable, for many sufficient res
Sons. And many psople, too, ask them
! selves II taera - Got .Asr;ingule' Of
system by whiea the Individual playei
caa SO enormously increase the odds i
his own favor asainst the bank as e
} / make winning almost certainty
: TAgre 10, namely, to Bot as muol
eaca time as will, if it win, re
cogp you 70: I'LL previous losso
AID leave a margin CT p.ont. Thus yoI
can play and win il oae number out O
! four turns mp ouce in twenty five throws
and when youg htGke Will have reRcha
4 the limit OF $50 aaa you must pslioro
: g-cp, To do this, however, capital Q
i aver 81 ,O00 mus: b subjected 20 sma
y risk, aud few Of tue otliGacy PlgrurB q
y taD-tap are prepared 10 40 thlf. UA til
!, 1th1F hand, IL Is C9inmoa enough to 80
= 81 uUd on lL@ ..y.e Tor 4 slu%lp deal o
v Stlut ny nights Waen tho rich Hon
i. I Kong Erosat3 COME 6yor. Most gan
brps systcus 9re Pi'!'s3, ut am uoi