Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1890-04-12
HERRMANy,S POKER CAME.
lie Remembers IL We'll Because H Cosi
Him a Pretty SuBs.

Him Pretty SUnl
81 never plav cards in earnest, said
the great Hermann to Philadelphia
reporter the other night. Those who
know me wouldn't play with me any
how, and of course wouldn't take any
advantage of those who don't. But
remember one night not a thousand
years ago that. in order to amuse few
friends, sat down to a quiet little
game of poker. You see it was this
way: / met the friends and was intro.
duced to an innocent-looking youth OF
the dude persuasion, whose face was as
vacant in expression as a pound OF
putty. This youth has been Dragging
of his powers as poker player and had
made the others so tired that they
whispered ne to take the conceit out OF
him just for the fun there was in it. ]
was agreeable and we sat down. Well
when we began the game [ allowed the
youngster to win in order to get him in.
terested, and the better to enjoy the
circus the others dropped out and my
victim and had the table to ourselves.
OF urse I was to give him back what
ever [ won from hinl-that was under.
stood. We didn't play with chips, as
we had none, but made the game o
quarter ante and dollar limit, so that
we could use money without making
any awkward change. Every time my
callow friend won pot he put the sill
Yer and bills in his pocket and would
chip in the stuff as he needed it. After
he had won respectable pile [ begar
to get my work in, and by handling and
dealing the cards in my own peculiar
way l soon had his pile in fair way to
innocuous desuetude. Occasionally ]
would let him win, just to keep the fun
up, and don't know but what l en-
ioyed my opponents innocence as much
rs did my friends. But all things must
have an end. Finally 1 cleaned him
out, much to his surprise, and ordered q
bottle. My friends couldn't keep it in
any longer.
L say, old man, said one, do you
know who you've been playin' with?
Yes, replied my victim, calmy,
Hermann, the magician, and he's a
good player.
This was somewhat of a surprise all
round, But laughed and handed him
back the money I had won. He wouldn't
take it. No, sir. Said I hod We i;
had he won mine he would have he,
it, and under no consideration would he
take it back. That was not his way Of
playing poker. 1t was no use for Inc to
protest, to tell him that / had deliber-
ately robbed him. He was sorry that
he had got in with a man who didn't
play square game, but that was his
lookout. He ought to have seen that
he was being feeced, but as he had
been fleeced, and with his eyes open,
too, he was not the man to squeal.
tell you felt mean. l didn't think it
half so funny then as l did before But
all | could do or say made no impression
on my victim, and with dignifed bow
he left us.
All can do, said to one of my
friends, will be to give his money to
some charitable institution
Then | gave the waiter one of the
bills had won to pay for the wine.
He came back with it and the informa-
ton that it was counterfeit Yes, sir.
That guileless youth had won my good
money and wrung in over one hundred
dollars worth of paper on me that
wasn't worth cent pound. I'm pretty
good on handling cards, but poker is O
mighty uncertain game mighty un-
certain"