The Washington critic., 1890-04-18

A Prince of Gamblers who shuns for
Some Reason Publicity.

his partners, Spencer. But the most
of the trio was man whose
name has never been mentioned pub
liely as connected with the game. Such
was and IL the unusual modesty OF this
man that | forbear to print his name
because he seriously requested H. He
has been an eminent gambler since 1S4S,
and vet If were to state his name the |
public would not know it. He is
manly looking person of grave, un-
observant and kindly nature. Blood
shed and danger have not made brag-
gart of him, but in spite of his .phleg.
matte courage his nature has tinge Of
melancholy in it.
He says: II am q gambler because
was brought up to 1t. never liked
the business, never will, but the fools
and spendthrifts supply the capital and
we take the chances, winning because
the temper of the gamester changes, but
the cards never do. If a Rothschild or
George w. Childs would sit long
enough at a faro table the game would
beggar him, so gambler has only to
stand and wait"
This man spends no unnecessary time
on the turf or at the gambling house.
He never enters the pool-rooms. He 10
only gaming capitalist in the business
because IL is remunerative and 1t gives
him chance TO enjoy his elegant de-
sires. and he knows no other occupation.
Every moment of time he has to spare
from the club house is spent in
his elegant private residence, In which
he invested $60,000. Here he often en-
tertains Senators and Governors, and
Sam Tilden, Governor Hendricks OK
Indiana and Governor Hoffman OF New
York dined with the gentlemanly gam
bier on the same day. They did not
play, but after dinner took stroll over
the grounds, and from safe coign of
vantage in the restaurant watched a
Pennsylvania coal operator lose $21,-
600 in an hour watching the roulette
wheel go around.
The grounds of this gambler are
known to all strangers in Saratoga by
fighting gladiator and by the delicate
completeness and Incompatible neatness
of an Apollo Bclvedere that graces the
rich mans lawn. This silent partner
in no way courts publicity. He shuns
it when he rides out with his wife and
children, as he does every pleasant day.
Six children, well dressed and well bred,
grace and ornament an ideally happy
home. AT the daily family dinner,
from which the husband never absents
himself. two of these children at sig
nal from the mother-a devout Cath
olic-ask blessing together. Some Of
the oil PAINTINGS On the wall are the
work of this remarkable wife, who is
an artist not unknown TO fame in a
modest wav.
This man. whose manners are as
gracious. without affect.tion. ns the
manners of William n. Seward. has
had n career among The stormiest days
of the For,v.nipers and in the widest
sections of the West He has lived
among the fierce passions of vigilance
committee times in the Southwest, when
IL was touch and 90: when the gambler,
if he took life even 10 save life, some.
times found short, shrift and q sure
card. This man with impressive man
ners never goes out of his way to make
friends. Newspaper men don't find
waters of information gush from him
like waters from the rock Moses smote,
He SAYS he knows nothing about poll
tics or public affairs, and has neither
curiosity nor appetite for current events.
/ mo sporting man." be said, mag
mites his occupation. For one know
the penalty of being gambler, and do
not recognize gentlemen on the street |
meet in Saratoga at my club, nor do |
expect to be recognized by them away
from my place of business. If l take
a fancy to man and he likes me, in
vite him to my house to dinner. and he
generally comes again, and after that
he can come to my home in Saratoga.
A gambler, as the world knows and
know, makes his living by violating
the law, and if he is allowed to do that
much quietly 1t is all the recognition
that he ought to expect. 1t is certainly
all he can get. / have been invited
| myself to the Clover Club, the greatest
dining institution in the world,
reckon. | simply declined to go be.
cause I was gambler. Now, If you
want to oblige me, never mention my
name In the newspapers.
AS he was honest and earnest in this
request I respect 1t. His life unfolded
would make the essence of a cool and
stormy biography. and il would be in.
| strl1ctiye because IL would disclose the
earnest effort of a man to be a GOOD
husband. good father and a GOOD
citizen while made an outlaw pronerly
enough bv legislative statutes. This
man told me at his own simmer table
when we were alone. that he had killed
a desperate in New Orleans who sho
his friend to death in cold blood ant
followed nv host with omen insult
which went beyopd the forbearance re
nuired bv tbe fouisiana code He wa,
nut in prison. tried for his life anf
nearly sent 10 the pallows bv the zen
eraj commandinp tIe ITnion troops /,
New Orleans. by false statements tha
he killed man because he was
Ns,,,a,,,a, -, =, g.. 81;