The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-31
OLD-TIMH GAMBLING.
Some Washington "reminiscences
of Thad Stevens Play.

There Is still big betting in Washington,
for there is no incident SO insignificant that
men wont gamble over if they have a
chance. Some few Senators meet in the
quiet splendor Of their own parlors fer
quiet game of poker, but the old Berserker
madness of the antebellnm days is forever
and forever gone. They may play with
animation and with sharp rivalry, some of
them SO cunningly that the ghost of old Bob
Schenk of Ohio lowering around must be de-
lighted with the exhibition of daring bluff
and facial tranquility; but they play for fun.
not really for gain. M Senator stakes his
next years salary, as Senators did in the
fourth decade; no army officer compels bis
wife to mortgage her house, as was formerly
done, if the gossip of the past be true. No
foreign Minister lays on the table for the
tickle goddess OF faro the money he has bor--
rowed to take him back to Germany, as was
done In one well-known case by a brilliant
diplomatic, who still lives. Nobody nowadays
is ruined by the green table. Provost Para
dol, the French Minister Penipetentiary at
Washington at the time OF Louis Napoleon :!
DOWNFALL was said to have killed himself !.
because big poker game had bankrupted
him.
The most pretentious and gorgeous faro
bank ever known in Washington was Ned
Pendleton's, established long ago in the
4os, chiefly on Congressional patronage. 1t
Four-and-one-half street, and it fourshed
many years like unto green bay tree. 1t
was gorgeous palace, a temple for faro
wershipers. 80:
A few statesmen ventured to call him by
his name, but he always resented it. Yet
be was really Edward PendletOn, a scion of
the stately Virginia family. and brother
OF the American Minister to Germany In
his superb diningroonl. with its elegant
mahogany antique pattern and solid silver
urtl V
spread dinner at which the wines were of
the rarest and woodcoek was as common rs
the ordinary blackbird in NV York res
taurant. AT prompt o'clock every day the
grand Seignor Pendleton sat down in full
dress at the head of his own dinner-table,
While around his festive board at this COM
plimentary daily gastrononlic joy sat the
most distinguished men in Washington or
III the nation. Commodores ambassadors,
Senators and Congressman and men Of ee-
CANT leisure regarded it as quite ec reggie to
taste the rare viandS aud the priceless
wines.
Ii was so reputable a thing to 90 that
when Scott. Sergeant S. Prentiss. Henry
Pauding, Bob Schenck, Humphrey Mar
shall, and occasionally Tom Marshall,
James a. Bayard, Judge William Hniteley
OF Delaware Wentworth and Yule of
Florida, or Judah p. Benjamin strolled
with Pendeton of Louisiana, nobody
thought of observing it, no newspaper men
thought of chronieling the event any more
than if they had stopped in at Wizards to
take drink.
Ned pendleton gave the freedom of his
house to the great commoner Of Pennsyl-
vania, Mr.. Stevens, the old man eloquent of
Lancaster; old Thad was favorite with
hosts and with guests. He was the char.
tered ibertine OF conversation. His audac-
ity took no counsel of his fears. The South
ern men played for high stakes. and Senator
Greene of Missouri thought little OF "paral-
telling $1,000 bill on the ace till un-
kind fortune beat him of his $1,000 bill or it
had run upward in four turns to $4,000. -:
Pendleton's best story Of Thaddeus
Stevens, and one absolutely true, was this
one: -: =: e.
"a colored preacher had come over from
Richmond, Va, TO secure contributions. for
his new Zion Church. Thad's house,
keeper, Mrs. Julia Smith, had told ths anx-
lous clerical. beggar to go to Pendleton's
about o'clock in the evening, aud he would
be sure to find the great Lancaster Con-
gresham ready to contribute to the good
cause in Richmond. He waited az the !!
door of the faro palace, and old ThGa caaief
hobhling out about o'clock ~ the evening.
having enjoyed good dinner, and lie had
won $1,000 on $50 stake. The colored
preacher dotted his hat and asked for con-
tribution for the cause of Zion. Certainly
said Thad, handing him 500 bill. Long
and anxiously the negro scanned the $500
bill. Walking behind Stevens he tngged at
Ihad's coat and said: Marse Stevens, YOU
done gone made mistake. You gave Inc a
hundred-dollar bill for ten.' .Oh, not it's
all right said Stevens, turning around and
looking the negro square in the eyes. Gad
moves in mysterious way his wonder to
perform. A happier darkey never jour
Keyed back to Richmond.
George Law was called the heaviest PLAYER
Of his time at faro. with the exception OF
Sergeant S. Prentiss of Mississippi, who
was the greatest faro plunger the green
table ever saw in America, 1.-THE" Walton
not excepted. Not so with Mr.. Stevens The
great c0mmoner regarded this game, as did
one OF the most brilliant minds this country
ever produced. as ''the intellectual mans
amusement
In the frivolities Of ordinary society Ste
vens never shredded his days into frag-
ments or friyOled his nights into nothing
ness. He was one of the most UNIQUE. as
well as methodical players ever known He
never hazarded large sums, and his highest
limit was 500 night, but if he once struck
it rich he was dangerous player for the
faro princes When he got the banks
money on the table in front of him he was a
nigh player. He never tired of the game,
and would usually go directly from Pendle-
toms dining-hall and take his old seat at the
green baize in the next room. His ordinary
hour Of leaving was early bedtime, and it
made little matter to the old cOmmoner
whether he won or lost. = Philadelphia
Times.