The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-08-13

MEXICO ana Venezuela; and in the mean
time, staying at the Branch" week or
two to recover from the debiltating effects
OF his tiresOme trip across the pond"
He s quite a philanthrOpist. by the way.
And charitable? Why, he ID put some of
our American citizens to blush. Twas on the
second day of our acquaintance that he in
cidentally informed me of this weak trait
in his nature. But" as he ventured in
qualification, ''my dear Mister Eversnap.
what in die world would 1 to wit all
die vast fortune which kindly ancestors
didt have die kind consideration to leave
me. If idt we're not, dat could eXpend die
same to chust such charitable purposes?" l
am sure this sentiment is highly creditable
to the Count: and yet. l should feel decld-
edly more comfortable. were he to redeem
his Itch Shulde linen" for S5 600. which
now hold. He required the money in the
furtherance of one of his charitable enter
prises; and accepted it (the money! from
me under protest. while temporarily EN-.
barrassed on account of the absence of the
Countess in whose name all the funds are
banked" But have implicit faith in the
Count; and Oh the return of his wife. l know
l shall receive my money all right.
AS started out to say. this is a delight
full place. Fine drives. Superb turn outs.
led here and there. a club house. You ID
be surprised. Arthur. how exquisitely fine
these clubs are fitted up! Almost on a par
with Monte Carlo or the Baden Baden as
we saw it few years ago. Here, too, rou-
lette seems to be the favOrite game. And
yet. as [ calmly consider the ruinOus "sys.
tenn" which one of the clubs permitted the
Count and myself to play, ctwas the Count
who introduced me. as | recOllect it) | can.
not conceive how the ''bank" can hold out.
(The system referred to may also be in vogue
at the other clubs for all know to the con-
trary). 1t is styled las the Count tells me).
the Saratoga system; and permits the play
er to ''double up" Hence on our trying it
when it showed black. instead of losing
our two bets of $50 each, which the
Count and ] had respectively placed on the
red. we were simply required to place an
additional $50 with the bets severally, and
the next roll of the wheel-it coming again
against us--S1OO: then $500; then S4OO;
then $500; and finally $1,000. This is as
far as the lack of funds permitted me to
carry out the system. The Count-on his
''Ich Shude Ihnens' (for he seemed to en-
joy an excellent standing with the club pro-
prietors) would gladly have ''gone higher:"
for. as he expressed it. My dear Mister
Eversnap, idt cannot come all night long in
dis manner black against us; and chust
t'ink. when idt finally will come in our
favor. we are paid fabulous sum-" But
as you will perceive, Arthur. it is only a
matter of funds; and provided. say, bank
cashier were to tackle this system, am
very sure the 'bank" would get the worst
of it in very short order. The Count is
eager to have me ''go it anodder whirl. -
and retrieve my loss. But ventures the
supplementary advice, that to approach the
system with the mere bagatelle of thou
sand or two would be foOlhardiness.
Altogether. dear Arthur. l think very
highly of this place; and my only cause for
regrets now and again. is the fact that you
are not here with me to also participate in
the pleasures of
Yours very truly.
Will b. Eversnap.
CHARLES LIE FTRST.