Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-29
THE JAP As A GAMBLER.
u,s Fsvorite Gamc II Hanna an" $40 - ="
Il for All lie ID WORTH
Ian Francisco Chronlcle.l


~. In Cb;natown. whero both sides OF a
.a,,e;n ailey are lined for full block with
little cubby.holes wherein the fascinating
FAM il played, there Is plenty OF cyl;
dence that gaming is one OF tho Orientai
v;nss II more proof were required II
could be found In the records OF the police
comrts. where Chinese figure by the score
ne "plavers" or keepers in the phrase
olopy OF the courts. and in the large
amounts that flow into the city treasury
in tho way of fines and forfeited bail from
sImond-eyed gamesters caught IN the ACT;
IA vet. however. little has been sara OF
Tho Jananess in this respect. The other
dav n San Franciscan. who il familiar with
tbe language and ways of the little people
from over the sen. commented on TINS
fact The Japs are the ganiest gam.
liars on earth" he said. Not one. OF
them who il addicted to play-and they
arc nearly all of that kind-but would
stake the shirt on his back rather than draw
ont of good game. There are several
big resorts in the city where hanna. as
their favorite game is called, furnishes
nightly attractions for japanese students,
servants. store-kecpers, and 30 on. by the
scoro. Their play rms high sometimes.
for they are naturally thrifty people,
aud in times OF excitement. such as occur
-
INTO their wallets without hesitation"
The japanese word hanna" by which
the national game Is designated, means IN
English flower. The game is "a old as the
race and il apparently combination of
poker, casino, and cuchre. The cards are
az thin pasteboard, about an inch wide
and an inch and half long. forty-eight
OF them make mp the deck. The full pack
contains twelve combinations of four
cards. each series but two represent
ing month and each card bearing
in bright colors the picture OF some flower
which blooms only once year. The first
and the flower is the bud of the sugar
pine tree" On two of the cards Of this
month the flowers are not quite full
blown. These are only valuable for pair
inc. The third card is counted as five
points, and the fourth. on which Is pic
tured flower in tull bloom. is worth
twenty points.
The "nee gctsu." or February series. is
denoted 10y the apricot blossom and the
highest card is worth ten points. The
cherry blossom il for March, the wistarla
for April. the flag lily for May, the pampas
grass FOR June. and the tulip for July.
September il denoted by the chrysanthe-
mum. and October has for its emblem the
leaf of the Japanese tree called MONA
gee the foliage of which turns from
green to bright red IN October. The
flower Of December is the lockwood bios
som
The two months not represented by
flowers are August aud November. The
four cards of the August series denote
rain, the first two representing cloudy
day and the others q heavy ram shower.
Otsukesan" or the moon in English Is
the sign of the November series. the best
in the deck One of the cards shows the
moon IN the first quarter, and Is OF little
value. while all the Others are high cards,
ranging from five II twenty points each.
Six players generally make up hanna
party. Inc table is usually round or oval
and its well-ordered Joints" IL of pol
ished wood. The players cut for deal,
the handling OF the cards going to the
holder OF the highest picture. -Four cards
arc dealt to each and three TO the table
face upward. The composition Of the
deck is such that at least two hands of the
SIX are valueiess. and their holders pass
out. leaving the gone four-handed. Then
three more cards are added ID each hand
and like number to the board.
From this on the play Is much like ordl.
nary casino. The dealer starts the ball
rolling, putting up a bind on the strength
of MS hand, while the Others may see u
OF not. rs they please. Then the player
matches from ms hand to the table. al
each trick turning up the top card from
tne remainder OF the deck. IL he should
expose o card Of which he has "a mate III
his hand. hc may match 1t with anything
on the board a. II from his own hand. When
he has exhausted his pairs he retlres, and
the player to his right repeats the match
IN. process. and 40 1t goes until the cards
are AL out. All open bets must be OF the
amount set by the fret player, but the
wagers On the side are permissible TO max
tie game more Interesting. The tota
number OF points III tre game IL $50, and
when tie cards are all out the tricks are
counted. and the player holding the high
est number of points takes tho pool. turn
ing over 10 per cent. Of the whole amount
t. the house.
The game is simple and rapidly played,
and the drop is 50 heavy that the prchts
II Japanese gaming establishment are
large. IL is an unwritten law among gam
biers and the Keepers of the dens that a
PLAYER who loses his all shalt have good
meal at the expense of the house; so that
a restaurant * one Of the features of every
l.,t-class establishment.
In san Francisco beer Is the beverage
most popular among the Japanese while at
play, and l. consumed in large quantities.
The little men" are ncrvy players, and
the games usually run uutIl all the money
* IN one mans hands.