Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-14

disappear, and finally had to give two OF
three notes of hand to square himself be-
fore dropping out. Thereupon, he leaned
back in his chair, tanning himself and en-.
joying the sport as spectator.
Couldn't Rob Him of His Shirt.
Presently the ST. Louis gambler, between
the hands, began making some complimen.
tarv remarks upon a very beautiful and
elaborate shirt which Vest had on. He
took the liberty of feeling the texture of
the garment, and, after ascertaining how
much it had cost, remarked that he would
like to own Just such one himself
Gentlemen" said Vest, rising from his
chair with an air of seriousness, 81 will bid
YOU good night. You may rob me of all the
money have and all can borrow, but I'm
blasted if you can get my shirt!''
One night there was little game in
Mahone's room at headquarters, and it
CHANGED that certain ex-member of Presi-
dent Arthur's Cabinet, distinguished for
his youthful appearance, walked in. There
was very interesting Jackpot in progress
at the moment, and the host merely looked
up to nod and indicate whisky bottle on
the corner of the mantelpiece. The new
conner poured out dose into glass, and,
as is his wont, he took a small sip of the
liquor to try its quality before swallowing
the drink and spat it out into the open fire.
Thought He Spit Fire.
One of the players, with whom he was not
acquainted, looked up at the moment from
his cards and-not having seen him take the
whisky-seeing the expectorated liquid
flame up from the Goals, cried in astonish-
ment: "For heavens sake, young man, if
your spit's as bad as that, the sooner you
quit drinking the better
A story apropos of whisky is told on Ma
hone which is too good not to be true. He
had suspected that his choice Kentucky
stock was sampled on the sly by his colored
servant; so he decanted it into another DEM
John and supplied its place in the first
demijohn with a strong medicinal prepara-
tion calculated to produce most unpleasant
symptoms in case anyone partook of it. Un-
fortunately, he forgot all about the precau-
tion he had taken when the next evening
arrived, and fetched out the old demijohn
to supply fluid cheer for small poker party
of his friends Each of the latter swal-
lowed portion of it and promptly de-
manded what he meant by offering them
such nauseous stuff as that as prime bour-
bon. He tested his own share Of the nectar
he had been extolling, and Immediately
discovered to his horror the mistake which
had occurred. The game promptly broke
up, and there was flight to the nearest
apothecarY Snop Tor antldoteS.
He Doesn't Know How to Play.
The Congressman from the Northwest are
nearly always great poker players. Petit
grew, of South Dakota, has figured to a
great extent in newspaper card-playing
stories. Not long ago yarn was circulated
to the effect that he had lost his entire for
tune at the game in Washington, but there
was no foundation for such a statement
The Senator himself says that he used to
poke" great deal when he first came to
Washington as Delegate from the Terri
tory. He thought he knew how then, but
contact with the experts here convinced him
that he was mistaken and he has quit. The
other day he remarked: "Let the news
paper boys make me figure in their poker
stories as often as they like, but I want them
always to make me out a winner. 1t is
wicked to lose at gambling"
A good many Congressman are credited
with making considerable additions to their
incomes by their skill at poker; in fact,
there are some of whom it is said that poker
produces their income, their salaries provid-
ing merely their stakes in the game. There
is no more sure source of profit than skill in
this noble pastime, which is susceptible of a
higher scientific development than any
other form of play, notwithstanding the
fact that the ignorant and fatuous imagine
it to be all chance. Henry Clay's wife was
once asked if it did not aflict her very much
10 have her husband gamble at cards. "Not
1t all, :" she replied. "He nearly always
wins"
Don't Play With Brass Bands.
Poker is statesmanlike game Never