Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-05-02
A VERY QUIET RUBBER.
BY JAMES PAYNE.


CURED to him in the churchyard of Tat
burS, Burks, his @Elegy" would have
taken different turn, or at least there
would have been a supplementary verse
or two not quite in accordance with its
general tone. If he had had (as in my
boyhood had) the advantage of the ac-
quaintance of Mr.. John Newton, of Tat
bury, he would have obtained some new
material, which, though not precisely
poetic, perhaps, might have been worked
up" into some startling stanzas. Mr..
Newton was the great "auctioneer and
upholder" of those parts, but incidentally
an undertaken also, and knew great
deal more about churchyards than Mr..
Gray did. He knew, at all events, all
those within 80 miles of him, and most
of those who had been in the occupation
of them for 90 years. 1t could hardly
have been said of Berkshire gentleman
of any position, during that period, that
he was happy" unless Mr.. John Newton
had conducted his obsequies; it was like
shaving no burial" at all.
When even the Marquis of Berks was
gathered to his forefathers, no London
firm was employed to place him in the
family vault at Tatbury; Mr.. Newton
was felt (by the executors) to be equal to
the emergency. In the marquis's will it
was known beforehand that he had ex-
pressed wish that his hearse should be
drawn by his own carriage horses, and
Mr.. Newton had the foresight when his
lordship was given over by DIR. Trump OF
IL.
In one) to have them exercised every day
in plumes, lest they should be restive un-
der them on the stately occasion for
which their services were required.
OF course there were people, even in
Tatbury, so lost to all sense of authority
and solemLity as to make light of Mr..
John Newton. At the Town Club, for
example, which was held at the Berk-
shire Arms, and where he was accus-
toned to play whist, on one occasion-it
was under the regency-when he had
won three bumpers running, loser had
sarcastically observed to him, "Why,
this is better, old man, than burying the
prince regent; but the observation had
fallen fat, as being profane when ad-
dressed to man of his grave position, as
well as slightly fiippant with respect to
a leading member of the royal family.
Yet if Mr.. Newton could ever be said to
unbend himself at all, it was at long
whist; when his manner of saying
Hush" and I'VE are playing at whist,
If you please, was justly pronounced to
be perfect in its gentlemanly bearing.
The way in which he would set down his
cards with their faces downward, you
may be certain, for there were sharp
players in the Town Club, and fold his
hands till conversation should cease, was
something that the lord chancellor of
England, or the speaker of the house of
commons, might have copied with adj
vantage as lesson In the dignity of re-
proach.
If man so well established and re-
spected as Mr.. Newton of Tatbury could
be said to have an ambition unsatisfied,
it was that his scientific genius as a
whist player was confined to the Town
Club, and forbidden to exercise itself in
private circles. But trade, even in its
quietest and gravest form, which surely
can be said Of undertaking, was tabooed
among the gentry of Tatbury their in
comes were microscopic, but they made
up for that by being exclusive and select.
Even the local banker was only adj
mitted into their society on sufferance,
and it was thought piece of imperti-
nence in him (as it was certainly one Of
superiuity) to win at whist.
There was one especial clique, consist
ing of two ladies and two gentlemen who
played the game with rigor every lawful
might of their lives. to which Mr.. Newton
particularly aspired. but in vain. Mr..
Ashton and Mr. Groves, Miss Lake snd
Miss Sutton were the names Of this little
coterie, who had been partners and oppo-
nents for nearly one quarter OF their nat
ural lives. Their points were but three
penniess but their science was great; If
they made mistakes in play, they acknowl-
edged them, and away from the card
table they made none. Their lives were
blameless; they were looked up to by all
their neighbors, and it was said they gave
all they won to the poor, which / can well
believe. If they did so, that Iargess
would not have been 50 great as to have
dennoralized Tatbury.
Mr.. John Newton had made various
efforts to enter this little paradise, but
he remained outside. Like the Peri in
the poem, he could have brought many
q tear gathered IN the course Of his pro-
fessional experience from mourners, if
not from penitentsl, but it would have
availed him nothing. They knew he
was quiet IN his manners, an excellent
whist player. and would have given
them first rate suppers when his turn to
invite them came round-for they played
alternately at each others houses-but
their doors were closed against him.
They refused to be connected, however,
unofficialIy, with 9 man who sold by
retail, even though L was but cofHns to
the great. On the other hand, they very
eagerly welcomed the information he
had TO give them concerning the demise
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