The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-03

IT'S Dead wrsns % Lesate Ecker Stories
There Now.

IT'S Dead wrsns e Lesate Ecker Stories
There Now.
DALLAS. Tex, July 81. There II probably
less poker playing or card playing Of any kind
In Texas than In the smallest State In Puritan
New England. Certainly there 10 less card
playing to the number Of Inhabitants than in
New York. The Wild and woolly tales about
Texas poker games which one secs every now
and then in the newspapers are probably
written By men who wero never in the Lone
Star stnts In their lives. The writer's get hold
Of good poker story. and. to make It more
picturesque. put sombreros on the players,
six-shootsrs In their belts. bowie knives In
their boots. and then locate the game In
Texas. As matter Of fact card playing
in public places IL prohibited by INV in this
State. and the law Is universally and strictly
observed. 1t is n msdemeanor to play even
the ipnocuous " old mnid" or tho equally inno-
cent casino In public place here, let alone
poker. In New England nearly all tho smok.
ing cars on the railroads are fitted up with
card tables and tho train boys always have
packs OF cards in stock for the accomm odation
OF passenger. In Texas one can travel on
every railroad In the State and never see q
card played and the train boys would as soon
think Of carrying stock OF tennis rackets as
OF playing cards: they would have as great q
demand for one as the other. The only game
OF poker which have seen played on the cars
In Texas was in partitioned OF section OF a
Pullman car. and the players were three young
men fresh from Boston.
In New York any rider on the Third avenue
elevated railroad Is familiar with the sight OF
numerous card games being played In the
reading rooms and offices OF the cheap hotels
and lodging houses in the Bowery and Park
row. In Texas no one would think Of playing
n In n Ia ~ n
proprietor would soon put stop to II. and II
hs didn't all hands would probably bo arrested
and fined. And. strange Is 1t may appear to
renders outside Of this State. this law is not a
recent o one.it has been n t" I ior nearly
the Sixth Texas Legislature in 1857:
re- :hs Play q Nth sS a.
M s;: ~ s s s: Ski 5. s:s sS;
Il: s Il T. 81; .s ss IS
q ss g g.: Il Ct
The offence is complete without such proof
To prevent this from becoming dead letter
It was further enacted that any peace OFFICER
Any violation 3, ,tSs Jaw Coming within 6Is
nor mere than si0o. The Justice q the Peacs.
Recorder. or Mayor who. upon such iniorma;;
e ss to says hS
, h a l e sSas w1 ssla hsS s::
cards. Is a suiicisnt allegation 10 making
pas oe Sns as Dsfs
70 be a public house, within tho meaning Of
Other decisions are:
Al place in the woods 50 distant q. not to DO seen
as common resort By card plsysfs FOR rSminT
1.ly 9 s:s !: n.; a"s nsG Da6s place
A quirt shop" is also not held to be public
hes ss raWSite ridine Whips. much used By
they are sold exclusively is unheard Of
Having been deprived OF innocent card play.
to take its place and they found il In dom
inoes Every barroom. hotel, and other place
Tners men resort has Its sets 81 dominoes
Store windows display dominoes Of ali rtyies
and prices. from the common wooden ones
more Merchants stamp their advertisements
on dominoes. apd give them away with every
farming districts. LAWYERS. ban ers. real estate
agents. mechanics. cowboys. desperadoes. In
to MAXI Sp tho Of tbs
whites blacks and ChnamenH.play dominoes
ness is 8 ack-And at this season OF this par
noes serves TO Keep the proies .Ionai mon and
the traders" from eunui Gam blers even
ulay dominoes whom no one Is mo keyinR with
the tiger or watching his piles OF chios dwindle
Men who can hardly count correct change
have learned to figure up the spots on the
dominoes Is the Texan: own zane; and a
feelings OF profound admiration and respect.
Men here take as much interest In a domino
match between two experts as baseball cranks
do In the race for the pennant.
OF course. cards are played In gambling bells
Tho gambling rooms in this city are run very
quietly. and can only te entered on card of
admission. Tho cards are only to 30 obtained
by men who are voucheu for as " all riRht" by
The gamblers say that Texas is o dull place
Gs and that Colo
are much better for sports.
Toxins bar in is57 ana Who Eas been practising
iting card playing. said to-day:
It is a wonder to me that the Prohibition.
istn don't ~ law IKE that 70 stop drinking
take drink OF liluor In public place the
bars would have to shut up Tho law has
worked well in regard to playing cards for
well as applied 10 LIQUOR drinking. 1t would
surely stop all treating. which is the great en-
COURAGE Of intemperance and II = man
sell iD . ProhiJltionist. but am lawyer. and
could, draw. up Psychologists law which
statute in five minutes. I don't think any
Legislature would pass such law. bn, II they
did It would be HiIsc,ive which is mere than
Judge Hayes said that ut nenrly every term
E1eG II found guilty.