The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-27
RscanArIoNs OF STATESMEN.
New Lot CT Drew-poker Stories
From Washington.
From the 81. LOUIS Globe Democrat.

WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE statesmen's
summer poker crowd doesn't find Washing
ton dull even at this sweltering season. Its
headquarters are at certain well-known
hotel and it is a colder evening than is
usual just now when Senator Plumb is not
to be discovered there with stack or two
OF chips in front of him, conteuding for
their possession with Malone of Virginia,
Judge Perkins, late of Kansas but lost In
the recent political shuttle. and other emf
nent adopts. While representative
Perkins enjoyed the reputation of being one
OF the most dangerous players in congress,
his smooth-shaved, priest-like face ever
emotionless as that of the Sphinx, whether
in contemplation Of four of kind or bluff
ing with big limit on a bobtail Since
Malone left the Senate he is said to have
spent about one-haf of his time drawing
cards. Senators Don Cameron. Vest and
Aldrich take a frequent hand in this game
Of Chamberlin's when they are in town.
Aud rather serious row broke it up on
one occasion not long ago. The story has
never been told. Two senator's, one Of them
Vest. dropped into the hotel at IL O'Clock in
the evening, finding there Don Cameron,
Dave Little OF Illinois and another senator.
The last named, who is a very famous man
and leader of the upper House, had been
dining not wisely, but too well, but never
theless was bent on playing poker. A game
was organized for small stakes, and he lost
steadily, which made him cross. So the
Others thought it would be fun TO
put up a little job on him, and it
was arranged while be was ont of
the room for a moment that he
should be given four kings with which to
bet against four aces, explanation and resti~
tuition to come after the issue of the pot.
The thing was done. but the senator from a
certain small New England state. who had
come in with Vest, was so clumsy about it
that be had dealt himself about fourteen
cards in order to secure the four aces re-
CURED. 1t was imagined that the victim
wouldn't notice this, but the latter's gaze
while the betting was going on became
fixed with stony astonishment upon the
large fan Of cards In his adversary's
hand, and, becoming suddenly convinced
that he did not see double, he jumped to his
feet, seized his chair by the back and
smashed the New England senator over the
head with it. The other players at once in
terfered, and a fight was with difficulty
averted. 1t is only very recently, however,
that the gentleman with the four kings has
been so far made to comprehend the Joke as
to consent once more to be on speaking
terms with the senator who MANIPULATED
the pasteboards SO unfairly.
One night there was a little game in Ma
homes ROOM and it CHANGED that certain
ex-member of President 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 indi-
cate a whisky bottle on the corner of the
mantel piece. The newcomer poured out
dose into the glass, and, as is his wont, be
took q small sip Of the liquor to
try its quality before swallowing the drink
and spat 1t out into the open fire. One OF
the players, with whom he was not ac-
quainted, looked up at the moment from
his cards, and, not having seen him take
the whisky, seeing the expectorated LIQUID
fame up from the Goals, cried in astonish-
ment:
For Gods 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 IL into another
demiiohn and supplied its place In the first
demijohn with strong medicinal prepara-
don calculated to produce the most I'M
pleasant symptoms in case any one pertook
Of it. Unfortunately he forgot ali about
the precaution he had taken when
the next evening arrived, and fetched
out the old demijohn to supply fluid cheer
for a small poker party Of his friends.
Each Of the latter swallowed portion of 1t
and promptly demanded what he meant by
Offering them such nauseous stuff as chat as
prime Bourbon. He tasted his own share of
the nectar he had been extolling and imme-
diately discovered to his horror the mistake
which had occurred. The game promptly
broke up, and there was a fight to the
nearest apothecary shop for antidote
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 fortune at
the game in Washington, but there was no
foundation for such q statement. The
senator himself says he used to
poke" great deal when he first
came to Washington as a delegate from
the territory. He thought he knew how
then. but contact with the experts here con-
WINGED him that he was mistaken, and he
has quit. The other day he remarked /:
"Let the newspaper boys make me figure
In their poker stories as often as they Ike,
but want them always to make me out a
winner. It Is wicked TO lose at gambling u
When Tom Bowen of Colorado was in the
Senate he was rated the most expert poker
player in congress, and most OF the stories
used to be hung on his name. One of the
most original was an account Of how he
worked his own photograph into hand in
a jack pot as fourth jack. 1t is said that
on one occasion he was at Helena, Mont.
as one of special committee appointed
to look up matters concerning the Indians
in that quarter. 1t was a poker playing
committee, and the most satisfactory
relaxation from lie arduous labors was
found at the card table, the government
supplying the necessary refreshments One
evening the statesmen were playing to-
gether when a swell commercial drummer
asked permission to come into the game,
and threw $100-bill on the table with a
reckless air of wealth. Tom Bowen, who
was banking, took the bill and handed over
to the newcomer one red chip.
"Can't have some more chips, gents ~
asked the travelling man, plaintively.
you've got what you bought" replied
Bowen. 1.-THE smallest are 800 each.
Excuse me, gents" said the drummer,
turning little pale. and not p receiving the
ruse to keep him out "Iguess won't come
in this evening"
A good many congressman are credited
with making considerable addition 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 pastime, which Is susceptible of
higher scientific development than any
other form OF play, Notwithstanding the
fact that the ignorant aud famous imagine
IL to be all chance. Henry Clay's wife was