The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-18
GAMBLING THEN AND NOW.
Some Washington Eeminiscences Of
1hsd Stevens Play IN Pendleton'A


Some Washington "reminiscences Of
lhed stevens Play in Pendleton's.
From the PHILADELPHIA Tines
There is still big betting in Washington,
for there Is no incident 50 Insignificant that
men won't gamble over If they have a
chance. Some few senator's meet in the
quiet splendor of their own parlors for a
Quiet game Of poker, but the old Berserker
madness OF the ante-bellum days is forever
and forever gone. They may play with
animation and with sharp rivalry, some Of
them SO cunningly that the ghost of cd
Bob Schenck Of Ohio lowering around
must be delighted with the exhibition of
daring bluf and facial tranquil
MY but they play for fun,
not really for gain. No senator
axes his next years salary, as senators
did In the fourth decade; no army officer
compels his wife to mortgage her house. as
was formerly done il the gossip of the past
De True. No foreign minister lays on the
table Tor the tickle goddess of faro the
money he has borrowed to take him back
to Germany, as was done in one well known
case by brilliant diplomat, who still lives.
Nobody nowadays is ruined by the green
table. Provost Paradol, the French min
i5ter plenipotentary at Washington at the
time OF Louis Napoleon'S downfall, was
said to have killed himself because a big
poker game had bankrupted him.
The most pretentious and gorgeous faro
bank ever known in Washington was Ned
Pendleton's, established long ago in the
fortes, chiefly on congressional patronage
IL was on Pennsylvania avenue, not far
from -Four and-one-half street, and it -four
lshed many years like unto green bay
tree: 1t was gorgeous palace, a temple
for faro worsbipers.
few statesmen yentured to call him by
bis name, but he always resented it.. Yet
he was really Edward Pendletcn, a scion of
the stately Virginia family, and a brother
OF the American minister to Germany. In
his superb dining-room, with its elegant ma
hogany OF antique pattern and solid silver
service, thls courtly gambler YVES wont to
spread dinner at which the wines were of
tnerarest and the wOodcock was as COM
mon as the ordinary blackbird in a New
\ ork restaurant. At prompt o'clock
every day the grand Signor Pendleton sat
down IN full dress at the head of his own
dinner table, while around his festive board
at this complimentary daily gastronomic
Joy sat the most distinguished men in
Washlngton or IN the nation. Commodores,
ambassadors. senator's and congressman aud
men Of elegant leisure regarded 1t as quite en-
reggie to taste the rare vlands and the price
less wines
~ 90 ~ ASputdDl5 q 10 10 bnBb
when Scott, Sergeant s. Prentiss. Henry
Clay, in his last years, Thaddeus Stevens,
Pauldlng, Bob Schenck. Humphrey Mar
shall, and. occasionally Tom Marshall
James A. Bayard, Judge William White.
ley OF Delaware, Wentworth ana Yulee of
Florida, or Judah P. Benjamin stroled
with Pendleton of Louisiana, nobJdy
thought of observing it, no newspaper men
thought of chronicAng the event any more
in ar Il ty,
take a drink.
Neo Pendleton gave the freedom of his
house to the great commoner of PennsyI-
vaDia, Mr.. Stevens. the old man eloquent
OF Lancaster; old Ihad was favorite with
hosts and with guests. He was the char
tered llbertine of conversation. His audac-
ity took no counsel OF his fears. The south
ern men played for high stakes, and Sena-
tor Greene of Mis- 5ouri thought little of
"paraleeing" $1,000 bill on the ace till
unklnd fortune beat him OF his 81 900, or it
had run upward In four turns into $4,000.
Pendleton's best story of Thaddeus Ste
vens, and one absolutely true was this one:
"A colored preacher had come over from
Richmo d, Va, to secure contributions for
his new Zion church. Thad's housekeeper,
Mrs. Julia Smith, had told the anxious
clerical beggar to go to Pendleton's about
p M, and he would find the great Lancaster
congressman ready to contribute to the
good cause in Richmond. He waited at the
door OF the faro palace. aud old Thad came
hobbnng out about p. M, having
enjoyed a good dinuer, and he had
won $1,000 on $50 stake. The colored
preacher doff his hat and asked for a
contribution for the cause of Zion. Ger
tainly,' said Thad, handing him a 500 bill.
Long and auXiouslv the negro scanned the
500 bill. Walking behlnd Stevens he
tugged at Thad's coat and said 'Marse
Stevens, you done gone made a mistake
You gave me hundred dollar bill for a
ten %, MOI it's all right said Stevens
turning around and looking the negro
square in the eyes. God moves in a mystic
ricus way his wonders to perform A hap
pier darby never journeyed back to Rich
moud.n
&c rye Law was called the heaviest PLAYER
of his time at faro with the exception of
Sergeant S. Prentiss of Mississippi, who
wss the greatest faro plunger the green
table ever saw In America, "rhen Walton
not excepted. Not so with Mr.. Stevens.
The great commoner regarded this game as
did one of the most brilliant minds this
country ever produced, as she intellectual
mans amusement.n
In the frivolities of ordinary society
Stevens never shredded his days into frog
meGts or frivoled mis- nj gbts into nothing
ness. He was one Of the most ique as
well as methodical players ever known. He
never hazarded large sums, and his highest
limit was $l00a night, but if he once struck
1t rich he was dangerous players for the
faro princes. When he got the banks money
on the table in front of him he VAS a high
player. He never tired of the game aud
would go directly from Pendleton's dining
hall and take his old seat at tie green baize
in the next room. His ordinary hour of
leaving was early bedtime, and it made