The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-07
Poker, Cards, Business.

Poker, Cards, Business.
In the subjoned letter we are asked to
discuss question whose great essen
tial interest must have been considerably
heightened by II certain noted and popular
feature OF our national development:
"In u conversation couce rnns tho game OF draw
poter tho statement made that who could
play aasras. game OF poker had all the qualifications
needed to successfully manage any large business In.
terest. such large railroad company. insurance
company, or bank
.Is not this sot IF you think not. then why not
Tho statement referred of course to meua Qua!ihca.
tons, knowledge OF human nature. coolness. nerve.
selfcoutrol. and so FORTH
There is much in poker to suggest the idea
that the superior man. measured by the
comparisons Of ordinary life, will play the
superior game. An able and successful
artist in action may well impress the OBJ
server with respect for the force both Of his
mind aud character. His power OF pene-
trating into the games unknown quanti-
ties seems astounding. His feeling for an
antagonists strength or weakness seems
delicate to the point of divinaton. His
calmness through moments OF necessarily
intense excitement, and the boldness with
which he often plunges for fortune in the
face OF chance manifcstly unequal. elicits
the admiration always accorded to cool and
daring determination. His estimate OF
his competitors In respect OF their DISPOSE
tons and impulses. and the influence of his
conclusions therefrom upon his own play
suggest extraordinary subtlety in reason
ing and in approaching the idiosyncrasies
OF human nature. His judgment upon the
innumerable little trivialities OF the gaming
table Is formed with incomprehensible &C.
curacy. and his force OF will in bowling to
it and relentlessly declaring himself beaten
when weaker soulwould be unable to re-
press tho temptation to another useless and
costly sacrifice. touches the magnificent.
In the midst OF triumph he rises to the
stature Of a veritable giant OF intellectual
and moral strength. endowed apparently
with every qualification for shining sue
cess in the affairs Of active life.
| Moreover. this correspondent who has
communicated to The Sun belief in
| good poker qualities Us identical with prac-
tical business talent is not the first such phi
losopher. So searching and inspired an an
| alyst Of human faculties as EDGAR ALLAN
Poe exalted whist as test Of the intellect
on precisely the same line Of reasoning that
has led our correspondent to the celebra-
ton of poker. Chess. says Poe. in the pre-
liminary reflections which introduce his
story of tho Murders in the Rue Morgue,"
does not tax the higher powers OF the re-
Elective intellect exhaustively. The best
chess player may be- little more. But
proficiency in whist" game in which
he credits the great player with the ability
and habit OF observing and using a long
and varied list OF accidents apparently
| trivial but nightly significant. outside Of
the play pure and simple. implies capacity
for success with all those more important
undertakings where mind struggles with
mind"
As to the value of this authority we will
venture to say that no modern whist master
would consider the theatrical and somewhat
grotesque genius whom Poe presents as
tho ideal expert. without being satisfied that
Poe himself was really no player. We will
use portion of his own description OF tho
perfect member OF a whist party:
| "Te examines the countenance OF his partner. com
pairing carefully with that OF each Of his opponents
lie considers the mode of asserting the cards In each
| hand. often counting trump by trump aud honor by
honor through the Gances bestowed by their holders
upon each. lie notes every variation Of face the
play progresses gathering fund OF thought from tn g
expression Of certainty OF SURPRISE
OF triumph, or OF chAgrn From the manner OF gather
ing up trick he judges whether the person takink It
| can make another In the suit Ho recognizes what
Is played through fent by the air through which Is
| thrown the table, casual or tnadvertent word:
the accidental dropping turning OF card with the
accompanying anxiety or careessness In regard to s
salment: tho counting OF tricks with the order Of
their arrangement: embarrassment hesitation eager
ness reputation all Afford to his apparently intui.
tive perception indication of the true state ~ anairs
The hrs three rounds having been played he Ia
IN full possession of the contents of each hand and
tAenceforwsrd puts down his cards with as absolute
precision OF purpose as II the rest OF tho party had
| turned outward the faces OF their own"
However splendid this is as 1t stands In
the introduction to one Of the most amazing
achievements OF literary imagination. it is
not whist. heliving player finds his game
In the cards. Compared to the school depict
cd In the " Murders in the Rue Morgue" his
stands as distinct a. are the logical and CON-
oentrated calculations Of the astronomer
from tho fantastic and emotional decisions
Of the astrologist. He relies little or not at
sllupon the fanciful power Of inductive ratio
oination. from which the brilliant and
inexperienced fancy OF Poe created his
all-penetratng wonder. His mind Ia bent
almost wholly and absolutely upon oonsld-
erinG the ever now and surprising combina-
lions which ffty-two oards. manipulated
according to the laws Of whist, afford In !,
succession that 70 practically inexhaustil'ls.
O. AZ HI lal~