The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-06-30
GAMBLERS AND SUCKERS.

GAMBLERS AND SUCKERS.
Our contributor "Wayne' explains to us
clearly this week how bettOrs on horse
races enrich the pool sellers. 1t would be
tons to study that article thoroughly. not
simply for what it reveals about betting on
horse races, but that it may possibly open
your eyes to the ''inwardness" of all kinds
of gambling. Wayne" does not pretend
to expose anything more than the methods
of honest pool selling. There are many
tricks practiced by the professional turf
men, by which the uninitiated are virtually
rObbed-nOt given even single chance for
their stakes. LAS in horse racing so in all
other popular methods of gambling. The
professionals do not 90 about inducing peo-
pie to bet on their games with any notion
of allowing the people an equal chance of
winning their money. They are not out to
lose. and the most honest one among them
will not lose if resorting to any kind of
trickery will prevent it.
Honesty in gambling? Why. the sug-
gestion is the variest bOsh," declared an
old gambler. And he declared an oft de.
clared but little needed truth. The honest
gambler does not exist outside of the mag
ination of the romance writer. He may be
honest as honesty is among gamblers. but
not as honesty is defined in the lexicon of
morality. Non professional players do win
at times, and occasionally large sums. If
it were not so the professionals would soon
run out of patrons. There must be bait on
the hook or the suckers won't bite. But
can they live in elegant style and enjoy the
luxuries of life without productive labor or
inheritance? Simple luck has no constant
favorites. and most of the games presented
do not offer any opportunity for the exer-
else of genius in an honorable manner.
We once knew man of just ordinary good
sense to come away from faro table highly
elated over having won four hundred dol
lars while his fellow player, one of the most
noted lawyers of his day in Chicago. had
lost several thousand dollars. He really
thought that he had displayed better judy
ment in placing his bets than had the great
lawyer, but the fact was that the profes.
sional behind the table had dealt the cards
to catch the lawyers thousands. and our
acquaintance had by undesignedly placing
his bets opposite the lawyers simply prot
tied by his loss. But the old gambler that
we quoted above knows more about it than
we do. and if we are wiser than geese we
will, if we must gamble, bet on no other
game than our own. Let us consider what
| the old gambler said in continuance:
have encountered every game known in this
country and Europe, and have come in contact
with every character of gambler, from the squnt.
eyed tough who does the "hard jobs" to the re.
fined and dignifed individual who lends tone to the
establishment. and 1 tell you there is not an hon.
| est man among them, nor are any of their games
| square" The very result of gambling ought to
convince the most unsophsticated Of the truth of
my assertion. If there be any law of chance as
Hume contends. why shouldn't it operate in my
| favor well in favor of the man who runs the
gamer 1t undoubtedly woald if it were not ham.
| pered and manipulated by the tricks of the gam.
| bier. There is no use to point out that the gam.
bier gets rich because of the percentage and the
rake off," This ratio of loss to the player is too
insign ifcant to support the theory. The fact is