Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-30

run the railroad tracks and on the right is q
struggling line of two-story buildings For the
most part they are of frame and on the outside
look not unlike the ordinary road house sa-
LOOM Inside things are quite different, though
very few Of the houses are without the bar at
tachment
From within may be heard the merry rattle
OF the chips and the mellifiuous tones Of the
marker as he calls out the odds on that fine
horse, gentleman, that ran such good race al
Gutenberg last week and is very likely to pull
out a winner today. Step up, gentlemen, and
make your bets. for the horses at the post
and all bets will close IN minute
There is no deception here and no effort il
made to conceal.what Is going on inside. There
Is no lynx-eyed keeper at the door to scan the
applicant for admission and pass upon his
merits as a member Of the charmed circle.
Such an institution may be a necessity in
gambling rooms in the city. but across the
river all Is open and above board. and nothing
more substantial than n swinging door sepa-
rates those within from those without All are
welcome, and one mans money is just as good
as any others
PLAYING THE RACES.
There are several places where books are
made upon the races. but two of them are
larger and better equipped than the others, and
these have the call on popular favor Back OF
that part in each where beer whisky and other
runs large. wcll-lghted room. where the races
are played for all they are worth and more
Along one side of the room is placed upon
the wall big blackboard, and on this are writ
ten the entries and the odds on each at both the
tracks where winter racing is carried
on 1t is cold work going to the races in mid
winter and lots OF people who follow the sport
for revenue only find it much pleas
anter to do in big warm
room than at bleak and dreary track.
In TACT 1t has often been charged that these
winter tracks are kept at work in the interest
OF the pool rooms. and the character OF the
racing itself Is not always above reproach
Still 1t all goes and these rooms are never de-
serted. 1t Is lively sight and curious one
THE CROWD.
There are no distinctions made on account
OF class or color. and the dapper government
clerk or the clubman out Tor an experience
stands a very good chance of brushing I'D
against the boy who BACKED his boots earlier
In the day. and the one is as likely to make a
winning as the other. There is a vast deal of
good humor shown on all sides 1t is a happy
go-lucky sort of a crowd and there is little of
that tense subdued excitement that one is
familiar with in story book descriptions of
gambling houses. There is no visible feverish
greed for gain, though occasionally when the
wrong horse is telegraphed the winner one
hears remarks about going dead broke again ~
or words to that effect There is a good
deal of talk about probable winners, and when
a man has sure thing he goes way up in the
estimation of the crowd. Sometimes his money
goes with it and he mutters some remark about
his hard luck and starts to work to pick his
horse for the next race. No sooner is one race
run than the betting on the next one begins.
and there Is something to do all the time. The
interest Is not allowed to flag for moment.
FROM THE RACE TRACK.
OFF in one corner of the room is a telegram
ticker with a wire direct from the track, and
by this means the crowd in the pool rooms
know just as well what is going on at Gutten-
berg and Gloucester as if they were there in
person. They know the condition of the