The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-01-06
In a New York Pool-Room.

The character Of the Pool-room is
regulated by the neighborhood and the
character of the hdbitues. The rough,
ragged, and dirty element are to be
found in all. The we'll dressed man
is to be found only in certain rooms,
especially those near the exchanges.
These pool-rooms are under the pro-
lection Of the law, the book makers
being supposed to forward the money
to the race-track, and places for their
patron for ten cents commission.
They collect the commission-obey
the letter of the law-but it is
ridiculous to suppose that the money
is placed at the track. The men in
the office are the only men you have
any dealings with, and the only men
concerned in the transaction. Some
outsiders tell stories of large winnings,
but others, who never heard of, lose
their all, and families suffer because Of
the rooms. Some men have not the
time or the money to go to the tracks,
but the pool-room affords them ample
opportunity to lose the little they
possess.
Human nature is strongly portrayed
in thess places. Humor sometimes is
found. Some horses are burdened
with such strange, Inappropriate names
that it is wonder they are able to run
a mile. Public, famous, and historic
names are drawn upon to designate
the horse. Pet names, Indian names,
and unpronounceable combinations
| of letters are called into service.
The English dictionary is used, and
sometimes 1t seems as though the
owners had searched the Sanskrit Of
the Mahabharata to find some sort of
appellation. Some ordinary names
are funny under certain conditions, as
| when the announcer calls out: "Head-
light leads" "Indiarubber in the
stretch" The latter is an old joke
with horsemen, but it never fails to
arouse laugh when those really leads.
A very funny incident happened dur.
ing the present season. Two horses
with similar name were in one race.
Stonenell and Stonemason were the
two, and on one( (Iforget which, were
"long Odds" while the other was
a ''short horses" Stonenell, for
example, was to S, while Stone
mason was 20 to to win. A young
man at the pool-rooms put up four
dollars on Stonemason, having a faint
very faint, chance to win eighty dollars
The race was run, Stonenell in the
lead all the time, Stonemason not
heard from. AT the finish, however,
the man called out, "Stonemason
wins" The young man with the
ticket was simply enraptured. With
| out waiting for verification from the
race track, he invited friend out to
celebrate the luck. While the Young
man was absent word was received
over the wire that the operator had
made a mistake, and that Stonenell
had won. The change was made on
the board, and :he returns having
been made straight, the tickets were
paid. At this juncture the happy
youth returned and looked up at the
board, and nearly collapsed.
"What's the matter ? asked his
friend.
"Matterl' he cried. "Don't you
see ? Stonemason wasn't in it. l
didn't think he would win: but after
the race was announced, with Stone
mason winner, | spent every single
cent l had in celebrating and he
went forth broken in heart and
pocket.
That is the way that nearly every
body goes out of the poolroom if
they tempt fortune long enough.