Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-01-05
In a New York Pool Room,


In New York Pool Room.
The character of the pool rooms is
regulated by the heneighborhood and the
character of the habitues. The rough,
ragged and dirty element is found in
all. The well dressed man is to be
found only in certain rooms, especially
in those near the exchanges. These
pool rooms are under the protection of
I the law, the book makers being sup.
posed to forward the money to the race
track and place 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 dealings with, and the only men
concerned in the transaction. Some
outsiders tell stories of large winnings,
but others, who are never heard of at
all, lose everything, and families suffer
because of the rooms. Some men have
not the time or the money to go to the
track, but the pool room affords them
ample opportunity to lose all they have.
Human nature lie strongly portrayed
in these places Humor sometimes is
found. Some horses are burdened with
such strange, inappropriate names that
it is wonder they are ever able to run
mile. Public, famous and historic
names are drawn upon to designate the
horses. Pet names, Indian names and
unpronounceable combinations of let
ters are called into service. The die
tionary is used, and sometimes it seems
as though the owners of the horses have
searched the Sanskrit of the Mahaba-
rata to find appellations. Some ordi-
nary names are funny under certain
conditions, as when the announcer calls
out, Headlight leads" 'Indiarubber
in the stretch" The latter is an old
joke with racing men, but it never fails
to arouse laugh when the horse is
really in the lead. A very funny in
cident happened during the present
season. Two horses with similar names
were in one race. Stonenell and Stone
mason were the two, and ON one II for
get which were long odds, while the
other was a "short horse.n Stonenell
for instance, was 8 to 8, while Stone
mason was 20 to to win. A young
man at the pool rooms putup four dol
lars 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, they
called out, "Stonemason wins" The
young man with the ticket was simply
enraptured. Without waiting for yer.
ification from the track, he invited a
friend out to celebrate the luck. While
the young man was absent word was
received over the wire that the operator
had made mistake, and that Stone
nell had won. The change was made
on the board and the returns having
been made straight, the tickets were
paid. At this juncture the happy youth
returned, looked up at the board and
nearly collapsed.
Whats tie matter?" asked his sur
prised friend.
''Matter!" cried he. 'Why, don 7 you
seeY StOnemason WASH t in it. l did
not think he would win, but when he
was announced winner l spent every
thing had celebrating" and he went
forth broken in heart and pocket.
That is the way nearly everybody
goes out of the pool room if they tempt
fortune long enough -Flavel Scott
Mines, in Harper's Weekly.