The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-11-21
POKER IN THE CABINET.
A Member of the Same, Who Wasn't Talk.
ing About Herbert, Tells Tales.

POkEk IN IF1E CH6llNEl.
Member of the Same, Who Wasn't Talk
ing About Herbert, Tells Tales.
Gresham, - said prominent men,
ber oe the cabinet, vainly searching in
his pocket for a nickel with which to
pay his fare in the last night car after
pleasant little evening at the White
House, and who then gratefully thanked
a newspaper correspondent for handing
the conductor an extra nickel, .'Gresh-
am says that he doesn't play poker for
the money there is in it, but notice
that he wins all the chips -
The secretary was lost in thought for
few moments. Finally he shook his
head sadly, sighed heavily and contin-
ned:
Secretary Gresham is, in my opin-
ion, the finest poker player in the
country. 1:.:ave seen great many stiff
games IN my life, games played by
raen who had for years made their liv-
ing at it. And I have seen some pretty
desperate chances taken, too, but never
nave seen man SO thoroughly at
home at a game Of poker, so cool and
collected at every stage, as OUT secretary
Of state. In this opinion am sure that
would be indorsed by every member
of the cabinet. Even the president him
self would, I am sure, second my views
On this subject, although he thinks he
knows thing or two about the game
himself -
''Has the president played the game
long?'' the newspaper man inquired.
ooh, no." said the secretary; 81
don't believe he ever played the game
at all until he went down the river last
year and took Gresham and Carlisle
with him. When he came back, be
didn't talk about anything for ronths
but poker. He limited one day that it
I'd come up in the evening he would
give me- q few points about the game. I
went up. The next morning the presi-
dent had to send to the bank for money" "
''What did the president say when he
arose from the game?"
.sHe simply said that it was easy to
see that I'd been taking few lessons
from Gresham, and then be said good
night. 30
s.Can all the members Of the cabinet
play?"
sThey can; but, like the man with
the dish Of crow before him, they don't
banker after it. It's too expensive. The
great poker players Of the presidents
official family are the president, secre-
tary of state, Carlisle and Morton. They
play for the love of it. Morton is not
what one would say in the language OF
the street an 'out CT sight player, but
he is pretty good all around hand at
the game, and then he doesn't have to
live on his salary. Carlisle is shrewd
player, but lacks nerve. The president
is great buffer and seldom stays out.
He's the biggest winner Of the four, ex-
cept, Of course, Gresham. Gresham
seems to win all t;.o time. .
''Do they play oftea?''
ssWell, they devote about all their
spare time to it. It's become q hobby
with the whsle OF them. don't want
to be understood as insinuating that
they play night after night or that very
large sums change hands It's merely q
gentleman's game. They like it. 1t az
fords them the necessary relaxation aft
er hard days work, and it's perfectly
prcper and correct. y
''Does Lamont play poker::'
"Well, as my friend Goldzier would
put it, Lamont do play few poker,
but it's not his hobby. Politics is La
mont's bobby
Chow about Herbert?'
'sI'm not talking about him" Then
he winked the other eye and left tho
car.-Washington Cor. Rochester Post
Express.