The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-01
CarIisIe,s Four Aces.

one Of the best poker stories I know
has the unusual merit Of being true, writes
Walter Wellman from Washington 10 the
chicago Tlmes-Herald- Most poker stories
are hctions; this one deals with facts. Dur
ing the grst Cleveland administration
there was a little game at the house OF
Mr. Whitney Sitting in were Grover
Cleveland, john q. Carlisle, ". L. Scott,
Henry WattersOn and the hOst-just
nice nVe-handed game, and a company of
royal good Fellows, as everyone VIII adj
nit. The play was strictly senatorial
- ante by the ant dealer, s. limit Charley
FarWeu strdlghts-arOund-the corner, BIZ
~ Mahone-blaZes and everything gOinS-
of course, Mr.. Whitney set an elegant
iuncheon, with ali proper trimmings, ana
about midnight there was a good deal of
bluihng over the cards and no end OF
bantering across the table. Finally came
the deal which makes the story, ana
which may have an important bearing on
the history of the country. Grover CleVe-
land skinned the cards which were deaiJ
him by John Carlisle. and remarked they
We're worth little raise before the draw
w: l. Scott stayed in; Henry Wattersou,
belligerent, as usual, added another raise,
which was met by William c. whitney
John q. Carlisle trailed in Mr.. CleVe-
land now tilted Watterson again, and the
others stayed, except that WattersOn
again jerked two blue chips instead of
one to the middle of the table. There were
several more raises backward and for
ward between Cleveland and WattersOn,
and the pace became so hot between these
Two that the others discreetly dropped out,
with their single pairs-all except Car
Isle, who continued to trail in.
Finally Cleveland stopped meeting the
frisky Watterson's ultimatums, and cards
We're drawn. Cleveland took one, and eV-
erybOdy knew he had either three of q
kind or two big pair. WattersOn stood
pat and Cleveland sized him up for blur.
All hands were much amused at this dis
play OF poker innocence, and the players
winked at one another behind their cards.
Watterson said something to the effect
that Carlisle had been so long away from
Kentucky he must have forgotten most
that he ever knew. But when Cleveland
nad merely clipped against WatterSOn' $,
and WattersOn had rushed in another blue,
there was more astonishment. Carlisle
responded with another raise, Watterson
held his cards close to the end of his
nose and returned to the charge, and the
other kentuCkian tilted them gain At
ter the center of the table had been piled
niSn with Dlue chips, the man with the
four-card draw making the last raise
there was showdown. Cleveland had
filled two pairs, Watterson had a pat
straight. but Carlisle spread out four aces.
As he showed the blue pile toward the
lean kentuckian, Mr.. Cleveland exclaim-
ed: Drew four cards to an ace. and got
the other three, by thunder! That's gent
US; that's financiering. Carlisle, if ] come
back for a second term, you're the man |
want for my Secretary of the Treasury"
| am glad to say poker is playing out in
Washington mean poker among big peO-
pie. or course IL is the greatest game on
earth and all that, but somehow the peo-
pie are not pleased to hear Of statesmen,
presidents, cabinet men and senators in
dulging much in it, and perhaps the people
are quite right. MIR. Cleveland has not
played any poker in Washington since he
came back for this term, though | fancy
he may have had few small games. just
to pass the time, while out on his fishing
or shooting trips. Secretary Carlisle oc-
casiOnally has two or three intimate
friends up at his house to play draw for
a couple of hours. but the limit is never
more than % cents, and 25-cent draw is
about as harmless as muggins. The game
at the Carlisles always stops at midnight,
which is another thing in its favor When
the secretary has not anyone to play draw
with he plays solitaire Like many other
men of intense mental activity, he finds
some game restful to his brain. When Mr..
Gresham was in Arthurs cabinet he play
ed poker a great deal. That was a regular
poker cabinet. But during all the time he
was Secretary of State he never touched a
card. A few years ago a coterie of sena-
tors used to have big game almost every
night at John Chamberlin's, but those of
them who are still in Washington appear
to have overcome the habit. During the
winter there is an occasional game, but
the stakes are light compared with what
they used to be. One thing that helped
to break up the senatorial game was a
nasty scandal-a senator thrice caught
cheating. and another senator raising
chair on him and threatening to knock
his brains out So far as l know, none of
Mr.. Cleveland's present cabinet plays polk
err