The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-21

Smith, better known as 'Pittsburg Phil"
When Grammar Is pointed out the visitor
sees a most ordinary looking young man,
clothed in a rusty black suit, sometimes
minus a coat and with his shirt sleeves
rolled up above the elbow. His face is
clean shaver, the mouth is large, the hair
IS rumpled. the nose has upward tilt
He would quite an ugly young man were
1t not for his eyes. These are a steel blue,
bright and active, with a world OF intelli-
gence in them. They are the redeeming
features of a very ordinary face.
When ''Pittsburg Phi'' is pointed out
the visitor sees much the same style Of man
Grammar in the matter Of build and
height. Both men are five feet eight inches
tall. and. about 140 pounds in weight Like
Grammar, Smiths face is clean shaven, and
his features are ordinary. But he dresses
with more care. His clothes are never
dudish or loud, but they are well made.
Smith is not a fashion plate by any means,
b1.t along side Of Grammar he looks like
one.
Physically these two race track sights
are much alike, and the similarity extends
to their mental structures. Both men are
unusually retlcent They seldom speak.
and then only a word or two. Each keeps
to himself and never INDUCES in that cheap
est Of all race track privi1eges-giving tips
years old, and Smith is thirty-fOur- Gran
nan has been a professional gambler for
twelve years. while Smith has followed the
horses for sixteen years.
900, and has lost $500, 900. Grammar has
won close to 1000. 600, and has lost all
but $3.50, 600 Of it. At no time has either of
them had $1,000 00 Smith in 1898 was
worth close to $500, 900. A year ago Gran
nan had 100000. That same year he was
down to $50 He made the $500 900 in less
than four weeks. Two weeks from now he
may be worth half a million, and a week
later he may not have a cent. Smith keeps
available cash on hand to the tune of $780,
OOO That is the sum he invests in his
betting business. Everything he makes
above that figure he invests in conservative,
interest bearing stocks and bonds. If a long
streak Of reverses should wipe out that
$25O,Q00 he says he will quit the betting
ring and retire on his outside fortune. This
latter Is generally estimated to be quarter
Of a million.
Grammar has no anchor to windward
When he goes broke he is broke in dead
earnest Outside Of the money he has on
hand the only investment he ever made
with the hundreds of thousands he has
owned is e $4,000 house in Paris, Ky,
which he gave to his mother. Once ne put
$4,000 into a saloon, but that collapsed
That cured him of Investments. Smith is
the better business man Of the two, but
Grammar is the biggest plunger. That is
the only difference between these young 6
men,
PILLS LUCKY HIT.
Grammar has not made any sensational
bets 50 Tar this year. Smith won $43. 600
landed the Brooklyn When Henry Of Ma
varre won the Suburban Grammar won $780,
600. That was nothing extraordinary for
him. No one knows how he stands on the
season. but it is generally believed that he
is behindhanc. Smith is probably 500, 900
ahead, but this IS merely a surmise, as he
seldom gives figures when he talks about
his betting experiences.
In February last Grammar attended the
races at San Francisco, beginning the sea-
son with something like $500, 900 to the good.
Before two weeks had passed the rumor was
lying about that Grammar was being hit
bard In another week It was quite apparent
that the most famous plunger Of the day
was 1at broke. The last week OF the races
On the Pacific slope the news few around
kbas .G7rannan had made $50 bot on q