The morning times., 1896-02-09

showed the coin that brings forth the magic
bit Of paper known as the policy slip"
That is Alexandria game.
The minor institutions wherein games OF
chance. such as poker, keno, roulette, etc.
prevail, are run 10y more or less obscure
individuals, but policy is said 10 be entirely
within the control Of two men.
John DonneIIy. with the reputation of
always having more ready money than any
other man i'm the town, is proprietor OF the
Frankfort and Kentucky with branches
all over the place and a number of writers
In this city, and Frank Hill, almost as popu-
lar. because OF the vast amount of small
change be has at his command, isatthe head
OF an equally extensive institution called
The Dismal" The latter name would
be appropriate for both places.
Both Of them are close TO the wharf. but
they have branches convenient to all the
railroad depots, where slips may be pro-
cured from authorized writers. The Dis
mar has been in existence since 1888, and
is more largely patronized than the other.
Tie game itself is very much on the Old
lottery system. The slip that the player
buys. putting up any amount, contains a
row OF either three or four numbers. Every
row has name. such as "louse row, '"sil-
yer money" paper money" egg"
'blood, fighting and so on, ad in
finitum.
The only rules for playing policy are con-
tanned in dream book, which gives the
thousand or more names Of rows, and this
the colored devotees of policy oonsults as
II an oracle Dreams and everyday iEci-
dents figure largely in his selection of rows.
THE POLICY DRAWINGS.
Drawings take place twice day. once
81 noon and next at 6 O'Clock in the evening.
As soon as the dra wings are made the results
are printed on little slips OF paper on hand
press, and runners take them around the
town 10 whomsoever wants the returns
without going to the "shcp" after them.
Inside the places they are written out on
blackboards and hung on the wall. for the
information of everybody. The slips on
which the drawings are printed are dated
and sent broadcast through the town.
The shops were not difficult TO find.
A group OF negroes on the wharf were dis
russing a recent winning as The Times man
got off the boat and be mingled with them.
whats out this morning." he asked.
u hearn it said that blood row was
bein played. but don't know" said one.
Are you going 10 play this morning."
Il reckon I'll put on few cents"
We'll. ! want TO play; lets 60 up
So the negro became The Times mans
unwitting guide, and tie Two started ep
King street. One square from the wharf
Union street cut ACROSS, and into this and
up muddy alley, heaped high with oyster
shells, the negro led the reporter. The
alley wound around, north, east and south.
until finally gate that had originally
been red, but was recently whitewasbed,
came into view.
IT swung inyitingly open, showing a
bare backyard, into which two back
doors opened from the red brick house.
The door on the right had one pane of glass
broken out, and board nailed across the
bottom TO mend a big crack, where it bad
evidently been kicked open.
IN THE SHOPS.
without hesitating the colored mantumed
the knob, and it swung open, revealing a
dirty, dingy, sEIoke-filled interior, bare
as the yard, except for double blackboard