New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-18
Not 4 ".J4CK POT."

con. everybody knows n little Greek was
the answer of the Greek professor to the sug-
gcstion that he was firing over the heads of
his audience when he quoted Thucyddes in
the original So. we suppose, the 'Col0nel Mer-
ritt'-whoever he may be-who Is reported by
the Bryan and Sewall organ in this city 10
have given William Jennings Bryan some five
years ago. "a brief but valuable piece Of adj
vice" must have assumed that everybody. in
Guiding William Jennings Bryan knew little
Doker- enough at least to understand the tech
nlcalities of that fascinating but not always
profitable game Of chance. The organ says of
it: 1T IS of itself sailing chart for young
statesman" 1t is indeed. When one cOnsd
ers for n moment that in Washington. the Nee
ca of statesmen and the nest of craftsmanship
rs wei, as the best school of draw poker be
tween the two oceans. there Is nothing so USE
full as sailing chart for the game-a chart
from which the young statesman can learn
with unerring precision when to put up
blind" or ''straddle" it: when TO come in or
stay out" when to "call" and when TO raise.
and what to do with zone little pair Of deuces"
or "bobtail fush''-whcn one takes this into
serious consideration 1t will appear very clear
" that Colonel Merritt whoever he may he
did give William Jennings Bryan "a brief
but valuable piece of advice"
BRYAN had been elected to Congress from
the Nebraska district" according to this vera
cious and admiring chronicler. and on his way
10 Washington had called on Colonel Merritt
whom he thus addressed: Colonel Merritt. I'm
about breaking into public life'-a choice phrase
and accurate descripton-"and | want you to
give me the benefit of your experience" To
this answered the sage-and. in view of what
has happened since, the response has historic
significance-"DOn't become common, Billy.
Don't make the mistake most young men do
"Of bursting into every discussion that Is up.
wait till you have something to say. Don't
"get the reputation Of chipping Into every pot
that is to be opened. Don't get common. Bill.
land you will become famous" That was the
Sailing chart" 1t was a good one. 1t in
voved a knowledge on Billy's part Of the game
Of draw poker, in which pots are Opened"
and the players "chip in,' but as the professor
said about the Greek quotation, everybody
knows q little poker, and Billy" undoubtedly
caught on. For since the noiseless slip OF the
pasteboard succeeded the rattle Of the dice no
great truth has been more generally recOg-
niZed than that zone touch Of poker makes the
whole world kin"
BILLY" has followed the advice Of the sage,
Colonel Mcrrtt"-whoever he may be- While
In Congress he did not become common did
not burst into every discussion that was up"
and did not get the reputation Of chipping
into every pot" that was opened. He skinned
down. his cards with judicous care, OCCASION
ally played white chip just TO keep up the
interest OF the game. and once in n while when
there were no "big hands out he played n
"red chip"-very red chip-and "raked in"
very small pot" which excited only languid
interest among the players. He was waiting
for Jack pot When the Democratic Ma
tional Convention met at Chicago he made up
his mind that there was n Jack pot on the
table worth playing for. He skinned his
cards and found nothing in his hand but a
"bobtail flush" He had been careful about
"chppng in TO other pots according to the
advice of the sage He had not made himself
common, as the other players had. This was
his chance. He raised the other players
"out" with his entire stock OF chips red
white and blue-and 'raked In the pot" 1t
was dead bluff" He had nothing in his
hand but the 'bobtail flush Of one speech. with
nothing TO draw to- He played the game
we'll Colonel Merrtt'-whoever he may be
was evidently an old poker player. who under
stood the game And BILLY" was an apt pupil
Bui-and this Is n dreadful but for BILLY
in this Jack pot there was nothing but a
nomination. The election Is quite a different
game Ii isn't Jack pot" anyway, and II 1t
were the American people will not let II be