The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-05-14

work Fer MS people. Mr.. Hill repre-
sents the 81 lumbermen and is busy
worker in that Canadian cause.
Congressman Corliss of Detroit and
William Alden Smith of Grand Rapids,
after drawing their salaries for April,
took trains for their respective homes.
Congressman Samuel Smith is still
here and he is the only Michigan states
man of the house of representatives now
in the city.
Prominent Michigan men. who were
here during the past week were II. H.
Everard and DR.. McNair of Kalamazoo
Frank Mellis of Mount Clemens, A. Il.
Kaiser and j. T.. Weeks of Macomb
county. Mr.. Everard is looking for an
appointment In the consular service
A Great Gambling Place.
The national capital is a great gam
bling place, and poker is poked at every
body in every hotel and boarding house.
One of the old men about town. former
ly leader in society, in politics, and in
church, as well as a popular member of
several clubs, says: II have lived in
nearly every large city Of the east, but
L really think that Washington is the
greatest poker place 1 was ever in. They
play at the clubs-that is to be expected
they play it in the rear of many bar
rooms and cigar stores, and they play
1t on the quiet in many home salons Of
our best people. Ladies there join and
bet two pairs with as much pluck as
though born gamblers. But probably
the worst evil in this direction Is in the
club rooms-incorporated as literary and
social clubs, but really for the purpose
OF gambling. / can point you out five
on Pennsylvania avenue from Ninth to
Forteenth street, where a mans money
Is only safe as long as he can outwit
the cheaters. The commissioners, / I'M
derstand, are powerless to remedy this
thing as the law now stands, but it is
certainly great pity, for many of our
brightest young men are wrecking their
fortunes in these dives"
Peculiar in Many Ways.
That is very true. Washington life-is
peculiar in many ways, and it's bright
avenues and homes are strewn with as
many social wrecks as a storm ridden
coast. A venerable looking gentleman,
whose garb had the unmistakable stamp
or shabby genteel, approached a group
standing in front of Wizards this morn
Ing, and, calling one of them aside,
poured into his ear pitiful story of
want and suffering. He stated that he
had not tasted food for two days, ex-
cept what little he could get at the free
lunch counters Of restaurants. Scarcely
eighteen months ago this same man was
$1,000 clerk in the treasury depart
ment, while in dress he was the picture
OF neatness and good taste. Those who
knew him always looked upon him as a
man of good habits, and the knowledge
that he is in want of the necessaries of
life, after having been in government
service for nearly a Score Of years, is
marvel to most Of them. He did not
drink and gambling, in some form or
other, probably used up the substance of
the money which came easy and went
easier.
Three Cara Monte I'm Europe.
The devices of crooks are no longer
used in Washington, or any eastern cit
les by gamblers except away down in
the Easements Of intelligence where |
newspaper light cannot penetrate. But
three card monte went to Europe with |
Buffalo Bill, and prospered there. OF |
course, Buffalo Bill had no more to do |
With taking monte to Europe with him /
han he had with taking with him the
indian loving Yermin. But the game |
vent along just the same. The British
monte sharps have piled their trade on
Ill the great lines running out of Lon
Ion, usually selecting Americans as
heir victims. A well-dressed, military
ooking man enters q first-class carriage, ]
axes no notice of his fellow passengers, |
nd is absorbed in reviews and periodi-
ais. AT some station on the line there
inter- two other military looking gentle
men, who fall to discussing army esti-
mates and dynamite guns. The CONVEX
alton turns at last upon a trick that
ne of them had seen played at the wild
'eat show. Had any one in the carriage
ny cards? No, but the taciturn gen.
lie man had three photographs in his
ocket, including one Of the Prince of
Wales. Would they do? Certainly. |
hen in bungling way the sharper
roceeded to explain the trick, asking
he others to follow the Prince of Wales.
Won from His Friend.
AS he pretended to become more ex-
ert he won from his friend, who laughed
earthly at the conceit. The Americans |
resent, though, had seen the trick so
ften that they could follow the princes
Photograph every time. At last they
re led into the game, with the usual s
esuIts. A United States army officer, ,
no is one of the cleverest fellows l ever
new, told me he was ''roped'' in like
lis the other day on his way to Liver
DOL and lost $120 before he had the s
lintest idea that he was in the hands r
sharpers. And deuced agreeable fell |,
WIS there were, too" he added sadly.
Room for Gambling.
To say that every hotel ia Washington I
as a gambling hall would make every
angry, and it might be a
light exaggeration. Nevertheless, II is
lie that in almost every leading hotel
Id apartment house there Is a room set !
part for the men who gamble and the
ajority of them are men of national
commence and fame. There is a sable
alter at the door who permits no one
enter except the regular players. He
'ings the bottles for them, lights their ]
CARS, and attends to all of their de- q
res. Every night, or before daybreak,
lat black man gets a coin or a bill
ON each player, and during the last
inter season he made between $3.50 and
90 month out of the generosity of the
Vol fp1 hof