The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-27

self. One winter, during a session of the
legislature, friend of Jim's came on from
the west to visit him and he put up at the
Columbia house. He was a smooth-faced
pale-looking rooster. Always wore a long
tailed, black coat and a white necktie
He had the appearance of a minister more
than anything else, but his looks deceived
him.
Every afternoon Orrin Writing, Hen
Talbot Mark Putnam and Trip Hamil-
ton got together in the star chamber and
had session a. poker. They were all
stiff players and when they got together
it was well enough to look out for trou-
BILE. They were called the big Four
Hamilton was one of the political wire
pullers in those days. He lived some
where down in Ocean county and when
anybody from South Jersey wanted any
thing politically they had to consult Ham,
as he was Familiarity called.
One day things were a little quiet
around the state house and the "Big Four
got together in the star chamber for a
seance. The cards ran all right for Ham
from the start and the boys were chipping
up to him with great regularity. It WASH
always that he played in that kind of
luck, but when he did he played hard,
and he kept the boys guessing from start
to finish.
The bell boy was kept pretty busy run
ming between the star chamber and the
bar room, for the kitty was rich between
the jackpots and the full hands that Ham
held. Ham started on gin cocktails and
stuck to them, but they didn't muddle his
head any. 1t used to be said of him that
if he should fall overheard in an ocean of
gin he could swallow it and walk home
on top of a rail fence
1t was along about the middle of the
afternoon. There were a half dozen of us
in the room watching the game. A rap
came on the door.
Come in said Ham
The door was opened and the bell boy
walked in with a note in his hand. He
gave it TO Ham, who laid down his cards
and opened it. I'll never forget the fun
ny look that came over ihS face as he
read it. Finally he locked up and said:
Here's some fun for us boys. Listen to
this" Then he read the note, which ran
something like this:
my Dear Hamilton: The Rev. Mr..
Taylor of Mt. Pleasant Cape May county,
is here. He wants to get a chance to open
either the House or Senate with prayer
and wants to see you about it. Shall l
send him up? Yours, James Preston"
I'm going to have him come up said
Ham.
WED better put these cards out of
sight, then" said Putnam.
mo, we won't" exclaimed Ham; "well
keep right on playing, and If he don't
like Ii he can get out. l reckon it's a
good way to get rid of him. There's more
ministers that want to pray in the legis-
lature for $40 a prayer than can be ac-
commodated. 1 don't want to turn this
fellow down fiat, and If he comes up and
sees us playing cards perhaps he'll get
out without giving us any more trouble
The others agreed to do as Ham sug-
gester and he wrote on the margin of the
note: Send him up" The bell-boy took
it down and the game went on.
In about five minutes there was a timid
rap on the door. Ham shouted: Come
in" The door opened and in walked Jim's
friend. But none of us knew him at that
time. for he had just come to town.
Take a seat" said Ham, wen be
through this hand in a minute" and he
wlnked at me.
The fellow didn't take chair. To our
surprise he walked UP behind Ham and.
placing his hand on his chair, watched the
game. There was a fight going on over
the possession of a Jackpot and 1t took
some time to settle it,but Ham finally won
and raked in a pile of chips over to his
side of the table that he couldn't get
into his hat.