The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-18
PLAY THE RACES
The Daylight Crime of
nlneyville.
Business Men of This City
Gamble There by Proxy.
The Joint Of Fallen Sons Of Gentle
Society.
Dear Sir.

When the history Of Olneyville's indus
tries is written, it will be incomplete un-
less there is n generous space devoted 10 a
mention of the Pool Room in the Chan
mel. for since it was established it has
afforded employment for mora men than
nre required to run tho average country
factory. There are other forms of the
gam bling business, too, which shouldn't
be overlooked. Policy has been played
there for an age and tho faro bank Mt No.
10 is q land mark. The Library Court
joint, which is Conducted by fallen sons of
gentle society Is also becominR hoary
with age, 6s its managers are growing fat
and wealthy under the tenign influence of
protection and the list is To receive the
addition Of another place which will soon
te opened by well known horse man,
but still none of those places arc IL 10
compared with the pool room. IL Is the only
daylight game OF the lot and as an en-
ployer of labor and the scene Of much
money changing. this institution takes
precedence over all Ltiers. Tire men attend
there with as great regularity as tha
operatives go into the mills. and tho way
. icy come in crowds ut tho hour liked for
tho opening Of the establishment is also
very suggestive of factory life. Among
the large crowds which go down ;he
o3uIse, many cbairwnrncrs who 90 thoso
for nothing better than 10 Kill time Tut
the great majority OF them are active
members of the profession, who are always
seady to take chance On anything
The city OF Boston Is daily rPuresen ted
by q large delegation of sports who come
down every day and return to their homes
In the evening. Thoir patronage Is Gu
ccuraged by the proprietors uf the pool
room, who employ an agent Ia Boston to
provide oil who wish TO attend tho Stokes
street races with faro at merely nominal
vost. so that when it does happen that the
gang goes broke they are assured of a safe
return to the Hub. No gentleman in that
business would be expected 20 walk a.
miles. The rest Of the workers at this bee-
hive come from down town.
Tie number Of local players is con-
pnrativey small The Institution would
have to te subsidized IL 10 depended
wholly on the local talent for support.
They were more numerous when the place
was first opened three or four yers ago.
but when they discovered that they
cCuldn't strike n 100 60 ] sHOt about every
o'ter tine. they concluded that playing
the horses was not what 10 was cracked
up to be and they soon began to quit
Sanny business men of tbs down town
iccti0n { ro following the races by proxy.
Iney would not be seen In the Channel
for fear of injuring their reputation, but
they send their money out every alter
noon. One man who formerly took n
most aggressive stand against gam M
In the city. nnd particularly against pool
rooms, is said 60 have his proxy I'm front
OF the black hoard ovory day.
A local business man in telling Of the
pool room "a few days ago said They can
soy what they hove mind 20. those places
hurt ti town. It takes money out Of the
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