The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-09-24
Gene Was Introduced In New Or.
leans Society 400 Years Ago.


leans Society 400 Years Ag0.
Savannah (Ga.) News: " there is one
game to which the Savannah negro is
devoted above all others 1t Is craps. City
or country. it is al: alike. On Sunday
the country negroes gather in little
groups in the shade Of trees. out Of sight
Of the "big house, and play all day
long, or until the wages which they re-
ceived on Saturday night are gone. In
the cities they gather on the wharves.
favorable spot out Of sight of the cop
and play for any amount they may pos
sess. from :oppecs to dollars.
Ths Savannah bootblacks and news
boys, like those of any other city. gamble
away their earnings. and many game
often becoming SO Interested that they
lose all thought of the policeman until
that worthy appears in their midst and
nabs couple of the players. White boys
play the game, too, but negroes of all
sizes and ages shoot craps. There is
only one other game which equals craps
In fascination for them, and that is pol
icy, and, as policy is more liable to be
tnterfcred with by the police. craps has
all the advantage.
There are destinations about the game
peculiarly African. 1t is not without its
intricacies; the ordinary come seven,
come eleven" plan Of The game is simple
enough. but there Is a crowd around the
players. and there may he a half dozen
interested in the game and dozen side
pets. How they manage TO keep the run
OF the game is a mystery to the ordinary
observer. but they do 70 with unerrlnH
accuracy. Fights over rap games are
rare.
The expressions common TO the game
are amusing. New dress f.: de baby
night" exclaims another. DE little
number two" says one as the unlucky
number shows up IT eight you," says
another. meaning that he bets that NUM-
Der will not turn up before the lucky
seven." And so 1t goes.
The city council Of New Orleans has
just passed law making the game Of
craps illegal. 1t does not matter where
is is played. whether in the streets, In
the club or ut home, craps is specially
singled Qua as the most depraved of gam
bling games. not to be tolerated any
where. the game. according to writer
la Harper's. Is of New Orleans origin,
ind over one huadred years DID,. Bernard
de Marigny. who entertained Louis Phil.
lips when he cane 20 Loui ,ana, and who
the creole colony of the state as it's most
wealthy and prominent ci:lzen--he was
entttled to call himself marquis in Fran q.
was the inventor. or father, of "craps,'s
and brought 1t In high favor as the fash-
ionable gambling of the day. When nes
then city If New Orleans-it is now the,
Third district but was then the Faubourg
Martgny Ind divided 1t up into lots, hsl
named one Of che principal streetss
Craps" and explained that he did So
because he had lost the money he .e-ss
ceived from the lots on that street in this
favorite game Of his. 1t :eAn lined Craps
street until 2 Few years lgo. when pros,
test was raised against Such dis.cS-s
uteble 9aYe for 2 '.;ry quiet and res,r;s::t.Y
After Bern ard Maciyny's death craps as
gambling game descended in the social
scale. and vas finally Ino7opolized main.
ly by negroes and street gamins. ID