The herald., 1898-08-22
MAKING EASY" MONEY
ROULETTE AND CRAPS IN FULL
BLAST YESTERDAY
PLAYED At SANTA MONICA
Games Well Patronized by Young Men
But the Officers Conspicuous by
Their Absence

After an enforced rest of about ten days,
the roulette wheel is back at the old stand,
making easy money for the crowd Of people
who have an interest In the concern.
During yesterday afternoon and late in
the evening the wheel was running In the
basement of Eckert & Hopfs pavilion at
Santa Monica. and as Siamese twin a
crap table was also in full blast. How
much the days law-breaking netted to the
gang of gamblers is not known, but as they
do not transact business for a hygienic
purpose. every member of it must have
had at least days wages to show for
his part in the deal.
Friday a week ago was the last day until
yesterday that the roulette and crap games
have been running at Santa Monica. Con-
siderable complaint was made against the
games during the brief period they were
In operation this summer, so the owner shut
them down, merely, as subsequent events
have proved, to temporarily soothe public
indignation. Thinking now that the heat Of
the campaign and other rounds of life will
occupy the attention of the press the game
has been resumed. How long an engage
ment Dame Fortune will have at her pres
ent place is uncertain. She was not her
aided as a popular star would have been.
In fact, she just bobbed up quietly in the
morning. The play was never so heavy
during the entire time the wheel was going
that the services Of more than five men
were required. There was one man watch
ing the crap table, while the balance of the
crowd presided over the destinies Of the
roulette table.
Few Of the arrivals at the beach knew
anything about the presence Of chance
to lose their money, but the information
was sedulously given, and by degrees the
crowd began floating into the club rooms.
During the morning and afternoon there
was but enc player. He kept at the game
with varying fortune, and by the time the
bank had acquired all his cash there were
many younger men around the table crowd
ing out the old farmer. until he finally had
to give way to the stronger and richer
players. It Is SO through life. though. and
philosopher as he showed himself to be,
the old farmer shrugged his shoulders.
smiled grimly, cast a final look at the
piles Of checks and money before the bank
er, and left the place. perhaps a sadder.
but not q wiser man. His eye-teeth have
been cut long ago, but The still deludes
himself AnlO the tHouSAt "a DCAA6 oOAC "
make q little stake" across the green
cloth.
It was not until 2:s0 in the afternoon
that the roulette wheel received any pat
ronage Then q stream of men, clerks,
collectors, solicitors and so on, all young
FELLOWS working for moderate salaries,
went up against 1t" to a greater or less
extent. They dallied with the mysteries Of
''16 in the red" and ''26 in the black" some
times right, oftener wrong. Frequently
some young man would "cash in his
checks" literally, and leave the room In
high glee, his pockets jingling with halves
and dollars. Instead Of the drinks he would
stand treat for at the bar cooling his
ardor, they would incite him further and
almost invariably the lucky gambler would
| return flushed with his former good luck
and numerous glasses Of "booze." drop his
winnings and all the cash he had brought
with him and then 90 whining around try
ing to borrow a quarter ''just to eat on"
The strangest part Of the entire proceed
ings was the absence of officers. The bump
of duty on the head Of certain officers ap-
pears to be q deep dent. Perhaps the boys
were troublesome to the msrry-go-round
man and the guardians of the peace were
doing some bouncing for him. There is a
Biblical quotation which says there are
none 80 blind as those who will not see
unless 1t be an officer in the neighborhood
Of Eckert & Hopfs pavilion when rou-
lette game IL in progress.