The evening times., 1898-08-20
POKER IN VIENNA.
Ravaxes of the American Game in
Auntria,a CAPITAL.
(From the London Telegraph.)

(From the London Telegraph.)
Nothing that the Americans have in
troduced to Vienna has met with such
an enthusiastic reception there as the
game of poker. The four kings have
more admirers than the four sisters Bar
:ison, and the enterprising courage Of the
Americans meets with less notice than
their ability to astound an adversary
with an empty card. The passion for the
game of poker has spread with such
amazing rapidity that 1t recalls the haz-
ard epoch. the game that at one time
marked the dividing line between the
Austrian aristocrat and his social in-
feriors. The difference now is that every
body plays In the cafes the jeunesse
doree join eagerly with merchants. law
yers and clerks in the fascinating gabe
In private circles poker Is played in the
best houses by people in excellent posi-
tions and what increases the evil Is that
II has been taken up with enthusiasm by
ladies. In winter on the jours and IN
summer at the fashionable baths and
watering places, groups of ladies engage
in the favorite game with all the ardor
of those half-pay officers who, after the
disbanding of Napoleon's armies. spent
their days and nights at faro. Repeated
cases have occurred of ladies' being un-
able to pay their weekly summer pension
through losses at play. They leave tneir
property as pledge in the country while
they come to Vienna for fresh funds.
which they are often obliged to seek from
money-lenders at enormous interest.
To such disgraceful extremes has this
game led that the police have resolved to
put an end to 1t. In the Austrian code
there is an article forbidding games of
hazard, but what hazard specifically in
cludes is not stated: certainly not poker
as it is of comparatively recent date
There is indeed, a very ancient minis
terial edict mentioning certain forbidden
games but poker is naturally not among
them. Learned jurists go so far as to say
that, according to the edict named, every
game at cards Is a game OF hazard, In
which chance and not combination on the
side of the player decides the result
Some years ago the police, relying on this
law, brought q party of poker players be-
fore the court. The first judge-such
case in Australia is obliged to be carried
into the lower court--sentenced the play
ers to fine, while the appeal court ac-
quilted them, as the four learned judges
of the latter tribunal declared that poker
Is decided by both combination and
chance, and that therefore 1t Is not
game of hazard. In consequence of this
decision the rage for poker spread amaz-
ingly; in fact, there are cafes whose pro-
prietors exist only upon the proceeds of
poker playing, as the charge for cards to
each player is about 5s. So many COM
plants have now reached the police from
parents, guardians, wives and husbands
that IT is resolved to take the suppression
of this dangerous amusement seriously
into consideration. The verdict of the
appeal court mentioned just now cannot
be accepted as a precedent, either by the
hn 6rct S,,ds hn FN,,v S,,1n
who pronounced 1t. A precedent is only
established in Austria when, after a YER
dict by the four judges. the attorney for
the crown appeals to the supreme court.
The police have now brought to the no.
tice of the court a case of poker in a cafe
in which two lawyers, two manufactur-
ers and a man of private means are in
volved. The case, which was at first car
ried before the single judge, was very
amusing. The Judge called upon two per-
sons in the court not connected with the
charge to listen to an explanation of the
rules of poker. They were then ordered
to play the game before the judge in
court, that he might decide how far
chance was involved in it. The two law
yers charged are highly indignant with
the police for having made examples OF
such respectable persons as themselves
and their partners to test the illegality of
poker. One of them caused much amuse-
ment by declaring that the police them
selves played the game. Another inquired
Of the two independent persons selected
to play in court If they had ever played
poker before, and were answered in the
affirmative. whereupon the attorney for
the accused party demanded the citation
of these two gentlemen. This the judge
refused, as the Austrian law prohibits
the punishment of gamblers who betray
themselves and others. Finally the judge
decided that poker is game Of hazard.
and fined each player a sovereign. For
tunately no foreigner was among them.
or by the Austrian law he would have
been expedited over the frontier" The
sentence will. Of course. be referred to
the appeal court, and as other judges must
also consider the question. 1t will probably
be several years before the legality or IL
legality Of poker Is decided. TIL then
the police authorities have forbidden poker
mall public resorts, but in private houses
the game will go ON more furiously than
ever famed by police 0ppoeitfon