The sun., 1898-06-12
GAMBLERS
SuperstitiOns and Some of the Peer
liar Beliefs Of the Devotees of
the Game OF Poker.


Lard players are most superstitioHs
set" said business man who will occs
sionally sit in little game when Che
limit is to his liking and the company oil
unexceptionable quality.
lnere was new one on me the Other
night" he continued, "for one Of the
men, when we were taking seats, shifted
his position because he wanted to play
with the grain of the table. That is, he
wanted the cards to come to him with
the grain OF the table, and not crossways.
Inns was new one, as | said; but it re-
called the fact that all of them have a
weakness. For instance. where is the
card player who will play while SOME
outsider has a foot on the rung of his
chair? Then there is the other fellow
who will get up and walk around his
chair to change his luck, and the other
who will never lend chip if he is win
ming. Why, l saw a man the other night
who refused a chip or two to neighbor
in the game, but he went down in his
trousers, pulled out roll and handed
his friend an X and told him to buy
few from the banker.
Poker, too, has given the country
some OF the richest of slang. Take the
word bluff, and where can YOU find a
better word. suppose it is in the CEN
tury and the Standard, or if it isn't Ii
should be, for the word is completely ar-
ccepted by the best of writers everywhere.
IN TINS country and England, too.
standing pat was used in court
room short time ago Some lawyer
was asked by the judge what he intended
to 90 after certain decision had been
rendered on motion. He said he guessed
he would stand pat 1t wasn't strange
that the Judge comprehended the situar-
tlOn, and, without word, went on, sfbH
the other lawyer had said that his Or
ponent would do we'll to draw cards, as
standing pat had no terrors for him.
More than that, every reference was
thoroughly understood by every LAWYER
within the railing It was lust at this
time that the Judge added to the con-
fusion by ordering one of the bailiffs to
turn on the steam, as his feet were cold.
For the benefit of the uninitiated, it liz
worth saving that the cold feet refers to
a habit OF some small gamblers who play
for the money that is in it, saving as an
excuse MY feet are cold,' and getting
out of game when they are ahead.
That reminds me that women, as
we'll as men, are natural gamblers, and,
in consequence, there have been manE
Of long standing among wo-
men ruined forever by progressive
snchre. Why, l have played in games
where the cheating Of some Of the
was as palpabe to man who is
to card playing as the nose
IN your face. But said nothing, as the
woman would have been mad and denied
everything and placed me in the hole
look at theiprizes they play for now
There's the head prize for men and
women, and the BOBBY, or consolation,
'rize for men. Then there are second
nd third prizes and the prize for max
ng the greatest number of points, and
he prize for the least number, and
'rize for the greatest number OF mis-
axes, and the Lord knows how many
thers. It's a regular gambling game,
'ut the people who indulge in that kind
! sport VIII jump. on a man who plays a
title quiet game of poker at home
Morris the gambling instinct oblR-
rated from the progressive social games
ntirely, for there was game heard ot
here the head prize was made up Of
We So gold pieces, all tied up with blue
lbbon, and you can bet the men in that
anne were working hard for the head
rize, for some of them wanted that
twenty-five with a want that must be
lied. / expect some of them cheated,
ut as lady, who was guest at the
ONE OF the hostess, go: all the money,
nd the hostess, did the punching of ttN
ckets, there was faint suspicion that
few extra holes got into the young
dy's card by mistake-on purpose.
ut, of course, l don't make charge
ke that;I am only thinking"
In reply to aquery: "What's your su-
srsttion%' the talker said: ''i've only
1e. l won't play in a game whenh
ave on asingle thing that has neosr
zen worn before-not even a necktie.
takes my mind away from the game,
I'd therefore never wear new thing
hen | am going to play poker"