Evening star., 1898-12-17


baccarat also told me II was a good game
to leave alone. He confirmed the expert
ness of the Cubans. -Four or five summers
ag) met Blank at Sara toga." Blank isn't
the right name, because the man who bears
1t is still in Havana. well, he had his
family with him, lot of servants and was
putting on great style. / knew he was
simply in comfortable circumstances and
could not ordinarily afford such splurge.
We got to talking about mutual friends
and l asked after d Spanish merchant. who
had entertained me at the club. oh said
the Cuban, he has been unfortunate. He
has to give up his house. He has lost a
great deal at baccarat this year-S2D,OW one
week. l felt sorry for the Spaniard, but
didn't think much about it till the next
winter, when I came-tS Havana and learn
iard's house. Aftef that no baccarat for
me-"
These hints concerning baccarat are
weighty. They do not, need to be ampli-
fled. However, national vanity will hardly
be satisfied with these suggestions. III
monte and baccarat are not safe for Amer
leans, it will be assumed that the superior
race may teach the degenerate Latins
something about poker and charge Tor the
instruction. In individual cases, perhaps,
yes AS a class they do not seem to pay
for their instruction. 1 have had occasion
in previous letters to write incidentally OF
Americans who found themselves scholars
instead of teachers at one of the leading
Havana clubs. Almost any day now one
may meet sad-eyed Americans who thought
they were going to instruct the natives and
who think SO no longer. They turn now TO
their own countrymen.
Paying His Expenses by Poker.
The experience of an aged New York cap
italfst is a case in point. He is waiting the
decision of the authorities in Washington to
know whether he will be $4,000 ahead on
a certain speculation or whether he won't
I'm, ba "
ing his hotel expenses by playing poker.
In the beginning he was very afrable to-
ward the Cubans, agreed with them that
annexation at present would be premature,
and was pleased to pass an occasional even
ing in their company. After few nights
I noticed that the old capitalist had soured
on the Cubans. 1t was clear that they
were not paying his hotel bills. Since then
he has confined his social evenings to
youngsters from the United States VINO
think 1t an honor to lose their money to
grasping old capitalist from New York.
They accept his paternal philosophy, which
is that to have an interesting game some
body must lose. The Cubans also accepted
his philosophy. but they always contrived
so that the chips were not on the table
when he wanted to cash in.
Possibly after these instances 1t will oc-
cur to some folks that the chief value OF
the military authority in suppressing gam
blng-when the suppression eomes-wiH be
in protecting innocent Americans abroad.
But those who have legitimate business
will not be In serious danger. They can
keep away from the clubs and the bank
without botherins to preach moralley; i
player whom 1 have heretofore quoted.
THE Americans, he said. ARE not as good
gamblers as the Cubans and SpanlardS
They think too much of their losses and too
little of their winnings. The Cuban Will
play the last S he has in the world and
lose without a sign. He might have won
fortune with that 81. That he didn't was
the chance of cards and not his fault Inc
American usually plays a spare s. bill and
makes a fuss when he loses. 1t isn't his
last money. but the Cuban will win the for
tune sooner.
These observations are doubtless correct.
Both Cubans and SHafliards are cool play.
ers They show nC!le of the nervousness of
the American who, hether 1t is his last
dollar or not. becoriss restless when losing.
The same thing is tf1leIof the poorer class
es They have uou4jef the desparing de-
fance of the American workingman who
is losing his week $ wages at some din
that of winning Dtael fortune. there is
room for skepticisp. ii have seen most of
the games which are running i'll Havana
at the clubs and at the other places, and
invariably it seems too be the bank that is
winning the fortune, and winning it with
out having to stake everything on last
So bill.
Something. Must BE Done.
Some of the officials Who have come down
from the states have been looking into the
evils of gam bling asaG think something will
have to be doneaGi Ky propose co start in
with compulsory abstinence from the nation
al vice for the poe. = classes. That would be
good thing. In looking into the Chinese
charade l gained some idea of the prev
aleuce of the habit AT none of the places
where the charade was played did white
patrons appear. That led ME to think that
they might not patrenize the game. This
was a mistake. ihey buy the tickets
through agents. Yet there is one fact
which is that they do not seek to gain a
living out of 1t, though they do squander a
portion Of their meager earnings. But in
the clubs and the banks it appears to be
the sole source of livelihood and the need
is to begin the reform al the top of society,
instead OF at the -ottom.
Another circumstance has recently arisen
which Will probably compel the American
military authorities to take action. The
owners of the various American gambling
ing to open all advertise that there will be
no interference; that. they are sure of pro
lection. Though several roulette wheels
have been imported, there were not enough
or them. The old Erenchman who has the
finest roulette wheel in Havana was in
duced to loan 1t to one of the establish
ments. Since then he has been in a state
OF mind and has been anXiouSly inuuiring
whether the United States was going to
impose morality, and whether his proper
ty would be in danger of contiscation by the
military authorities. lie has been told by
the proprietors of the game that he need
nave no fears. | wonder whether they are
right. CHARLIE. NJ PEPPER
FAMILY AND FRIENDS.