Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-06-12
THE GAME OF CHAPS.
II Originated just Alter the Civil Wax
When the Darby Had Idle Time.

He carries buckeye for sore eyes. q
! potato for rheumatism, wisp Of hair
from the tail OF black dog for pains
! In the back. q voodoo charm to protect
him against the Vaccinations OF his
enemies, and a rabbits foot for luck.
With this collection in his pocket he
;goes confidently forth to WOO the tickle
goddess Chance. But not in cards or
In twirling wheels or in any of the de-
vices known to the devotee OF Monte
Carlo does he put his trust, and not
even the great American game of poker
has any fascination for him. But in
craps, played in his own remarkable
way, he delights.
| Who invented it and when or where
1t originated no one can say, but soon
after the close of the war, when the ne
gro for the first time in his life could
taste the sweets of idleness-and a de-
licious morsel it was and is-this allur-
! ing device for causing coins to change
pockets started and it spread like
contagious fever. The Greeks named
all the numbers on the dice after gods,
goddesses and heroes, the lucky num-
Der being called Aphrodite, and the
negro likewise has a name for every
possible com Animation of numbers. al
though his are not so classical as those
of the cultured Greeks Three he
!calls Free four. Little Joe;;' FIVE,
"Phoebe;;" six, Jimmy Hicks" nine,
Liz" and ten, big Tom
The rules Of the game are few and
simple. The first player takes two
dice and shaking them violently in the
palm of his hand calls out:
"A nickel-put up" ""
which. being translated, means, II
cover your money"
The onlookers also take a hand in
the betting, the one who bets with the
player being said to like him" Every
thing being in readiness, the player
drops the dice as IL they burnt him,
crying:
Come seben -eleben" ~ ...
II he makes seven or eleven, he wins
II he throws the unlucky numbers,
two three or twelve, he loses or craps
out, but If any of the other combln-
atoms of numbers are turned he makes
his point and has another throw
Now. the "fader" who has covered the
players money reaches out and picks
UP the dice with the announcement,
My dice" After making this state
ment he cody proceeds to carefully ex-
anime them to see if they are loaded,
and, satisfied on this point, hands them
. back to the player. This is allowable
| II, CT
it is an insult to the player again to
,, question their genuineness. and if it
is done fight is the result.
; The player having scored point the
first time. the excitement becomes in
tense. The white teeth OF all are shin
ing. their eyes rolling until they seem
like ovals of ivory set with a black
: bead and their heads commence to
, wag from side to side. The player
5 holds his breath and not a word is
spoken by those around him as he rat
ties the dice. 1t is the critical moment.
If he can make his point" before he
throws seven he wins, but II seven
comes first he is undone The bet
tors surreptitiously run their hands
! in their pockets and feel for a rabbits
foot lM
Suddenly the player blows upon the
: dice in his hand, gives deep gutleral
. srunt. and cries excitedly:
Come to see me, little joe" The
, "fader" keeps repeating:
Cut him off. seben. Cut his throat
lucky seben. Jump under him. seben.' -
There is an exclamation from the
$ "fader." triumphant laugh from the
: player He has made his point
There is an exchange of dirty nickels
and grunt or two from the losers
l The player Is getting warmed up. He
takes off his coat. rolls up his sleeves,
and spits on his hands. Lovingly he
, fondles the dSe; luck is Nsh him. The
: spectators draw closer and watch with
increased interest BY the rules of the
game he will be allowed to throw until
, he craps OUT" and e!ated by his sue
cess. he shakes the dice and calls:
a dime-come UP with a dime"
With some grumbling the "fader''
obeys. The player drops the dice, at
the same time. swapping the fingers Of
; his other hand. sure way Of bringing
luCh, dAu dSdlu the uOucy is MS. The
, game now goes on quickly and he wins
. again and again. until many of the bet
tors are compelled to drop out. Soon
the hand of the player trembles as he
reaches for the worries, and he takes
out his RABBITS foot and rubs il on them
Dat niggah was born In de full OF
de moon. He's bound to hab luck"
; some one prophesies, and the player
smiles. AS he drops the dice there are
imploring cries of Come seben-eleb-
en-" Come twelve" Two, free it isl
1t Is nine. and the -thrower adds
quickly:
Liz is de gal fer me-" saying that
always accompanies that throw. Once
more the dice roll upon the ground and
Jimmy Hicks" is the throw.
big Six. take my gal to Memphis, /"
the player entreats, for there are GER
tain propNiatory expressions that must
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