New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-22
OLD SOLITAIRE.


nv, o.nts rIcl 500 that De- clears Il""' %
nearly ihr.. anl ono-h1.f cents ON each button
But t.. sum ~ hi- salcs is known only to him
..lc Won mus, guess the limits OF his income
from hls rrlrality at the Mills House table ana
his abstinence from oven 500 small luxury "a
TOBACCO He is not communicative at any Tune
and least of an i'm his leisure hours at the hotel.
where. h. -tud.c. solitaire every evening in the
smokins room.
As soon as me has had his supper he washes
his hands carefully sits down nj one or the
small tables there. and takes from his breast
pocket % pack of cards mat never grows sohed'
He is clean shavcn and ruddy with exposure
His clothes among 50 many faded coats and
fray.d trousers are not noticcahy shabby. But
ne puts on a little cap to cover the bald top OF
his head when he removes his hat and the head
gear is unusual II his face seems drawn and
worried when hn sits down the expression dis
appears a. sight Of the gay colors Of the cards
the pack fits So familiarity into the hollow OF
his band and tho little pastchoards slide so
smoothly ms ho sLufles them There follows
such looseuiug of his face as you see in the
OLD smoker when the amber uI of his pipe finds
the accustomed hollow beside his canine tooth
In, first Nhn " smoke distonds hs nostrils
and thr first soothing Of the nicotine starts
long ~i-h ~ cont.ut-l. nt The OLD man smiles
o. himself chem settles hs face for serious
york and begins h.s evening
lie counts .U thirteen cards JOB pack face
upnatl 'y f-tI BAND ass oi., 10 FIRST co." Of
five -in-l, .arI- Jas SHES conn. ani h0-Ins Sec
on. t,A auot. th.m. altn tr' sixth card II
that l. au loo Doc niI .ay ths other aces beside
30 ID. th.} fafn uI and b., nvst HIai Hp on
THAI ..A .oi aces Iu suits. arI "hulj down. GOA
tn. other rou with consecutive black ana red
rlacine in th, latter row. when possible. a card
l.tf.. 4 .
down with the cards remaining ii his hand
1ut y Those hc may only Iia. every third
card and the chances " course. are enormously
against bis being able to work out the game
that u.s. to arrange al the cards u SUITS on the
four aces in the upper ~" Their are easier
ways Of playing solitaire. but Doe viii have none
Of them. He has the same contempt for fhem
that The nd chess player has for draughts
IL plays the game rs an exact science. slowly
with his gray eyebrows drawn down ON his
deliberations. and his wrinked mouth pursed
up IN d uout IF serious interest
Al tho other tables there are aruatri,rs playing
foiitairc as pastimc and they book oyer oc-
caeoullN. with a smile. at "Oil solitaire in
hs corner They have been taurhi .s repeated
suulliu.'f mot to iut~ffrr, nIth him There is
good looking young follow standing near him
athlete With 70 hloat.l face and ID 'ut under one
eye dressed in dirty du.k trousers. mudded
tennis shoes. old canvas camp Ja. hrt and ID
straw hat n is impossible 30 guess Nho he
may he H. ls talking ~ith % loud mouthcd
noude-oript vino t"eins confidential statement
with don't know who you are, and you don't
know nhp am. hut cam t.l .ag" rfc. a l4d
who may bee tho driver rf % delivery wagon has D
started "a con. rrsatiou with % young soldier ont
or uniform $50, tells # DIS adventures with
thc afnnulanr. corps IN cuba AMI Porto Rico. ,
Al