The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-11-22

POKER ON TRAINS
Anthony Comstock Asserts
Gambling Is In Vogue
on Lackawanna Road.
PAY up ON FERRY BOATS
Book keeping and Judgment
Developed in Young Men
By the Game.

a tttP
enemy of vice, has asked the question,
both of the Lackawanna Railroad Com
pany and the Hoboken Ferry Company,
He rather inelines to the belief that the
railroad company is guilty Of "aiding and
abetting the detestable vice of gaming
On the other hand, commuters, who daily
use the vehicles of both corporations, say
that if there is any guilt to be placed
ii must be laid at the gates of the ferry
company.
If anything goes wrong with US" say
the conmuter. 1--WE always blame the
ferry people, even if the baby cries al
night, the roof springs a leak or the ser
wants all leave. TIL eferry company has
SO many sins charged against it that it's
just as well to put another one to its
debit. The ferry people don't care. any
way. They're used to it.
According to Mr.. Comstock, there is no
doubt but that gambling is practfced
daily, and that people who ride on the
trains lead a fast life, especially between
stations. Mr.. Comstock boarded the Sum-
nit accommodation the other day and got
into one OF the smoking cars by mistake.
Some p-eople-among them the neral re-
former--are OF THE opinion that these cars
are primarily intended for habitual users
of the weed. There are Others, however.
who declare that they are devised for q
place OF relaxation, where a man may fcT-
get business cares by enjoying a quiet
game of cards as the train whiris along.
Ii viii BIS that at the time
the ~frlghtful accident occurred ON the
H-ackensack meadows it was charged by
some people that card playing led to IA
tai results in several cases.
They allow card playing in their cars. !"
said these people, land they haye4thrown
out the Bibles from those Ifttle racks,
Whether the railroad people believed
this or not they made a change and re-
fused to provide any more aecommoda-
tons for card players: The boards that
had been used were relegated TO the
wood yard. People who wanted to play
cards had to use a newspaper for a table
Commuters who had been in the habit
of enjoying a game began to protest, but
without avail. The card tables had been.
banished and that settled it. Finally
some inventive genius conceived the idea
of making a table of canvas. This was
provided in the trains and the eommut-
ers were once more able to divert their
minds by the solemn whist or euchre.
Beardless youths have even been known
to play slap-jack or old-maid, and rumor
has it that once a game of casino four
ished and grew interesting.
1t was limited tina sometimes a game
called hearts was played at one cent per
heart, and that some people had so far
forgot themselves that they delved into
the delights of the American game of
draw poker, at two cents per ante and five
cents for a limit.
Those who knew the game as it was
played on the trains, said that it was an
excellent thing for young men. for they
received much instruction in bookkeeping
in connection with it. No one on board
had ever seen any money passed over the
tables. BY the game, also, the young
mems judgment was greatly developed in
the way they were required to exhibit
their proficiency in splitting a pair" or
sthning a bob-tail flush" or holding up a
kicker" or betting a full house to the
limit or 'blufing down on aces up"
The bookkeeping instruction, 1t was
argued. was gained from the fact that 1t
was necessary to keep a set OF double
entry books in connection with every
game. If A had the age hand and was
Obliged TO ante. it waa necessary for the
book-keeper of the ga m 10 charge A with
two cents. Then vixen B decided that he
would play the ~bockkeeper had to charge
B with four cents and 80 on throughout
the game. No money passed. In fact The
game wasn't played for the love OF spor.
blu merely for instruction in bookkeeping
and the development of Judgment.
Judgment was being developed by the
most approved methods when Mr.. Com
Otock stepped into the smoking car of the
Summit accommodation. He watched its
development a moment and some one de-
clares that he RAISE you
ten" when he saw two more aces drawn
by one player. The bookkeeper was kept
busy.
As soon as the train reached Hoboken.
however. Mr.. Comstock accosted Conduc-
tor George w Brown, who runs the
train.
why do you allow gambling in your
train2" asked Mr.. Comstock.
Conductor Brown smiled at Mr.. Com
stocks evident irritation. Mr.. Brown is
celebrated among for his
CHEEKY smile.
Why. ! don't know anything about
gambling protested Mr.. Brown.
Yes, you do. sir Yes. you do, sirr' re-
torted Mr.. Comstock. You must know
all about it. 1 shall see President Trues-
dale about this, SIR It's disgraceful, IL
legal, unlawful. a Violation of the sta
futes. If you don't stop it Pm have you
discharged. Remember that
Il didn't see any gambling further
protested Brown.
wei, it was going on and they settle
their Illegal accounts on the ferryboats.
You had better stop them. SIR declared
Mr.. Comstock. as he strobe away.
That beats me-" ~soliIoquized Brown.
Gambling on my train and settling debts
on the ferryboat. I guess the ferryboat
people are the ones after all"
It IS said that in these games of
Judgment" it is the custom to settle the
bookkeeping accounts ON the ferryboats.
Mr.. Comstock may be all right said
q card playing commuter yesterday, but
] nave never seen any money. pass ON a
train. II Is always paid on the ferry
boats. OF course gambling is forbidden
on the train, but what Is TO prevent any
one from playing a game OF poker for
fun. No one can tell whether the game
Is for fun OF for blood II there IS no
MONEY on the table,
Another commuter, who rides on q long
train, where 1t takes the conductor a con-
zr.e.x~z
WHAT DO TIE CHILDREN DRINK Z
Dent give them tea or coffee. Have you tried