New-York tribune., 1900-07-15

smart people in the Chinese voca hIIarv Those
OF them with few exceptions who are not
chants five by wits. To this latter class he
long the gamblers. Until recently the profession
al gamblers of Chinatown waxed fat on their
winnings at fantan and other games peculiar 10
their native land. But then the police stepped in
and declared that there should be no more fan
tan playing. This troubled the Celestials for a
time. and then Of the shrewdest among them
introduced the American game OF draw poker with
such success that 1t is all the rage.
One OF the most interesting sights TO the hu-
morousy inclined student OF human nature Is 10 see
n lot Of Cinnamon playing poker. Compared with
a party of East Side Italians engaged in the same
pastime they seem like a lot of automatons. A
party Of deaf mutes would be a noisy boisterous
gathering in comparison with them
''Chuck" Connors, the eminent authority on
Chinatown recently declared that he would rather
hunt for snowhas in a certain hot locality than
go up against a Chinaman- in poker game
Continuing. Mr. Connors said: .......
Say. dose Chinks take to poker Ike lot OF
Bowery mugs to election graft. Say, dey's birds
dey is! Say. dey's been up ag'in de game before.
Dey tells me dat poker de real ting in China
two thousand years ago. 1t wus took dere by er
guy named Confusion. der boss Of Chinkland bout
dat time But, say, dey dat bout every ting.
Dere's noting Wild dose mugs I've been
around Chinatown al me life an I learns some
Say, did yer ever see a Chink in poker sweat7
NO, and Yer never VIII. Yerd tnk from der
owned de Ice Trust Say. If dose Chinks ever get
uptown IN ue SWcI poker joints, dey won't leave
enough OF der stuff around TO buy der dudes break
fast"
Mr.. Conners was here asked If ne thought that
many OF the Cinnamon would return to China In
case war was declared against that country
Not on yer life" he replied der only Chinks
dat ever leaves Chinatown Is dead ones"
Mr.. ConnOrs evidently to giving his
views further in relation 70 the question His
reticence was probably due his close business
rea tions with the Chinatown Ceestias as a guide
Of Summing parties
Just then party OF aundrymen passed by
Say John. how'd yer out?' oueried Mr.
Connors OF one of them.
Me walkee," replied John.
M Say. come OFF. will yer" continued Mr.. Connors
Yah, we play pokee-m win twenty-five dollar" -"
responded John, and then he trotted off followed
by his pigtaied brethren. to stun themselves full
Of chop suey and rice wine
IL Is interesting to see the Cinnamon walk up to
the American bars the edges OF Chinatown
men ana humans or the hardest character may be
surging about, but the manner of the Celesttals
is ever childke and bland. Their trade is eagerly
catered to by the barroOm proprieors because they
are considered good customers The barrOOm men
say that they always demand the best Of every
thing and willingly pay the price asked. If ten
cent whiskey and twenty-five cent whiskey is sold
In the place. they will take the latter kind every
time. Where one Of them smokes five cent cigars
ten or them smoke those costing or more.
If drink OF bad whiskey is served to a China
man, he drinks II down with the calm de-
meanor that he would the nectar of the gods. but
he never goes back for another the barroom men
strong partially for any particular drink up to the
present time They drink beer whiskey and mixed
drinks Of all kinds They probably fond of
milk punches and eggnog OF anything else.