Arizona republican., 1902-08-01
]: Stories of the Poker Table :
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J. HlerpOnI Morgan z decldra tlOn lndi the game of draw poker was not Amer ican; that it is a bad game, propagat- ing in man the meaneSt characteristics principally deceit, is causing wide spread discussion. The Sunday World magazine of last week presented a symposium of the views of celebrated poker players on the utterances of the great financier. and, without exception the opinion prevailed that he was wholly mistaken, unless, as Jimmy Wakely put it. he was accustomed to playing with thieves, which is not probable"
 Upholders of the game as an Amerl- can institution point out that many of the most illustriOus men of this na- tion were devoted to poker and played well. Among these were Webster Clay, Grant and Garfield, to say noth- ing of later-day Napoleons of one thlns or the other in financial, commercial and industrial life.
 When the committee waited on Han nibal HamIin to notify him of his nom- ination for the vice presidency, he was found in a hotel in the midst of a game of poker. Hamlin said that the committee had ruined the only good hand he ever held at poker and broke up an interesting game
 Daniel Webster was as celebrated as a poker player as he was as a lawyer and statesman, and Henry Clay often lost the greater part of his congress sionaI salary at cards. He is said to have been calm under defeat, and to have only once lost his temper. That was when a western card sharp with whom he was playing laid down three aces while Clay himself held two aces
 Clay's anger is said to have been ter rible He went for his revolver, but the man escaped him.
 On another occasion Clay left a card game that had held over from Satur- day night and went to Sunday morning services While talking with the rector after church Clay pulled out his hand kerchief, at the same time jerking out hand at cards Clay picked up the cards and restored them to his pocket quietly remarking that some one must have put them there for joke.
 General Phil Sheridan was noted poker player, as was Roscoe Conkling These two were once in a game in Washington, where it fell that they had to fight for a jackpot between them. When the show down" was made the famous fighter threw out three aces. while Conkling had three mines.
 Sheridan was just about to rake ir the pot when Conkling called his at tention to the fact that two Of his aces were diamonds. The general, who. of course, was only an involuntary swim dler, became fiery red for a moment and was decidedly embarrassed until the others laughed the queer happen ing away
 The late R. A. Proctor. who was emi- nent as an astronomer. devoted q lot of time and patience to studying out the science of the draw and in calculating mathematical:y the chances for any certain hand. Scientist that he was he considered poker of sufficient impor- tance to write a treatise on it, setting forth the result of his investigations.
 It is not forgotten that q United States minister to Great Britain. Gen eral Schenck, has the distinction of having taught the British the intrica- cies of the American game. General Schenck also wrote a scientific treatise on poker, but later authorities have de- clared that both he and Proctor were wrong.
 The defenders of poker declare that a game that has been the recreation ot some of the greatest oi Americans, ant which has held the serious attention o others equally eminent. cannot well b, stigmatized as low and mean and tn, nurturer of ugly characteristics al though it is admitted that for the de velopment of latent meanness in man kind there is nothing like poker. Stil it is argued, poker should not be con demned merely because when an in nately mean man plays it he is sure t be found out for just what he is. Con trarily, it is the opinion that such al X-ray upon character should be ap plauded and should be allowed to con tinue it's uncovering of shams.
 MT. Morgan is accredited with as serting that poker was founded Ol bluff. and while it is admitted tha bluffing plays an important part il poker, the best authorities say that on who depends upon bluffing for success will certainly lose in the long run.
 There are, it is pointed out, thre things of importance besides knowing the game-cards, courage and judg ment of human nature. The ability [ read the human countenance, to cas the probable value oi the fiutter Of Q eyelid, to detect the slightest tremo of muscle, to accurately gauge tn intonation of q voice, these are ac quirements, and to be able to do all O these with every opponent would D perfection.
 Men are very different, and no tw me at poker can be measured by tn same standard. If to study man is tn proper study of mankind, then. it held, poker is the greatest school eve invented.
 Theoretically four aces beat an les .=er hand held against them As a interesting fact. perfectly familiar t every lover of tine game. no hand at a is necessarily winner. the outcome de pending upon the nerve and judgmef of the player.
 4 pair of deuces and a royal flush ( nerve have been known to work vor ders. That is where the fun comes il
 A man who knows his book has sai of women and poker: Women mal good poker players, but never play an game with money in it with a woman She can't help cheating, and when yo catch her at it you can't punch her fhe nose or kick her out"
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