davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

Nina Kessinger. who lives near jack
son, Ohio, has never had call from
male admirer in her life. Yet she had a
lover, promised her hand to him, lost him
when he fell mortally wounded in bat
tie in the civil war, and since that event
has steadfastly mourned for him and re-
fused to be contented.
Years ago Nina Kessinger was one Of
the bellies of the country about Jackson.
She had never had a caller-in those days
and in the country calls were rare-but
John Trehearne had devoted himself to
her at country socials and spell-downs.
She and he were together us much as
they could be on such occasions. but her
parents did not like him. and as result
refused to allow him to come TO their
house. When Nina went to a spelling bee
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

| customers got their moneys worth. :
wouldn't let any residenters play fs
wanted only the men who could az to
lose. Four meals day we set they
were the best meals that the best che:
| in Washington could prepare. Breakfast
at 10 O'Clock, when the house opened;
dinner later; supper at night, and then.
| in the small hours. a second supper
The colonel pointed out the kitchen and
the dining room and the sleeping apart
ments, and the lounging dens. A massive
mirror on one side of the wall caught
| his eye. THAT was here when we were
in business" he said. He walked over
to the wall and patted the framework
| lovingly. There's gilt knob gone from
the top" he said, regretfully
How do you like this decoration?"
front door at the head of the stairs. It
was an artistic layout in scroll and circle.
Look. said the colonel. He touched
one Of the circles and it fell out rom
the rest OF the door, leaving a round
opening through which a man on the in
side might regard man on the outside.
I'VE didn't want people we didn't know"
said the colonel. explanatorily. He wan
dered around the rooms, noting familiar
object here and there, telling OF the won-
derful carpet which ran ninety feet with
out a cut, remarking on the skylight
which he and George Parker had put in
SO that the long room might be relieved
Of its nightly weight of tobacco smoke:
recalling instances of play in tss days
when King Faro held the town In his
claw; pointing out that bank" Is the
squarest game on EARTH signing for the
decadence of the sport.
IT'S gone" said the colonel, gone for
good. 1t used to be that there were q
hundred suckers to every expert. Now
there are a hundred experts to every
sucker. By suckers 1 mean men who
don't know human nature at the card
table. By experts l mean men who use
their brains-square men, intelligent
men. determined men.
Gambling isn't what It used to be-"
said the old colonel, dreamily.
We walked out into the sunshine OF the
Avenue.
The Washington times., 1902-01-12
Colonel Cole Martin Tells Of
the Days When "Bank"
Was Dealt to the Wash
ington SOmebodieS, and
Limit Was the Roof.
By w. w. AULICK.

IF /. had forty sons, I'd make
gambler OF every one OF them"
So said Col. Cole Martin, after we
had become acquainted a bit This get
ting acquainted with Col. Cole Martin
was hard work. To be precise, 1t was the
har dest work I've done since 1 came In
at the Sixth Street station. All along
the Broadway line, from Fourteenth to
Forty-second. the name and fame OF Cole
Martin are known of all the children OF
chance. The gentlemen who patronizs the
establishment OF John Kelly, the honest
one" whose sturdy frame is as much a
part OF the Forty-firs and Broadway cor
ner as is the laEppost itself, know, or
know OF, Cole Martin. John DAILY, en-
peror Of gambling. lifts his hat when the
name OF Cole Martin is mentioned. Peter
De Lacy has his "reminiscences OF the
Nestor of the green cloth. The younger
generation of New Yorkers think OF the
name Of Cole Martin with reverence
the old-timers with pride. Going to
Washington, are you?" says one. An.
you must see Cole Martin
saw Cole Martin. He lives in a hotel
which isn't on Pennsylvania Avenue. yet
has the appearance of being on that
thoroughfare. Such is the popularity OF
Washington street formations. Ny first
enquiry was unfortunately worded: will
you take my card to Mf. Cole Martini"
asked.
The fat-faced gentleman behind the rail
looked suspiciously at the card. Several
gentlemen sitting around stove stopped
studying the past performances of the
horses at the New Orleans track, and ex-
changed significant glances. Finally the
clerk asked:
do you mean the colonel?"
Later / learned that to the sportiyely
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

him, and when he came to prefer dove
failing stacks of reds better than round
ing up criminals, down and out he went.
Took to sleeping days and piking onights
trying to beat the tiger.
"Piking's all Doug had been doing for
moons until the night I'm telling you
about. On this particular evening three
commercial drummers were winding up
a whirl at the booze game OF a weeks
duration and blew into Belts saloon.
Their samples were in hook, their ex-
pense money blown in, and unless some
thing happened they were up against it
for fair
Doug and the Drummers.
Zone of them had managed to make a
fairy tale stick with the house he travel
ed for got hurry remittance, but failed
to pass along to his next stand because he
still had the rum wheels in his head and
preferred to stay to the finish with his
two colleagues who were stuck in Shaw
nee. Wherefore, upon consultation, twas
decided to go against Belts faro game
with the capital OF the member who had
made the fairy tale stick and play for
win-out for the bunch.
These drumm Frs were 'dubs' at faro,
and their coin went into the house cash
drawer from the go-of. When they sat
into the game Doug was keeping cases
and trying to last the night out on a
lonely stack of whites. The dealer pinched
the drummers' bets off the layout as fast
as they could get them down. and mean-
while Doug got down to his last white
one. He declined to hazard this chip un-
til a new deal was commenced.
1.-The new deal was one OF the kind
which just now and then happened to
Doug and he recognized its color. Never
lost q bet the whole deal through and
The Washington times., 1902-01-12
Concerning the Luck of Doug the Town Of Shawnee Oklahoma

"'A mans an ass to play jack to win
and queen to lose. play the jack to lose
and queen to win. call it jack, queen
the ace is in hook
And so the marker was arranged ac-
cordingly. The turn was made. The jack
showed, and it was a case Of awful sus-
pense and beads Of perspiration rolling
down Belts forehead as to whether the
queen or ace would be on top, but the
color of the queens picture was right
there underneath tie lack and Doug had
won.
"Doug's reserve busted when he made
that call and he yelled like Comanche
InGian: There's my trip to Cape Nome.
and I'll sail on the steamer Queen
THE commercial men embraced him
rapturously, while Belts produced twenty
81 900 bills which he had provided for the
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

Doug scattered the chips about that
layout with speed that was amazing
He switched on 'favorite' bets every now
and then, and invariably he knocked a
copper off Just at the right time, and his
| winning card came right up in the top OF
the box. These plays made the dealer
very nervous, and his hand trembled per-
ceptibly every time he turned card. he
grew pale and was pretty nearly all out
when Belts himself came back and held a
whispered consultation with his man, dis
appeared few moments and returned
with an extraordinary proposition.
DOUG. said he, how much are you
winner on me tonight?'
Something like ten thousand was
Doug's cool reply.
Z" Tell you what I'll do with you, Doug
said Belts. I'll let you call the next turn
for the whole of that amount, win or lose >
Doug looked at the drummers as II
to enquire if they were willing. They sig
nailed it was go.
You're on said he to Belts.
1T was almost the end of the deal, and
those of the spectators who had stayed up
to see the finish of the killing were show
ing signs of nervous strain, while the
drummers were shade anxious them
selves.
But not SO Doug. He approached the
call without any more apparent excite
ment that If he was going to make it for
a ten-spot.
Making the Call.
when It came to the call there were
a queen, Jack and an ace. Doug puts q
marker down calling 1t queen, Jack.
THE dealer was just about to make the
turn when Doug broke the silence by a
call for him to stop, and he took his hand
off the boz
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

inclined Districter there is only one COL
onel. and that Cole Martin. There is no
Mister" Martin.
came down the steps, and leaned against
a heat-lined pillar. He shook hands and
said he was glad to know me. The COL
onel's middle name ought TO be Chester
field. / told him at once / wanted an in
terview. No use playing safety shots
with the colonel. Might as well come
plump.
The colonel SHE'D off like a yearling
colt at the sound Of a subway explosion.
A look of alarm came into his big blue
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

emergency aand calmly paid them over
to the winner.
THE drummers insisted that Doug
should have $4,000 of the s2S.5O0 nights
winning for his share. as the whole for
tune was the result Of his work. and they
wanted him to desist from the Nome trip
and go on a tour Of faro-bank breaking
with them.
He wisely told them his luck OF that
night was thing that only comes a few
times in a gamblers life-so they drank
each others health with oaths of eternal
friendship, and parted-the d'ummers to
get their goods out Of limbo and Doug
to sleep a long sleep Of refreshment.
Gentlemen concluded Outcault. Two
witnessed many a warm heat at bank. but
that nights streak on the part Of Cicero
Douglas was a real siZzler."
The Washington times., 1902-01-12
\ NINA KISSINGERS ROMANCE.

her father and mother called for her to
prevent John seeing her home.
At last came the war, and John deter
mined to go. He made an appointment
with Nina, and they met at neighbor's.
and. shut up in room. held long inter-
view, while the girls parents were turned
away from the door by the statement
that Nina was not there.
The father and mother searched every
where. but in vain, and when John Tre-
hearne went to war he was engaged to
marry Nina, and Nina was trying to set
tie the quarrel with her parents.
John Trehearne fell in a battle. and
when his body came home with his dying
messag ge-in which he assured her OF his
faithfulness-Mina put ON mourning and
followed the hearse. Her parents re'ented
then, when It was too late. but Nina
vowed never to have anything more to do
with men or society. and this vow she has
religiously kent.-Baltimore Sun.
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

We went where we could talk undis.
turbed. The colonel sat down hesitat-
ingly. Suddenly he said:
II don't think III go into this thing"
He started as il to rise.
why not, colonel?"
We'll" he said, there are whole lot
Of people who are prejudiced against
gambling" Then he said: But they
shouldn't be. They have no right to be
prejudiced. Gambling is right. There is
no harm in gambling as gambling. OF
course, you can make wrong out Of every
thing"
He was settled back in his chair. com
Portable. interested, and interesting, pre-
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

OF pals over their cold night
belt warmers the other evening at a
downtown cafe. "and saw a play back
in my town Just before / pulled out for
this Washington burg which, for ripping
faro luck, puts 1t over most Of the sort
I've ever seen or heard Of.
Before proceeding with my yarn want
to state that Shawnee, Oklahoma, is
about as swift and sporty town for its
size as you can find on the map. There's
a rum-mill every other door on the main
street, and the sign saloon is SO large
Oh 'em that they can be seen from the
various pixies leading TO town. while the
average Shawneeite can consume as much
II not more Of the red stuff per twenty
fur hours than any man alive.
Card Joints Wide Open.
"The gambling Joints OF this town are
located in the rear OF these booze dis
pensing shacks and run wide open from
10 in the morning till the next morning,
II the play holds out, which it most gen.
orally does. The white citizens have the
gambling bug good and hard. which is
shared by the numerous well-to-do
members Of the Kickapoo. Pottawato-
mie. and Sac and Foxes tribes, especially
Just after annuity payments are doled
out or they sell a parcel Of their vast
lands.
well, the main guy and hero OF my
faro spiel IL Cicero Douglas. known in
Shawnee as Doug Doug used to be the
marshal of Shawnee. He's more than six
feet high. half as wide. with massive head,
black Van Dyke beard, and comes nigh to
being the most impressive looking citizen
In Oklahoma. but the gambling fever got |
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

Belts dealer turned over the box and
said he'd have to count up the roll. Well,
Doug and his colleagues had cleaned out
the drawer. and the bar had to be called
upon to make good the deficit. The bunch
had taken 5000 out of the house.
They treated everybody in sight, and
It was a motley crowd which lined up at
that bar, to be sure Boxes of cigars
were passed around, the lucky players
settled for the treat and then proceeded
across the street to another saloon and
gambling house to see If anything was
doing over that way. Their presence in
fused new life into rather slow game
which was in progress.
They made pot and Doug began
again. The game was fast from the start,
and Doug's luck was still with him. He
whipsawed bets, called turns for the limit
and with the limit off, so fast that in
less than an hour he had taken every
thing in sight at that place and cashed in
$500 to the good
Meanwhile. Belts man had gone out
and dug up another roll. and at the close
of the second smashing Doug and his COM
paniOns were invited back to Belts to try
his luck at the newly acquired fund.
Sleep was out of the question by now
especially as they had wined up few
and were feeling pretty gay. and the in
vitation was readily accepted.
Belts had instructed his dealer to offer
a game with q limit of 500 to cases and
$500 on calls-a desperate expedient to
get even. in the hope that Dougs luck
was bound to turn. Belts reckoned with
out his host, for the player had luck to
burn. and the drummers were now play
ing pretty strong game on their own
part. besides having an equal interest in
the play of Doug.
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

'Tt takes gambler to play faro" he
said. Then he added. Anybody can
play poker. All these little -dollar-a
week Government clerks play poker. The
ribbon boys in the dry goods stores play
poker. The porter who carries your bag
to your room plays poker. Bah! And
what do they play for? They take
81 bill and string it out to last them the
whole evening. When We were gambling
in Washington We put thousand dollars
apiece into the hands of the banker and
got one stack of chips. But today.
Pshawi
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

I'VE had the swell play" continued
the colonel, looking around at the rooms
where he presided for so many years.
THE diplomatic crowd made Parker's
their headquarters. AS general thing
We didn't have enormous calls. 1t was
steady, however. AS recall it. the gen.
tlemen from the Spanish Legation were
the highest bettors.
I'VE did very we'll. on a purely per-
centage basis. About $4,000 to the week
represented our net profits. But the
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

pared to talk on the thing he knew all
about.
''If had forty sons he said, I'D make
:hirty-nine of them-no, I'd make forty
OF them-gamblers. Gambling is all
right. There are plenty of worse things
than gambling. For instance, there is
drinking. Don't you think a gambler is
possessed of more. self-respect than a
drunkard? Gambling is a business;
drunkenness is a vice."
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

''But good many fail in the business,
colonel" 1 suggested.
They do said the colonel promptly.
''They do. And what then? Why, they
simply go to work and make some money.
They know how to work. They are not
afraid of it. They have their wits chout
them. II they hadn't they couldn't be
gamblers. Now, it is this way: When
gambler-I am speaking of the profess
sional-sets in to play cards he has two
resources, money and brains. When the
man who takes two or three drinks and
fancies he can break q bank sets in, he
has only the resource of money.
''The professional must cultivate his in
telligence all the time. He can't afford
to be drinker. He must be able to
study his chances, study his foes, watch
how the others play, remember a thous-
and and one details. If he wins, we'll
and good. Ii he loses, it is because luck
has been against him. He can go out
and make money at some other kind of
work"
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

''How long have you been playing
cards?" / asked.
Since the Mexican war;" said the COL
onel, simply. Il was a youngster then,
and when l went int, the army 1 had a
prejudice against gambling. My parents
were very strict follif They thought it
was a sin to play cards. They wouldn't
let deck inside the door. So, it took
me some time to get broken in. Gradual
ly I drifted into the games. and, instead
Of finding gambling to be bad thing,
found 1t to be very good thing. After
that I played cards pretty much all the
time" @
I tried to hunt up some words that
would form themselves into delicate
enquiry. They wouldn't come. So
said: -
Colonel, do you mind telling how old
you are?'' ~ 50. ...
Not in the slighteft." said the colonel.
He dipped into his packet and drew out
small purse. Then he passed over a half
dollar. 1t bore the date of 1927.
81 cut my teeth on it," he said.
The Washington times., 1902-01-12

''Besides Dave Prindle's place, there
were a few others that got share of the
The Washington times., 1902-01-12


to find golden eagle bearing the year
of his birth, SO he had to content himself
with tho meaner metal.
Il came to Washington in 1851" said
the colonel. "Those were the juicy days
for gambling in the District. Prindle's
was the big resort. 1t catered to the
Congressional element. I came on from
Minnesota with the Representatives-the
first delegation to Washington in the his
tory of Minnesota's statehood. The Con-
gressmen were heavy bettors, and l was
supposed by the keepers of the house to
belong to the Capitol contingent. They
didn't play any limit in those days. When
you got to the ceiling, IL you wanted to
go any higher they'd take off the roof for
you, if you were a regular patron. That
is, generally speaking. I remember the
first time 1 played there / had bet of
$500 on a card. and won it. and took a
good bit Of the banks roll before
stopped.
After we had stopped playing the man
ager came to me and said: You under
stand that this house, ordinarily, has no
limit. Just the same. I've been watching
your play. and l can see by the way you
finger your chips that you are the sort
of man that might make us close down
i. We left the limit off. So. If you don't
mind, well let you have $3.50 each way.
but no more on any one play
''Besides Dave Prindle's place, there
,,oro Sau, otbarc that got a share of the
Sunday Washington globe., 1902-01-05
Loaded with Fat,

In the good old days when we were
greatly pestered by a neighbor's SOW OF
mule, OF bull, or dog, invading our premises
and taking unwarranted liberties we loaded
the old shotgun with powder and fat meat
and, after serving due notice upon said
neighbor and said notice being ignored, set
out to uphold the FIRST law Of nature, selfs
defense
The amount of execution that can be
done by wad of fat meat on top.of good
charge of powder is amazing. Wherever it
strikes hair and hide disappear II seldom
if ever kills, but leaves scars that time does
not obliterate. The fat being salty, causes ex-
cruciating pain, which fingers long in
memory, and the stricken animal does not
offend again.
tallow candle can be shot through
two-inch oak board without injury to the
candle. In like manner a tallow bullet If
driven by a sufficient charge of powder
would penetrate a mans body and grease
him so we'll internally that he would not
care to go dueling again, A glancing shot
would plow ugly furrows in the skin.
Sunday Washington globe., 1902-01-05
Thrift Was Hereditary.

Two prominent business men while at
luncheon one day last week iudulged in a
series of good natured recriminations about
the tendencies of each to refrain from spend
ing money. One said to the other:
II don't blame you for being close, it is
in the family. Why, 1 remember your
father when he ran a grocery store. He
was so close that if lY settled on the
sugar barrel he used to catch the ly, dust
its feet of with broom and let it 60"
"So1" said the other You needn't get
chesty. Your father was a farmer can
remember when he raised bees. He made
those poor bees work hard all day, and, not
satisfied with that, he crossed them with
lightning bugs and made them work
nights"
That's right, said the FIRST, good humor.
edly The old man was a thrifty chap.
Why, ] remember when he crossed straw
berry plants and milkweed and got straw.
berries and cream"
Then they had a drink
Sunday Washington globe., 1902-01-05
Count Tolstoi,s Father.

In a recent article Count Tolstoi draws a
portrait Of his father. He was large and
handsome man, who always wore clothes
of fashion different from that of others
He had great contempt for the younger
generation. His greatest passion was gamb-
ling. He won millions and lost them again
Moral principles he seemed to have none
He had his sentimental moods and when
he read aloud from book his voice would
tremble and his eyes moisten at pathetic
passage. He was fond Of ordinary music
romanees, gypsy melodies operate tunes
but frankly confessed that Beethoven put
him to sleep.
Sunday Washington globe., 1902-01-05
For Their own Calves

A couple Of young men were out fishing
one day and on returning were going past a
farmhouse and felt hungry They yelled to
the farmers daughters, Girls, have you
any buttermilk2"
The reply was gently waited back to their
ears, Yes but we keep It for our own
calves"
The boys calculated that they had busi-
ness away, and they went.
Sunday Washington globe., 1902-01-05
PRISON REFORM
The Fat Perquisites Of Prison
Stewards and Officials.
THE UNIVERSAL sTEALINas

OF Prison Ohicials, Guards and Com
victs-The Glass and the Compensa-
tlon OF the Men Appointed to Re
form but Who Further Degrade and
Confirm in Criminality the Prison
ers-The system Ofselection Vicious.
Sunday Washington globe., 1902-01-05

The man who knows the least shows it
the most
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-08-01

Meeting Of the Fathers
Last Night


A regular session of the city council
occurred last night at the city hall.
Mayor Ball presiding and all mem
bers present except McBrine OF the
fourth ward. The entire evening was
spent discussing plans for the sewer
system. Districts Nos. 4 and 5, now
under construction here being the OBJ
jcct of discussion. The ordinance
covering the construction of No. was
passed.
No. 5 was not so easy. After a
lengthy discussion on the subject the
matter was laid over by a motion
made by Alderman Lille. until a
special meeting which will be held
Monday night.
Lilies idea is 10 maze the con
sttuction of the laterals the least pos
sible expense to the property holders.
The ordinance covers the construc-
zion Of the laterals in the business
part of the city.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-08-01
a. o. U. WIS BIG TIME.
One Hundred and Forty Applicants to
Join Order.

The Ancient Order of United Work
men met last night at the X. Of P.
hall and did the biggest taking in
act on record, one hundred and forty
applicants being admitted.
The big line up last night was due
largely to the earnest work OF Lee
Homsher who has been pushing the
interests of the lodge to bright fin
ish. This is undoubtedly the largest
membership ever enrolled at any one
time by any lodge in the territory Of
Oklahoma
Among the prominent out OF town
visitors were Grand Master Work
man Mclaughlin Of Halleyville, /. T.;
Grand Recorder S. l.. Johnson of Ok
mulgee, l. T.; Grand Receiver :. E.
Safer of Saltwater DR.. WestfalI,
grand medical examiner of Arling-
ron. Ben Clardy Of Shawnee. o. r.
Rice Of Ell Reno, and DR.. Sharpe of
Orlando.