The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-22


There is a great deal of talk among
people who play cards for money" said
Tom Leigh, the veteran actor, about
gamblers who play a square game, and
about the difference there is between
one who is honest and one who Is not
Now. Of course, there is a foundation
for all this. If there wasn't any, 1
don't suppose the talk would be con-
Jlnued so persistently as it is, but. as
a matter Of fact, it is mostly rot"
There is little question that Leigh
knows as much of the seamy side Of
life in New York during the last half
century as the next man, for he was
one Of the favOrite actors at the old
BOwery theatre before the civil war,
and he kept in touch with the sport
ing element of the community ever
since, though advancing years and
rheumatism have made it difficult for
him to get around for the last few
months
He is as ready to talk as ever. and
once started on q train Of reminds
cenccs, viii entertain a group of listen
ers by the hour. An inveterate card
player himself he delights In telling
of the strange things ne has seen over
the green baize but, like many other
veterans. he has become cynical to a
degree in his judgment of men.
1T is, of course. true that gamblers
differ as other men differ IN their per-
sonal character" ne said, when some
one asked whether all professional
gamblers were crooked. and there are
men I'M the business whose word of
mouth is as good as another mans
bond, for any amount of money they
viii promise To- pay.
ff tf..rr.
there are bank games that are played
on the square. The bank is sure TO
win in the long run anyway.
But when it comes to table games
and shOrt-Card playing. # is a different
question altogether The gambler who
sits down with one or two or five or
Six. others 90 play draw poker, for ex-
ample. is engaging in "a contest of in
dividual Wits and has to rely entirely
on his personal skill
There is no percentage IN his favor
IN square game. and IF be plays a
perfectly square game ne is putting
himself on an equality with the man
whose money he is after. The other
man may be playing for fun, or for
the excitement of the game, but he is
playing for just one thing only, and
that is the other mans money. And
tAiE INfnAtNA iNr " itdL Ait Allt thlAitT
of gambling as the professional gam
bier is bound by them?
Now. IN the first place, he is not
likely TO be man who has much re-
gard for any question of abstract mo-
rality. IF he had he wouldn't be a
gambler.
He may be intelligent enough TO
see the value Of good reputation. and
be- careful enough to pay his debts for
the sake OF maintaining that reputa-
ton. To that extent he knows that
honesty is the best policy. but so far
as the game of poker is concerned it
Is not SO easy 10 see it.
Take an extreme case. Suppose n
party 90 bee playing cards, and one of
the cards in the deck has some trining
imperfection. 1t is We viii say. purely
aa accident, and only one man at the
table has happened TO notice IT,
say il is an ace. and he sits next
TO the dealer and sees that tie ace is
the first card that will come to him in
The draw. With the advantage of this
knowledge be is practically certain that
he can raise before the draw and scoop
in a big pot.
Now, that makes what ] call a very
pretty situation, and I'd like very well
20 get inside OF any poker players