The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-25
From the WashInglon star.

of business reverses, on Tuesday last" said one of the Chicago correspondence "Everybody in Chicago knew him for many years as Cardinal Bemis. He was called Cardinal because for many years he was the proprietor of the eele- brated lake-front hotel the Richelieu. and because, barring the goatee, he bore a striking resemblance to the portraits of Cardinal Rlcheleu. His hostelry was, in it's day and for its size, one of the most luxurious in the world, and 1t was head quarters for most of the famous foreign CTS who passed through Chicago for sev- eral decades for the fame of Cardinal Bemis's head chef, as well as of the Rich elieu's magnificent wine cellar, went all over the world Cardinal Bemis was one of the best connoisseurs in wines In the United States, and judges of vintages used to make long pilgrimages to his Richelieu cellar to fonde Bemis's extraordinary col lection of all but priceless wines
 "The Richelieu was the scene of some remarkable banquets and it's crystal ban quet-room was always in demand for ban uueting purposes. I attended a banquet there in 1892 given by the Cardinal him. self in honor of Mime. Sarah Bernhardt. Daniel Dougherty tho silver-tonged ora tor of Philadelphia; Robert G. lngersoll and, if I remember correctly. .Marse' Henry Watterson were present at that banquet, which lasted from midnight till the sunlight was streaking through the stained-glass windows. and the flow of wit and eloquence were such as I have never heard equaled.
 Cardinal Bemis was noted for his amiability but there were times when he could be hard as nails. The iinty manner with which he handled one of his employ es on a certain occasion in 1893, while the Chicago fair was in progress, is still harl<ed back to by Chicago hotel men who recall the incident
 ''rhe employe was the manager of the Richelieu. an extremely fne-looking, smooth and oily young chap of 30 or so. This man had been attached in some ca- pacity or other to the Richelieu since his boyhood, and Bemis had made him pro- tege, showing him along from place to place until he finally settled him in the managers billet a particularly fine and profitable position.
 'The manager, however, was a natural born gambler. This wouldn't have been so bad If he had been an on-the-level gam bier, nor would 1t have resulted so dls- astrously for him and others had he con fined his gambling activities to scenes other than the hotel. But he fell Into the graceless habit of teaching rich for eigners stopping at the Richelieu the noble game of draw, and of thoroughly pluciSing them while so instructing them This thing went on for long while before Cardinal Bemis learned anything about it If the manager hadn't been a pro- fiigate he'd have been able to tuck away f,, n l.a. tIa,, -.F l.II. which he scientifically picked up while short-carding foreigners with whom he played, but the racing bug had him be- sides, and he was a spendthrft generally so that when the finish came he wasn't much to the good.
 Cardinal Bems learned of the swim ding penchant of his manager through an accidental remark let fall by a famous English capitalist and writer on financial subjects, who registered at the Richelieu fin the game, during the Worlds fair. The manager graciously offered to teach the Englishman how to play poker one night The manager had couple of swell-look- ing dummies in the game, and at the finish of the seance the rich Englishman was to the bad the astonishing sum of $50O00. The Britisher wasn't n kicker, but in casual conversation with Cardinal Bemls on the following day he happened to mention that the American game of draw was mighty expensive game to master.
 Flows that?' asked Bemls.
 Well 1t cost me 910,0O0 to learn the difference between an ace-high and a king-high flush last night, replied the Englishman.
 Whewp exclaimed Bemis Who was the follow who had the ace atop of his suit?
 "'Why, your young man-that clever young manager of yours answered the Engllshman. 'Uncommony lucky young chap, that-he beat me every time at drawing
 Do you mean to tell me that he won $5O.000 from you last night?" asked Be- mis. perfected dumfounded
 Why, certainly he did replied the Flnglishman. Rather a stiff drop, wasn't it?
 Where was the game played? asked Bemis
 "'why. in my rooms" replied the Eng lishman. Oh, say I didn't mefrtion this to you to have you make a row about it. you know. I don't want you to do that. I'm not complaining, you understand
 In what form did you pay him your losses?" asked Bemls.
 Why, in checks upon my New York
 
 here. old chap, don't want any bally talk or row over this thing, and if I had known you were going to become worked up over 1t I'd rather never have
 But Cardinal Bemis was already out os earshot. First he went behind the little desk and took a pistol out of the hotel safe. Then he went upstairs to the mana gers luxurious suit of rooms. The mana ger was still abed after the long poker seance. His employer rapped on his door and the manager got up in his paiamas and let the Cardinal in. Bemis was per fectly cool, but he was there for busl- ness.
 Hello. governor said the manager, addressing his employer in the usual way what's up?'
 Well, you're not, for one thing, T ob- serve, said Bems, although it's about noon. Son. when did you first begin to skin my guests in this house at the game of poker?'
 "The suddenness of that question knock ed the smooth young manager pretty much in a heap. but it is probable that he had an inlxling that he might be found out after taking down such a huge winning. It Is likely too. that he had determined to stand pat under accusation and to refuse to disgorge under pressure probably making up his mind that he he'd a sufficient bank roll to enable him to ac- cept all consequences He put up a fine imitation of a man flaming under unjust accusation. Ben1is had correctly figured on the young mans mental attitude in the matter when he stuffed the gun into his pocket
 "I never skinned anybody. as you call