The National tribune., 1909-12-23

: IN HARTFORD, CONN.,. Dut tnSt makes Ill
tie difference. He could hardly have
passed for a Frenchman with that
name. Sheedy was a gambler all right
but he was an honest gambler, gam.
bier with decided ideas of right and
wrong. Into his gambling house nc
man of moderate means with a family
and home was admitted, nor were
young boys permitted to lose theiI
money at his tables If man with
plenty of bank bills in his pockets
loafing around town and throwing
them right and left, wanted to leave
some of them with him to pay for the
fun and excitement of the game, Sheedy
saw no reason why he shouldn't, and
his conscience didn't trouble him bit
on account of 1t. Sheedy's career was
unique and picturesque. He was most
decidedly what is called "a Soldier of
Fortune" He was one of the best
known gamblers in the world, and
there is hardly a city in this country
or Europe where he hadn't taken a
hand. At one time he kept gambling
place in Cairo, Egypt. He got hold of
the Gheren Palace, somehow, once oc-
cupied by some Pasha, and fitted it up
as a swell club, which he ran for five
years. In personal appearance he was
quite impressive, being big and very
good-looking, well-mannered and al
ways well and carefully dressed. He
seldom associated with those of his
calling: in fact, his reputation for hon
esty, together with his other splendid
characteristics of bravery, generosity,
truthfulness and perfect loyalty, made
him the intimate associate of many
men who stood high in the public es-
TEEN. A great deal of the money he
made from his tables he gave to char
ity, for it was a favorite saying of his
that "a gamblers money was charity
money" Sheedy went out of the busi-
ness about 20 years ago, and since
then has supported himself and wife
by his picture gallery in New York.
This seems q rather queer business for
a former gambler, but Sheedy was no
ordinary man, and during his years of
roaming over Europe had acquired con-
siderable culture, and developed quite
a love and knowledge of art. 1t was
he, it will be remembered, who was
instrumental in recovering the stolen
Gainesborough, which made such a
sensation in 1901. He had a number
of valuable pictures in his gallery,
among which was genuine Correggio,
given him by no other than the famous
bandit, Raisuli and a Murillo, which
Adam Worth, the man who stole the
Gainesborough, willed to him on his
death. One of the most picturesque
things Sheedy ever did was to aid the
Chicago bank thief, Eddie Guerin, to
escape from Devils Island, the penal
colony off the coast of Africa, where
the French authorities had sent him.
His case appealed to Sheedy, somehow,
largely because he was an American
and Chicagoan probably, in which city
Sheedy lived for many years, 80 he
helped him get away. Altho Sheedy's
early advantages were poor, he had an
brain, and from his cosmopoli-
tan existence, with its varied expert
ence, had evolved a philosophy which
showed q wonderful insight into life
and human nature. Some Of his epi-
grams are destined to live long after he
business, he declared, was not profit
able, and he died poor leaving only a
few thousand dollars to his wife, who
survives him. Pat Sheedy was not only
an honest man, a philosopher and op-
timist, but he was strong, and faced
Death with the calmness and simple
faith of a good man, tho he had lived
the greater part of his life as a world
noted gambler.
Come, let us all brace up and Took
cheerful" as the photographers say. no
matter what carking cares may be
ynawing at our "witals," and
"At Christmas play and make good
cheer,
For Christmas comes but once year."
1t seems a great shame that all
'grown-ups' cannot forget at this glad
season that they are grown ups and
enter into the spirit of Christmas with
the whole-heartednes5 of little chill
1ren. There is no festai dag in the
whole year which carries with it the
dea of joy and gladness that Christ
mas does. Thanksgiving Day brings
an entirely different spirit, as does the
glorious Fourth and all the rest of cur
holidays. If for this one day alone all
sorrow, suffering, all trouble of any
he earth, how beautiful it would be!
That everyone cannot be happy at |
Christmas time Is a great pity. but we |
know this is impossible in a world |
where sin and sorrow, envy and un-
poverty and physical |
dog our footsteps. Even those |
who should count themselves most for
tunate and favored of The gods are |
frequently simply shamed into an ap-
pearance in keeping with the day by |
he happy faces of the Innocent chill |
1ren around them. The best of US
pretend" a little on Christmas Day. |
The true spirit of Christmas is to make |
happy some one less fortunate than |
ourselves. Every child in a family |
hat Christmas is not the time to re-
,eive gifts, but to give them to other |
down whose chimney red
'aced old Santa Claus, kind-hearted as
ne looks, never descends. We could |
LII Of us catch and carry in our hearts
/ good deal more of the true spirit OF |
Christmas if we would only break away
from the false and foolish state of |
.hings into which this beautiful and |
holy season has degenerated. The CIV
ng of simple gifts at Christmas time is
yery appropriate and entirely in keep
ng with its joyous character, only we |
)verdo the matter. Like the giving of /
Wedding presents, II has been brought
TO almost a commercial basis. We
pend all our money in expensive toys
or children. who receive so many that |
hey do not half look at them, and in
giving something beyond our means to
)ur rich relatives and friends. Our
needy friends, the poor little children
who look with longing eyes into the
sayly decorated shop windows, knowing
that its glories are not for them, but |
aking real delight in Just looking, the
old woman or man whom we
,ould easily find If we really wanted to,
Usually come out, as the saying Is, "at
he little end of the horn" We would
lot have to pretend" on Christmas
Day II we acted more in accordance
With the dictates of our conscience and
better judgment. and took counsel of
'ur hearts rather than our heads. Let
Is try it this year.
The Zelaya family seem to be in |
rouble. A certain DIR. Anabel Zelaya, /
aid at first to be the second son of the