The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-20
A LESSON LEARNED
At THE POKER TABLE
Proved to Re a Great Benefit
TO the Old Deacon. Though
He Lost Money.
GREENLAW EXPLAINS IT
ny DAVID 4. CURTIS.

p'fessional players knows II.
"They'a manv "A man'd be obleegcd
20 work To- a Twin II 'twa'nt 70
poker. an Just nachully th'ain't no cali
To- nobody to 'xplain to him what the
game was institooted by a wise an
benencious providence To- the better
ment o. mankyind. He en- see 1t TO
hisself.
But they is others what pears to
be mo r less ign'ant. Way they reck-
ons Is how the game amt no good
'thouten they en- win money"
Well" interrupted Sam Pearssll
abruptly. II sh'd say they was c'nsid-
able sense in holdin' to that. I
wouldn't had no greet use 70 poker
my W self II l couldn't make a
Twin outen It,"
Mr.. Pearsall was not always as
patient as he nigh. have been when
the old mar undertook to eXpound
his views on any abstract proposition.
IT reckon likely they couldn't "o-
body 'xpect nothin' better n that
snorted the old. man, "outen a man
what hain't got no mo probation o
the fitness o. things nor yo' all Is.
Pears like yo' amt got no c'nsidera-
ton TO nothin' on'y ust what op'rates
To- yo' pers'nal 'dvantages."
"Pers'nal 'dvantages is what I looks
20 mostly" declared Mr.. Pearsall un-
blushingly. An s fur s | knows |
amt no different I'm the genl run o
mankynd thataway. I don't see no.
body playin' poker 70 the purpose o
gittin' rid of a wad. o. co'se he don't
al'ays git what he's lookin' TO- but I
notice how he does II he's able"
The old mar gulped painfully, and
for a moment seemed at n loss FOR a
reply. It was evident that he real
\ lied that his adversary's line OF
thought was so nearly in accord with
his own often expressed sentiments
that he would stultify himself by at
tempting TO controvert him. On the
other hand, It was intolerable that he
should allow himself TO be silencca in
an argument.
The others in the room perceived his
dilemma and We're vastly entertained
thereby.
sam pears to got the best on II,
30 fur said Jim Blaisdell. chuckling
gleefu!ly.
Jake Winterbottom. however. shook
his head d%oubtfully, though there was
a broad grin on his face. He was
watching the old man.
And as for him. he was rallying
himself. Presently he spoke again.
"Yo' all pears to be runnin' round
loose into a ten acre lot" he said,
chidingly. 'Th' amt no question but
what they is a heap O. truth into what
yo' done said. but tn amt no app!ica-
ton into It. What I was sayin' was
somepin' 'ntirely different. 10 n
likely yo' all amt cap'ble of onder-
standin' OF it.
They Is somepin' like 1t into the
Good Book where it says. the quality
of draw poker amt strained. 1t
blesseth him that wins an him that
loses.'"
We'll, I'm doggoned IL I b"ieve
that said Joe Bassett. who had been
listening without but who
seemed also to be losing patience. 90
co'se a mans blessed II he wins, but
I don't see no greet blessln' about
losin'."
"'They's a heap O. blessin's comes in
disgust" persisted the old man, AN
that's one on EN-. II a mar drops
his wad into a game he's got experience
what's liable To- to be wuth a heap mo
to him the mex time he sets in nor
tn amount O. what he done lose first
of. Trains his mind like. SOS I he
won't make the same kyind OF a mis-
take no mo-"
"Mebbe It does. an mebbe it don't"
said Jim Blaisdell critically. Il done
seen a heap o. men keep on playin'
steady To- years 'thouten 'pear!n' TO git
no benefit outen experience. Pears
like the way they reckons tn amt nc
chanel o. losin' the pot alter they done
filled a flush on the draw. Stands to
that fool notion outen his haid alter
he's done been swatted oncet or tw!cet.
but they is a heap don't"
That's one O. the merciful dispensa-
lions o Providence" retorted the Did
man. "If everybody was to know
how to play poker proper they
be no suckers into the game,
consequent they wouldn't be no
in playin' Of it. II they want
little fishes in the water they
wouldn't be nothin' 70 the whales {
"Yo' all pears 10 be runnin' back
ards an for'ards both TO oncet." said
Blaisdeil still more critically. First of,
20 sets up what poker is a most
amaz!n' benefit to mankyind long OF it
a man how to play, an theH
afo' the words is outen yo' mouth yo'
eays how the reason what it's RELY a
benefit is what he don't never git
learned nothin'. Yo' make me on
comf'able talkin' two ways TO oncet,"
That's long o. yo' all not onder-
Ftandin'," retorted the old man with a
Iordly air Of superiority, but before ne
could go any further Blaisdell fared
up.
IF yo' all reckons what don't on
aerstand draw poker" he said angrily,
best thing TO 20 10 do is 10 turn
over on yo' other side an dream
dif'rent. | reckon what If anybody
understands II | does"
Amt a-sav!n' yo' don't" was the
rejoinder. Til amt nobody knows
he game no better'n yo' all does.
hut that amt 10 say what yo' onder-
stands the higher philosophy, an
that's what I'm tryin' to beat into
80 ha!d."
"Th' amt no higher philosophy n
draw poker" said Blaisdell con-
temptuously, II done herd yo' all
say that repeated"
"Oh, shucks," exclaimed the old
an II fh~nnonrhlY dlsrnafen III |