Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-06-07
CHAPTER XIX.
On His q, IN.

VI COuISc 4O1uuly CduuOL always ID
producing plays under fire but while
in rest billets he has numerous other
ways Of amusing himself. He is a
great gambler, but never plays for
large stakes. Generally, in each COM
pany, you will find regular Garfield.
This man banks nearly all the games
of chance and is an undisputed author
fty on the rules of gambling. When
ever there is an argument among the
TOmmies about some uncertain point
as to whether Houghtcn is entitled to
Watkins sixpence, the matter is taken
to the recognized authority and his de-
cision Is final.
The two most popular games are
Grown and Anchor" and "House."
The paraphernalia used in "Crown
and Anchor" consists Of piece of can
vas two feet by three feet. This is
divided into six equal squares. In these
squares are painted q club, diamond,
heart, spade, crown, and an anchor,
one device to a square. There are
three dice used, each dice marked the
same as the canvas. The banker sets
up his gambling outfit in the corner OF
a billet and starts bally-hooing until q
crowd of Tommies gathers around {;
then the game starts.
The Tommies place bets on the
squares, the crown Or anchor being
played the most. The banker then
rolls his three dice and collects or pays
out as the case may be. If you play
the crown and one shows up on the
dice, you get even money, If two show
up, you receive two to one, and If three,
three to one. IF the crown does not an.
pear and you have bet on it, you lose,
and so on. The percentage for the
banker is large IL every square is
played, but If the crowd is partial to-
say two squares, he has to trust to
luck. The banker generally wins.
The game of ''Hou -" is very popular
also. It takes two men to run it. This
game consists of numerous squares of
cardboard containing: three rows of
NUMBERS, five numbers to a row. The
numbers run from one 70 ninety. Each
card has different combination.
The French "estaninets" in the vii
lagos are open from eleven in the morn.
ing until one in the afternoon in &C
cordance with army orders.
After dinner the Tommies congre
gate at these places to drink French
beer at a penny q glass and pla,
"House."
AS soon as the estaminet is suffi
ciently crowded the proprietors of the
House" game get busy and, as they
term 1t, form a school," This consists
of going around and selling cards a,
q franc each. If they have ten in the
school. the hackers Of the game de
duct two francs for their trouble an6
the winner gets eigh, francs.
Then the game st,.rts. Each buye,
places his card before him on the ia.
bic. first breaking up matches into f1f
teen pieces.
One Of the backera Of the gal 1e ha.
small cloth bag in which are ninet,
cardboard squares, each with & mum
Der printed thereon. ~ ON one to nine
ty. he raps on the table and erie.
out: Eyes down, my lucky lads"
All noise ceases AMI every ono ia at
tention.
The croupier places his hand In thu
bag and draws forth a numbered
square and Immediately calls out thu
number. The man who owns the caro-
with that particular number on II
covers the square with a match. Tht
one who covers the fifteen numbers or
his card first shouts "House." The
other hacker Immediately comes owe,
to him and verifies the card by callins
out the numbers thereon to the mar
with the bag. AS each number I,
called he picks it out of the one.
picked from the bag and says, Fright
II the count is right he shouts. '.House
correct, pay the lucky gentleman, and
sell him a card for the next school,
The lucky gentleman" gene1 ally buvs
one unless he has q miser trace ir
his veins.
Then another collection is made
school formed, and they carry on with
the game.
The caller-out has, many nicknamef
Tor the numbers such as "Kelly's Eve
for one, Legs Eleven" for eleven
"Chckety-click" for sixty-six, or saTot
Of the house" meaning ninety.