Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-03-04

GAMBLERS PARADISE.

, reaches "a veritably frenzied pitch.
The book makers, unable to make
themselves heard, throw messages
into the grandstand in little rub
Der balls. Excited men wave bun
dies Of bills under each others
noses. The players are cursed and
cheered. Hats and walking sticks
sometimes fly into the air, despite
large sign which specifically forbids
this method Of displaying emotion.
As the game progresses, one side
gains decisive lead. The odds are
now heavily in favor of the win
ming side and the betting falls on,
until finally the outcome is clear
and betting ceases altogether. The
game is now watched for its own
sake with sad and disgruntled air
by the losers, while those who have
put their money on the winning side
are exuberant and noisy.
The pelo.ari is hard fighter and
a man who knows his business thor
oughly. Seldom indeed does he
miss a ball which it is at all possi-
BILE for him to get. He also disa-
buses one Of the notion that the
Latin-American is man of inferior
physique. The players are without
exception men of great muscle and
wind, and of astonishing endurance.
The games seem longer than any
thing played in this country, and as
hard as anything except football,
while the heat is considerable. The
PLAYERS wear ordinary shirts and
trousers, the sides being distin-
Iguished by the colors of the shirts.
Long before the game is over the
players are drenched with sweat.
but apparently unfagged. At each
end Of the court is table where
cold tea and rum are served. Now
and then one of them takes a
mouthful of rum and spits it out
again.
| The most noticeable difference be-
tween the Cuban athlete and Amer
lean is that the Cuban finds no
obligation to hide his feelings.
With us it is more or less trad!-
, ton in all sport that one should
be a good loser. This means smli-
ing when you feel like cursing, at
least keeping your mouth shut when
, YOU lose The pelotari never heard
of this tradition. When he misses
ball, he fairly jumps with rage,
, he throws himself against the wall,
. he CRASHES his teeth and curses,
. He makes it Individually clear that
|, it is not only painful but incredible
that he should have lost, He biames
; the ball, the bat. the gods-every-
thing but himself. The spectators
, however, blame him exclusively. A
, player is spoken Of as defending
his money" we'll or ill-that is, the
:, money bet on him. When he de-
= tends it we'll, he is national hero
but when he let's it get away from
, its owners, he and his family for
!, seven generations are the progeny
! of dogs.
Gambling with the Cuban is more
| than a diversion, or even a pas
i sion. 1t is an expression of his at
!, titude toward life. Mr.. Maeteriincl
| Fsays that gambling is an artificial
adventure craved by those who are
: not strong enough or bold enough
, to find the real adventures o.
+ life. This seems a prett.
+ good analysis of gambling as il
,. is practiced by the weary bushes:
i man, who seeks to forget his wor
! ries in a Saturday night poker
game, or the society woman wht
e seeks to escape ennui in bridge a
/ a cent point.
: But the Cuban does not ~merel.
gamble thus for diversion, setting
e aside a conservative part OF hi:
), means for the purpose. He gam
a bles all the time, with everything
e he has. He is just as ready t.
y stake his life in a revolution or {;
e duel as he is to stake dollar OF
a the lottery.
The instinct of the Yankee is t.
e take as much of the hazard out o
S life as possible. His great desir,
: is to play safe. He insures every
Il thing he owns from his flivyer t,
o his life. He saves for rainy day
Il He is looking for permanent job
n He believes in preventive medicine
S He plans ahead.
The Cuban, more sensitive an,
9 imaginative, above all more intui
r tive, instinctively grasps the fac
: life is essentially hazardous an,
d precarious. He does not reason blu
5. he feels that there is really n
: such thing as playing safe. TAX
g every precaution Imaginable. AM
s still it is only by good luck tina
e you live and thrive, and bad lucl
g may kill you or ruin you any min
e ute. This rather obvious fac,
l. which We seek earnestly to forget
e is the Cuban's real religion. H
n recognizes and welcomes the haz
n ard of life. He CANDLES. not for
= moments diversion, but becaus
n life is to him a gamble anywa,
k The safe-playing Yankee regard
l. him as fool, and he returns tn
Fl compliment.