OSTENTATIOUS GAMESTERS.
Certain grandees and wealthy persons, more through vanity or weakness
than generosity, have sacrificed their avidity to ostentation--some
by renouncing their winnings, others by purposely losing. The greater
number of such eccentrics, however, seem to have allowed themselves to
be pillaged merely because they had not the generosity or the courage to
give away what was wanted.
The Cardinal d'Este, playing one day with the Cardinal de Medicis, his
guest, thought that his magnificence required him to allow the latter to
win a stake of 10,000 crowns--'not wishing,' he said, 'to make him pay
his reckoning or allow him to depart unsatisfied.' Brantome calls this
'greatness;' the following is an instance of what he calls 'kindness.'
'Guilty or innocent,' he says, 'everybody was well received at the
house of this cardinal, who kept an open table at Rome for the French
chevaliers. These gentlemen having appropriated a portion of his plate,
it was proposed to search them: 'No, no!' said the cardinal, 'they are
poor companions who have only their sword, cloak, and crucifixes; they
are brave fellows; the plate will be a great benefit to them, and the
loss of it will not make me poorer.'
Vigneul de Marville tells us of certain extravagant abbes, named
Ruccellai and Frangipani, who carried their ostentation to such a pitch
as to set gold in dishes on their tables when entertaining their gaming
companions! Were any of these base enough to put their hands in and help
themselves? This is not stated by the historian. These two Italian abbes
were ne plus ultras in luxury and effeminacy. In the reign of Henry IV.,
they laid before their guests vermilion dishes filled with gloves, fans,
coins to play with after the repast, essences and perfumes.(25) I wonder
if the delightful scent called Frangipani, vouchsafed to us by Rimmel
and Piesse and Lubin, was named after this exquisite ecclesiastic of
old?
(25) Melanges d' Hist. et de Lit.
One day when Henry IV. was dining at the Duc de Sully's, the latter, as
soon as the cloth was raised, brought in cards and dice, and placed upon
the table two purses of 4000 pistoles each, one for the King, the other
to lend to the lords of his suite. Thereupon the king exclaimed:--'Great
master, come and let me embrace you, for I love you as you deserve: I
feel so comfortable here that I shall sup and stay the night.' Evidently
Sully was more a courtier than usual on this occasion--as no doubt
the whole affair was by the king's order, with which he complied
reluctantly; but he made the king play with his own money only. The Duc
de Lerme, when entertaining Monsieur the brother of Louis XIII. at his
quarters near Maestricht, had the boldness to bring in, at the end of
the repast, two bags of 1000 pistoles each, declaring that he gave them
up to the players without any condition except to return them when they
pleased.(26)
(26) Mem. de Jeu M. le Duc d'Orleans.
This Duc de Lerme was at least a great lord, and the army which he
commanded may have warranted his extravagance; but what are we to think
when we find the base and mean-spirited Fouquet giving himself the
same princely airs? During certain festivities prepared for Louis XIV.,
Fouquet placed in the room of every courtier of the king's suite, a
purse of gold for gambling, in case any of them should be short of
money. Well might Duclos remark that 'Nobody was shocked at this
MAGNIFICENT SCANDAL!(27)
(27) Consideration sur les Moeeurs.
They tell of a certain lordly gamester who looked upon any money that
fell from his hands as lost, and would never stoop to pick it up! This
reminds us of the freedman Pallas mentioned by Tacitus, who wrote down
what he had to say to his slaves, lest he should degrade his voice to
their level--ne vocem consociaret!(28)
(28) Ann. l. xiii
AN INSINUATING, ELEGANT GAMESTER.
Osterman, Grand Chancellor of Russia, during the reign of the Empress
Anne, obtained information that the court of Versailles had formed a
scheme to send an insinuating, elegant gamester, to attack the Duke of
Biran on his weak side--a rage for play--and thereby probably gain some
political advantage over him.
The chancellor called on the duke to make the necessary communication,
but the minister did not choose to be at home. The chancellor, then
pretending to be suffering from a severe fit of gout, wrote to his
sovereign, stating that he had important matter to reveal, but was
unable to move, and the Duke of Biran was consequently ordered to wait
on him by the empress. Osterman, affecting great pain, articulated with
apparent difficulty these words--'The French are sending a gamester!'
Thereupon the duke withdrew in a pet, and represented to the empress
that the chancellor was delirious from the gout, and had really nothing
to communicate.
The subject had long been forgotten by the duke, when an elegant, easy,
dissipated marquis actually arrived. He had extensive credit on a house
of the English Factory, and presently insinuated himself into the good
graces of the duke, whom he soon eased of all his superfluous cash.
The chancellor became alarmed for the consequences, and resolved to try
and play off the French for their clever finesse. He looked about for a
match for the redoubtable French gamester, and soon got information of
a party who might serve his turn. This was a midshipman at Moscow, named
Cruckoff, who, he was assured, was without an equal in the MANAGEMENT of
cards, and the knowledge of Quizze--then the fashionable court game--and
that at which the Duke of Biran had lost his money. The chancellor
immediately despatched a courier to Moscow to fetch the Russian
gamester.
The midshipman was forthwith made an ensign of the Guards, in order to
entitle him to play at court. He set to work at once in accordance with
his instructions, but after his own plan in the execution. He began
with losing freely; and was, of course, soon noticed by the marquis, and
marked as a pigeon worth plucking. The young Russian, however, forced
him into high play, and he lost the greater part of his former gain.
The marquis got nettled, lost his self-command, and proposed a monstrous
stake, to the extent of his credit and gains, of which he thought he
might make himself sure by some master-stroke of art. Accordingly, by
means of a sleight, he managed to hold fifteen in hand, but his wily
antagonist was equal to the occasion: by the aid of some sweetmeats from
an adjoining table he SWALLOWED a card, and, being first in hand, the
chance was determined in his favour, and he ruined the marquis.
Once more the chancellor waited on the duke, and plainly told him that
he had been anxious to guard him against the French gamester, purposely
sent to fleece him, if he had had the patience to hear him. The duke
then became outrageous, and wished to arrest the Frenchman as a cheat;
but Osterman coolly said he had punished him in kind; and, producing a
large bag, returned the duke's money, bidding him in future not to be so
impatient when information was to be communicated by gouty persons.
The clever ensign was allowed to retain the rest of the spoil, with an
injunction, however, never to touch a card again, unless he wished to
end his days among the exiles of Siberia.
A PENITENT SONNET.
written by the Lord Fitz-Gerald(29) (a great gamester) a little before
his death, which was in the year 1580.
(29) This Lord Fitzgerald was eldest son to the Earl of Kildare, and
died at the age of twenty-one.
'By loss in play, men oft forget
The duty they do owe
To Him that did bestow the same,
And thousand millions moe.
'I loath to hear them swear and stare,
When they the Main have lost,
Forgetting all the Byes that wear
With God and Holy Ghost.
'By wounds and nails they think to win,
But truly 'tis not so;
For all their frets and fumes in sin
They moneyless must go.
'There is no wight that used it more
Than he that wrote this verse,
Who cries Peccavi now, therefore;
His oaths his heart do pierce.
'Therefore example take by me,
That curse the luckless time
That ever dice mine eyes did see,
Which bred in me this crime.
'Pardon me for that is past,
I will offend no more,
In this most vile and sinful cast,
Which I will still abhor.'(30)
(30) Harl. Miscel.
LOVE AND GAMBLING.
Horace Walpole, writing to Mann, says:--'The event that has made most
noise since my last is the extempore wedding of the youngest of the two
Gunnings, two ladies of surpassing loveliness, named respectively Mary
and Elizabeth, the daughters of John Gunning, Esq., of Castle Coote, in
Ireland, whom Mrs Montague calls "those goddesses the Gunnings." Lord
Coventry, a grave young lord, of the remains of the patriot breed, has
long dangled after the eldest, virtuously, with regard to her honour,
not very honourably with regard to his own credit. About six weeks
ago Duke Hamilton, the very reverse of the earl, hot, debauched,
extravagant, and equally damaged in his fortune and person, fell in love
with the youngest at the masquerade, and determined to marry her in
the spring. About a fortnight since, at an immense assembly at my
Lord Chesterfield's, made to show the house, which is really most
magnificent, Duke Hamilton made violent love at one end of the room,
while he was playing at Faro at the other end; that is, he saw neither
the bank nor his own cards, which were of three hundred pounds each: he
soon lost a thousand. I own I was so little a professor in love that
I thought all this parade looked ill for the poor girl; and could not
conceive, if he was so much engaged with his mistress as to disregard
such sums, why he played at all. However, two nights afterwards, being
left alone with her, while her mother and sister were at Bedford House,
he found himself so impatient that he sent for a parson. The Doctor
refused to perform the ceremony without license or ring; the duke swore
he would send for the archbishop; at last they were married with a ring
of the BED-CURTAIN, at half-an-hour after twelve at night, at May-fair
Chapel.'
This incident occurred in 1752, and reminds us of the marriage-scene
described by Dryden in one of his tales, which was quoted by Lord
Lyndhurst on that memorable occasion when he opposed Lord Campbell's
Bill for the suppression of indecent publications, and made a speech
which was more creditable to his wit than his taste, and perfectly
horrifying to Lord Campbell, who inflicted a most damaging verbal
castigation on his very sprightly but imprudent opponent.
'MANNERS MAKE THE MAN.
Mr Manners, a relation of the Duke of Rutland, many years ago, lost a
considerable sum to a well-known gamester, who set up his carriage
in consequence. Being at a loss for a motto, Mr Manners suggested the
following:--
MANNERS MAKE(S) THE MAN.
SHARP PRACTICE--NOT BY AN ATTORNEY.
The commanding officer of a Militia regiment having passed an evening
with several of his officers, carried one of them, who was much
intoxicated, to town with him. How the rest of the night was passed was
not known--at least to the young man; but in the morning the colonel
slipped into his hand a memorandum of his having lost to him at play
L700--for which sum he was actually arrested ON THE PARADE the same day,
and was compelled to grant an annuity to a nominee of the colonel for
L100 per annum!
A GAMESTER TO THE BACK-BONE.
Archdeacon Bruges mentions a gentleman who was so thorough a gamester,
that he left in his will an injunction that his bones should be
made into dice, and his skin prepared so as to be a covering for
dice-boxes!(31)
(31) A similar anecdote is related of a Frenchman.
FOOTE'S WITTICISMS.
A blackleg, famous for 'cogging a die,' said that there had been great
sport at Newmarket. 'What!' said Foote, 'I suppose you were detected,
and kicked out of the Hazard room.'
F--d, the Clerk of the Arraigns, brought off Lookup when indicted for
perjury. Foote, afterwards playing with him at Whist, said, 'F--d,
you can do anything, after bringing of Lookup. I don't wonder you hold
thirteen trumps in your hand. The least he could do was to teach you the
"long shuffle" for your services.'
The Rev. Dr Dodd was a very unlucky gamester, and received a guinea
to forfeit twenty if he ever played again above a guinea. This, among
gamblers, is termed being TIED UP. When the doctor was executed for
forgery a gentleman observed to Foote--'I suppose the doctor is launched
into eternity by this time.' 'How so?' said Foote, 'he was TIED UP long
ago.'
EFFECT OF A SEVERE LOSS AT PLAY.
Lord C-- lost one night L33,000 to General Scott. The amiable peer,
however, benefited by the severe lesson, and resolved never again to
lose more than one hundred at a sitting! He is said to have strictly
kept his resolve.
PADDY'S DECISION.
Some gamblers duping a country fellow at the game called Put, in a
public-house near St Pancras, one of them appealed to an Irishman who
was looking on whether he had not THREE TREYS IN HIS HAND? 'You had all
that,' said Paddy; 'and what's more, I saw you TAKE THEM ALL out of your
pocket.'
GAMBLING CAUSED BY GRIEF.
The Honourable Jesse Anker, in order to dissipate the gloom occasioned
by the loss of his wife, whom he passionately loved, had recourse to
gaming, by which, at different times, he lost considerable sums, but
not so as to injure his property, which was very large, in any material
degree. The remedy did not prove effectual; he shot himself at his
lodgings at Bath.
A GAMBLER'S EXCUSE FOR NOT BEING A SECOND IN A DUEL.
A gentleman who had been called out, applied to a friend who had won
a large sum of money to be his second. 'My dear friend,' answered the
gamester, 'I won fifteen hundred guineas last night, and shall cut a
poor figure at fighting to-day; but if you apply to the person I won
them of, he will fight like a devil, for he has not a farthing left.'
'MORE FORTUNATE.'
Lord Mark Stair and Lord Stair were at play in a coffee-house, when a
stranger overlooked the game, and disturbed them with questions.
Lord Mark said--'Let us throw dice to see which of us shall pink this
impudent fellow.' Lord Stair won. The other exclaimed--'Ah! Stair,
Stair! you have been always more fortunate in life than I.'
CAPTAIN ROCHE.
Captain Roche, alias Tyger, alias Savage Roche, who stuck his gaming
companion's hand to the table with a fork for concealing a card under
it, happened to be at the Bedford Billiard-table, which was extremely
crowded. Roche was knocking the balls about with his cue, and Major
Williamson, another celebrity, with whom he was engaged on business,
desired him to leave off, as he hindered gentlemen from playing.
'Gentlemen?' sneeringly exclaimed Roche; 'why, major, except you and me
(and two or three more) there is not a gentleman in the room--the rest
are all blacklegs.'
On leaving the place, the major expressed his astonishment at his
rudeness, and wondered, out of so numerous a company, it was not
resented. 'Oh, sir,' said Roche, 'there was no fear of that; there was
not a thief in the room who did not suppose himself one of "the two or
three gentlemen" I mentioned.'
FARO AT ROUTS.
The following advertisement appeared in the Courier newspaper in 1794:--
'As Faro is the most fashionable circular game in the haut ton in
exclusion of melancholy Whist, and to prevent a company being cantoned
into separate parties, a gentleman of unexceptionable character will,
on invitation, do himself the honour to attend the rout of any lady,
nobleman, or gentleman, with a Faro Bank and Fund, adequate to the style
of play, from 500 to 2000 guineas.
'Address, G. A., by letter, to be left at Mr Harding's, Piccadilly,
nearly opposite Bond Street.
'N.B.--This advertisement will not appear again.'
PROSPECT OF L5200 PER ANNUM FROM A CAPITAL OF L2000.
The following advertisement appeared in the Morning Chronicle in 1817:--
'Any person who can command Two Thousand Pounds in ready money, may
advance it in a speculation which will realize at least L100 per week,
and perhaps not require the advance of above one half the money. The
personal attendance of the party engaging is requisite; but there will
be no occasion for articles of partnership, or any establishment, as the
profits may be divided daily.'
OF WHAT TRADE IS A GAMING-HOUSE KEEPER?
At a Westminster election the keeper of a notorious gaming house in
St Ann's parish was asked, as usual, what his trade was, when, after a
little hesitation, he said, 'I am an ivory turner.'
THE GAME PLAYED IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY.
Mrs Law, executrix of George Law, late proprietor of the Smyrna Coffee
House, St James's Street, in 1807, found, among her husband's papers,
several notes and memoranda of money advanced to a Mr Nelthorpe,
which she put in suit. The latter alleged that they were for gambling
purposes, and called Mrs Law to say whether her husband did not keep a
common gambling house; and his counsel contended that it was clear the
notes were for gaming transactions, BECAUSE they were for 100 GUINEAS,
200 GUINEAS, and so on--disdaining the vulgar enumeration of pounds.
But the lord chancellor said that THE GAME PLAYED IN THE COURT OF
CHANCERY--as far as counsel was concerned--was for GUINEAS.
THE ORIGINAL OF A RECENT PROPOSAL.
Not long since an advertisement appeared, and was noticed by several of
the papers, purporting to enable any person to realize a large fortune
by a small advance to the advertiser. It will readily be seen that
the following is the ORIGINAL of the scheme, put forth in the Morning
Chronicle, in 1818:--
'Important Offer. A gentleman of respectability has discovered a method
of winning at any game of chance, fairly and honourably, to a
certainty, by a method hitherto unknown;--he will SELL THE SECRET for a
consideration, or treat with a gentleman able to join him with a capital
of L300, by which a fortune may be made; in either case he will engage
with one person only. This will be found well worth the attention of
a member of the superior clubs. **** No personal application will be
answered.'
GAME AND GAMBLING.
A gentleman celebrated for his quickness at repartee, when informed that
a young nobleman of his acquaintance (remarkably fond of a fashionable
game) had shot an immense number of RED partridges, and also of the
BLACK game, which abounded on his estates, replied--'I am not in the
least surprised; he was at all times, EVEN WHEN IN LONDON, devotedly
attached to the GAME OF ROUGE ET NOIR.'
CATCHING A TARTAR.
'My skill at billiards,' says a confessing gamester, 'gave me a
superiority over most I met with. I could also hide my skill very
dexterously, which is generally found a work of great difficulty,
and judiciously winning or losing, I contrived to make it answer my
purpose,--until one day, going to a table which I was very much in
the practice of frequenting, and where no one was then engaged, I was
invited by a stranger to play. I accepted the invitation for a small
stake, and won very easily, so much so, that on commencing a new game I
offered to give him six, to place us more on an equality. He accepted it
eagerly, but it produced him no benefit; he played so badly, and managed
both his cue and mace so awkwardly--for I made no objection to his
changing them as often as he pleased--that, playing very carelessly, I
could not avoid beating him. We continued increasing the stakes every
successive game; money seemed of no value to him; he appeared to have
plenty, and lost it with a spirit that told me I had got hold of an
excellent subject, who could pay me well for beating him. I did not
wish to win too palpably, and therefore kept increasing the advantage I
yielded him, till it amounted to sixteen. He now proposed making the bet
ONE HUNDRED POUNDS, and that I should give him eighteen. His eagerness,
as well as the manner in which he handled his tools, convinced me of his
inexperience, and I accepted the proposal;--but, to my surprise, he won
the game. He laughed so heartily at the event, and conducted himself
so extravagantly, that I felt persuaded the thing was accidental. He
proposed doubling the stakes, which I refused; yet I agreed to play him
for the same sum as before, but giving him only fourteen. By some chance
he won again; and then I declined playing any more; but he pushed me so
hard, and offered to play the even game rather than I should give over,
that I was induced to yield. He declared he did not want my money, and
wished to give me an opportunity of recovering it. It was the depth of
artifice, and I discovered it too late. He won . . . and I had no money
to pay! One of the bystanders took part with him; my case did not invite
or interest any one to stand by me. I was treated with great indignity;
and though I gave up my watch and every article of value I possessed,
yet I was not allowed to depart without very ill usage. I had
transgressed the laws of gaming, by betting after I had ceased to be
able to pay; but I had so confidently felt that I had my antagonist in
my own power, that I considered the stake as my own as soon as the bet
was made. The injuries I received were very severe, and confined me to
my bed for several days.'(32)
(32) Confessions of a Gamester.
The splendid and fascinating game of Billiards seems to have been an
English invention; and it became greatly in vogue during the reign of
Louis XIV. of France, to whom it was recommended by his physicians as an
exercise after meals.
It is said that Chamillard, who played with the king, entirely owed
his political fortune to the skill which he displayed in this game.
Billiards has not as yet been placed, like skittles and bowls, under the
interdict of the police authorities, and it is difficult to see how they
could venture upon so tremendous an experiment. The game seems to be
more in vogue than ever, and doubtless heavy sums are lost and won at
it. Billiard matches have during the last three years become quite one
of the winter exhibitions, and particularly this season have the public
shown their taste for the game. Perhaps the extraordinary performances
of some of the first-class cueists have stirred up the shades of
Kentfield's days, his homely game of cannons off list cushions and
gently-played strength strokes; or by chance those that favour Marden's
style, his losing hazards and forcing half balls, have revived once
more, and we yearn with wonder to see the great spot strokes of the
present age, when as many red hazards can be scored in one break as were
made in olden times in an evening's play. At the present time Roberts,
sen., may claim the honour in the billiard world of having brought the
spot stroke to light: he has made no less than 104 consecutive hazards
in one break, and up to the present winter that wonderful performance
stood unparalleled. Cook, however, very recently in an exhibition match
with J. Bennett, scored the spot hazard no less than 119 times, making
388 off the balls, the biggest break on record. Such feats as these,
supplemented by the but little inferior play of Roberts, jun., and
Bennett, have done more than excite surprise, and have caused old heads
carefully to look into the style of play of 1869 and to ponder thereon.
It appears that they affirm, and not without reason, that much of the
success of the spot stroke arises from the position of the spot being
further from the top cushion than formerly, and by this means not
only is the angle of the striker's ball for position made easier, by a
greater scope for screw or side, but the mouth of the pockets themselves
are easier of access; and the chance of a wobble all but avoided.
Billiard players and table makers should meet and arrange a regular
standard size for table pockets and balls, with the spots at regulated
positions. We should then be able to compare merits with greater
certainty, and such terrible scores would not trouble the markers.
As a healthful exercise, and in its tendency to promote the physical
development of the body, the game of Billiards is unsurpassed; but it is
much to be regretted that it is generally-played in ill-ventilated and
crowded rooms, often reeking with the pestilential fumes of tobacco, and
not without the adjunct of frequent alcoholic potations. Moreover, there
can be no doubt that many modern instances of billiard sharping occur,
such as I have just quoted, in which the unwary are unscrupulously
'fleeced.' I know of several.
'NOT KNOWING YOUR MAN.'
A certain high military character sat down to play with a Russian
prince, who introduced loaded dice. The travelled Englishman lost every
bet; for the Russian never missed his seven or eleven, and modestly
threw only ten times. The supposed pigeon then took up the box with fair
dice; and, having learned to 'secure,'(33) called different mains at
pleasure; threw sixteen times; won all the aristocrat's money, and
wished him good night. Such is the effect of not knowing your man!
(33) This term means making sure of what you throw.
A BLIND GAMESTER.
John Metcalfe, much better known by the nickname of blind Jack of
Knaresborough, was a celebrity at Harrowgate during the first quarter
of the present century. This extraordinary man had been deprived of his
eyesight at so early a period that he retained no idea of either light
or vision; but his remaining faculties were so actively employed that
few persons in the full enjoyment of sight have surpassed him in the
execution of undertakings, which seemed particularly to require the
exercise of that faculty. He traversed the neighbourhood without a guide
or companion; surveyed tracts of country to plan and lay down roads,
where none had ever been before; contracted for the building of bridges,
and fulfilled his contracts without the assistance of another person,
either as architect or superintendent of the work; became a guide
to those who, possessing sight, could not find their way across the
neighbouring moors when covered with deep falls of snow and impenetrable
fogs; rode well, and followed the hounds with a zeal and spirit equal to
that of the most dashing horseman in the field, and, finally, played
at many games of chance, or skill, with a knowledge and ingenuity that
enabled him to come off victorious in many contests with persons eager
to try his ability or to prove their own.
Such a man was sure to attract notice in any place or neighbourhood,
but particularly at a place of general resort. Besides, he possessed
a facetious mode of talking, and on several occasions exercised a
practical sort of wit, which was equally certain of gaining patronage.
Visitors of the highest rank treated him with kindness, and even
familiarity; and as he never forgot himself, or trespassed upon those
who thus favoured him, he continued in fashion as long as he lived, and
terminated his singular career at more than 80 years of age.
Among his many exploits was the following. Various trials of his skill
and activity were proposed by gentlemen who offered to support their
opinions with their money. But Metcalfe had a determination of his own,
and refused taking a share in any of the ingenious proposals urged upon
him, until a country squire, the Nimrod of a neighbouring district,
submitted a plan which he expected would baffle all his manoeuvres.
He asked the blind man if he was willing to run 100 yards against his
favourite mare. The offer was immediately accepted--provided he might
CHOOSE THE GROUND, which should be an open space on the adjoining moor.
The stakes were deposited the same evening; and a fine level space being
selected, and the distance marked out with great exactness early the
following morning, the decision followed with little delay. The
party selected to ride against the blind man was much admired for
his horsemanship; and at the appointed time, every preparation being
completed, the signal was given and the race commenced. The horseman was
instantly far ahead, but before he could finish his stipulated distance
the fore feet of his hunter sank deep in a bog, from which, being unable
to extricate them, he came completely over, treating his rider with a
tremendous somerset. The loud shouts of the spectators announced to
the blind man that his expectations were realized. The turf showed no
apparent difference, and was sufficiently strong to carry a man with
safety,--perhaps it would have borne a horse going only at a moderate
pace, but at full speed his feet pierced the sod, and entangled him in
the hidden danger. Metcalfe passed his extended rival, terminated his
career, and won the race before those who had run to the prostrate
horseman could render him any assistance. Indeed, it was too late for
that purpose, he had finished his earthly course having ruptured a
vessel near the heart in his fall!
A NOBLE LORD AND A COMMONER, IN 1823.
A young and wealthy commoner, who seemed to vie with the pea-green in
the desperate folly of getting rid of a suddenly obtained fortune of
L130,000 in ready money, as fast as possible, and whose relish for the
society of legs, bullies, and fighting men was equally notorious, went
to the Fishmonger's Hall Club late one morning, much flushed with wine.
The well-lighted avenues directed him to the French Hazard table. There
was no play going on at the time, but at the entrance of this PIGEON,
who before had been DRAWN of a good round sum, the box and dice were
soon put in motion, and 'seven's the main, seven,' was promptly the cry.
A certain noble lord, who had been for years an experienced NURSE of the
dice, and who knew how to NICK the MAINS or THROW CRABS, as well as the
best leg in England, held the bow. The commoner commenced by backing the
noble lord IN. The noble lord threw OUT. He then backed the noble lord
OUT, and the noble lord threw in. He backed the noble lord OUT again,
who threw five to the main. The commoner betted the odds deeply at
the rate of three to two. The noble lord threw the FIVE. The commoner,
uneasy, changed about, and backed the noble lord IN for a large
stake,--the noble lord then threw OUT. The commoner now rose in a rage,
and insinuated broadly that he was cheated, robbed, and it could not be
fair play. Of course much indignation was shown by the noble lord, and
it was with difficulty that a fight was prevented; but his lordship,
nevertheless, condescended to demonstrate that he played his own money
at the time, and what he lost found its way into the bank, with which
'he was not at all connected.' This reasoning satisfied the suspicious
young commoner (poor easy man!); an apology was given; and peace was
restored.
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.
A party of players were assembled to throw for a stake, which was
enormous. It was, however, agreed that the LOWEST throw should win.
The players threw until one of them turned up two aces. All but one had
thrown, and shouts of applause greeted the lucky caster, when the last
who was to throw exclaimed--'Hold! I'll try and beat that.' . . .
Rattling the dice, he turned down the box on the table, and on lifting
it up displayed the two dice ONE UPON THE TOP OF THE OTHER, and both
aces! He was therefore declared the winner.(34)
(34) Menageana.
A TENDER MOTHER.
A French lady had an only child, a handsome young man, much addicted
to gaming. He lost at one sitting L40,000, and being destitute of other
resources, he joined a company of strolling players. They chanced
some time afterwards to pass a short time at Worcester, near which
his mother, who was considerably advanced in years, resided. The lady,
though highly displeased with her son's life, yet, hearing of his
performance, could not resist a wish to see him; and for this purpose
she went thither incog. He supported the principal character in 'The
Gamester.'
The feelings of the mother were so excited at the passages which closely
applied to her son's conduct, that she exclaimed aloud, 'Ay, there he
is--the--the beggar--the scoundrel! Always the same--no change in him!'
The delusion so increased at the fifth act, when Beverley lifts his
hand to kill the child, that the lady in a most distressing tone cried
out--'Wretch that thou art, don't kill the child--I'll take it home with
me!'
TWO MASTERS OF THE ART.
A Frenchman who had become notorious for the unerring certainty with
which he won from all who ventured to play with him, at length found
himself unable to induce persons to sit down to the table with him,
there being not the slightest chance of winning against his play. After
being thus idle for some time, an Englishman, who had heard of his
triumphs, expressed his readiness to enter the lists against him. They
sat down, and played for three hours without intermission, and at the
end of that time were exactly in the same position as when they begun.
They at length paused to take some refreshment. 'Sare,' said the
Frenchman, in a sort of whisper, to a party who accompanied his
antagonist, 'your friend is a very clever man at de cards--deuced
clever, sare.' 'He is a very clever fellow,' observed the Englishman. 'I
shall try him again,' said Monsieur; and as he made the observation
he proceeded to the room in which they had been playing, and which
was fixed on as the scene of their continued contest. He had scarcely
quitted the place when the other made his appearance, and observed that
the Frenchman was the most skilful player he had ever met with. The
parties again met, and the cards were again produced. The game was
renewed at eleven o'clock, and continued without intermission till
six o'clock on the following morning, at which time they found, to the
surprise of each other, that they were still as they began. 'Sare,'
said the Frenchman, 'you are the best player I ever met with.' 'And you,
Monsieur,' returned the other, 'are the only gentleman I ever played
with, from whom I could win nothing.' 'Indeed, sare!' said Monsieur,
hesitatingly. 'It is a fact, I assure you.' 'Sare, I am quite astonished
at your skill.' 'And I'm not less so at yours, Monsieur.' 'You're de
most skilfullest man at de cards in England.' 'Not while you are in it,
Monsieur,' replied the Englishman, with a smile. 'Sare, I CHEATED, and
yet could not win from you!' remarked the Frenchman, hurriedly and with
much emphasis, feeling it impossible any longer to conceal his surprise
at the circumstance of being unable to play a winning game with the
Englishman. 'And, Monsieur, I did the same thing with you, and yet you
are no loser!' remarked the other, with corresponding energy of tone.
The problem was thus solved: both had been cheating during the whole
night, and were exactly equal in dexterity, both being unconscious of
the dishonest practices of each other; and the result was that each got
up from the table with the same amount of money as he had when he sat
down. The cheats cordially shook hands, apparently much gratified that
they had at length ascertained how it had happened that neither could
pluck the other.