“Craps” is a game played with dice, which is often popular in the
men’s coat and smoking-rooms before and during formal receptions,
balls, recitals, etcetera. It should not be imagined, however,
that “craps” is a sport for men only; on the contrary, smart
women are enthusiastically taking up this sport in numerous
localities, and many an affair which started as a dinner party or
a musicale has ended in a crap game, with all the guests seated
in an excited circle on the floor, contributing to the host’s
efforts to make expenses for the evening.
It is in connection with these “mixed” games, however, that most
of the more serious questions of “craps” etiquette arise. If, for
example, you are a young man desirous of “shooting craps” with
your grandmother, the correct way of indicating your desire when
you meet the old lady in a public place is for you to remove your
hat deferentially and say “Shoot a nickel, Grandmother?” If she
wishes to play she will reply “Shoot, boy!” and you should then
select some spot suitable for the game and assist her, if she
wishes your aid, to kneel on the ground. It might be an added
mark of gentility to offer her your handkerchief or coat upon
which to rest her knees.
You should then take out the dice and “shoot.” Your grandmother
will look at your “throw” and say, “Oh, boy! He fives—he fives—a
three and a two—never make a five—come on, you baby seven!” You
should then take up the dice again and shake them in your right
hand while your grandmother chants, “A four and a three—a four
and a two—dicety dice, and an old black joe—come on, you SEVEN!”
You should then again “shoot.” This time, as you have thrown a
six and a one, your grandmother will then exclaim, “He sevens—the
boy sevens—come on to grandmother, dice—talk to the nice old
lady—Phoebe for grandma, dice, for grandpa needs a new pair of
shoes—shoot a dime!”
She will then “throw,” and so the game will go on until the old
lady evidences a desire to stop, or, possibly, until either you
or she are “cleaned out.” In this latter case, however, it would
be a customary act of courtesy towards an older person for you to
offer to shoot your grandmother for her shawl or her side combs,
thus giving her several more chances to win back the money she
has lost. It should be recommended that young men never make a
mistake in going a little out of their way on occasion to make
life more pleasant and agreeable for the aged.