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diff --git a/531-h/531-h.htm b/531-h/531-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..16678a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/531-h/531-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10751 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Gaming Table, Vol. II by Andrew Steinmetz + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims, by +Andrew Steinmetz + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims + Volume II (of II) + +Author: Andrew Steinmetz + +Release Date: November 29, 2009 [EBook #531] +Last Updated: February 6, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GAMING TABLE *** + + + + +Produced by Mike Lough, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE GAMING TABLE: + </h1> + <h2> + ITS VOTARIES AND VICTIMS, + </h2> + <h3> + In all Times and Countries, especially in England and in France. + </h3> + <h4> + IN TWO VOLUMES.—VOL. II. + </h4> + <h2> + By Andrew Steinmetz, Esq., + </h2> + <blockquote> + <p> + Of The Middle Temple, Barrister-At-Law; First-Class Extra Certificate + School Of Musketry, Hythe; Late Officer Instructor Musketry, The Queens + Own Light Infantry Militia. + </p> + <p> + Author Of 'The History Of The Jesuits,' 'Japan And Her People,' 'The + Romance Of Duelling,' &C., &C. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> 'The sharp, the blackleg, and the knowing one,<br /> Livery or + lace, the self-same circle, run; <br /> The same the passion, end and means + the same—<br /> Dick and his Lordship differ but in name.' <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + TO HIS GRACE + </p> + <p> + The Duke of Wellington, K.G. THIS WORK IS DEDICATED, WITH PERMISSION, BY + HIS GRACE'S MOST DEVOTED SERVANT + </p> + <p> + THE AUTHOR. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <h4> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> THE GAMING TABLE. </a> + </h4> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> + </td> + <td> + CHEVALIERS D'INDUSTRIE, OR POLITE SHARPERS + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. </a> + </td> + <td> + PROFESSIONAL GAMESTERS AND THEIR FRAUDS + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. </a> + </td> + <td> + ANECDOTES OF THE PASSIONS AND VICISSITUDES OF GAMESTERS + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. </a> + </td> + <td> + ATROCITIES, DUELS, SUICIDES, AND EXECUTION OF GAMBLERS + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. </a> + </td> + <td> + ODDITIES AND WITTICISMS OF GAMBLERS + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE GAMING CLUBS + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. </a> + </td> + <td> + DOINGS IN GAMING HOUSES + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE DOCTRINE OF PROBABILITIES APPLIED TO GAMBLING + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE HISTORY OF DICE AND CARDS + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. </a> + </td> + <td> + PIQUET, BASSET, FARO, HAZARD, PASSE-DIX, PUT, CROSS AND PILE, + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. </a> + </td> + <td> + COCK-FIGHTING + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE TURF, HISTORICAL, SOCIAL, MORAL + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. </a> + </td> + <td> + FORTUNE-TELLING BY CARDS (FOR LADIES) + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. </a> + </td> + <td> + AMUSING CARD TRICKS.(86) + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h1> + THE GAMING TABLE. + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. CHEVALIERS D'INDUSTRIE, OR POLITE SHARPERS. + </h2> + <p> + Chevaliers d'industrie, or polite and accomplished sharpers, have always + existed in every city, from the earliest times to the present. The + ordinary progress of these interesting gentlemen is as follows. Their + debut is often difficult, and many of them are stopped short in their + career. They only succeed by means of great exertion and severe trials; + but they endure everything in order to be tolerated or permitted to + exercise their calling. To secure credit they ally themselves with men of + respectability, or those who pass for such. When they have no titles they + fabricate them; and few persons dispute their claims. They are found + useful for the pleasures of society, the expenses of which they often pay—at + the cost of the dupes they make in the world. The income of chevaliers + d'industrie is at first derived from those inexperienced persons whom they + get in their clutches by means of every kind of enticement, in order to + ruin them some day—if they have any 'expectations' or are likely to + be rich; or in order to make accomplices of them if they have only + aptitudes for the purpose. After having led them from error to error, + after suggesting to them all sorts of wants and vices, they make them + gamble, if they are of age; they hold up play to them as an inexhaustible + source of wealth. + </p> + <p> + The 'protector' next hands over his 'young friends' to 'executioners,' who + fleece them for the common benefit of the confederates. They do not always + wait for the coming of age of their young dupes in order to strike the + grand 'stroke.' When they find that the father of a family shudders at the + idea of a public scandal, they immolate their victim at once—for + fear lest he should escape from their hands. Of course they are always + open to 'capitulate'—to come to terms; and if the aid of the law is + invoked they give in discreetly. + </p> + <p> + About a century ago there flourished at Paris one of these adventurers, + who made a great noise and did a vast amount of evil. This man of a + thousand faces, this Proteus, as great a corrupter as he was corrupted, + changed his name, his quarters, and field of operations, according to the + exigences of business. Although a man of ardent temperament and + inconceivable activity, his cold-blooded rascality was never in a hurry. + He could wait; he could bide his time. Taking in, at a glance, all the + requirements of a case, and seeing through all its difficulties, he worked + out his scheme with the utmost patience and consummated his crime with + absolute security. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes he gave a concert for amateurs, elegant suppers for gay ladies, + and special soirees for the learned and the witty. He was not particular + as to the means of doing business; thus he trafficked in everything,—for + the sale of a living, or the procuration of a mistress—for he had + associates in all ranks, among all professions of men. + </p> + <p> + He had twenty Faro tables in operation every night, whilst his emissaries + were on the watch for new arrivals, and for those who had recently come + into property. + </p> + <p> + In general, rogues soon betray themselves by some stupid bungle; but such + was not the case with this man; he defended himself, as it were, on all + sides, and always kept himself in position so as to oppose to each of his + vices the proof positive of the contrary virtues. Thus, if accused of + usury, he could prove that he had lent, without interest, considerable + sums of money. Cowardly and base in a tete-a-tete, he was bold and + redoubtable in public; those who had made him tremble in secret were then + compelled to acknowledge him a man of courage. Even his more than + suspected probity was defended by such as believed themselves his + depositaries, whereas they were, in point of fact, only receivers of + stolen property. + </p> + <p> + Affable, insinuating to a degree, he might be compared to those brigands + of Egypt who embraced their victims in order to strangle them.(1) He never + showed more devotedness than when he meditated some perfidy, nor more + assurance than when convicted of the rascality. Playing fast and loose + with honour and the laws, he was sure to find, when threatened by the arm + of justice, the female relatives of the judges themselves taking his part + and doing their best to 'get him off.' Such was this extraordinary + chevalier d'industrie, who might have gone on with his diabolical + perpetrations had he not, at last, attempted too much, failing in the + grandest stroke he had ever meditated—and yet a vulgar fraud—when + he was convicted, branded, and sent to the galleys.(2) + </p> + <p> + (1) Senec., Epist. Ii. (2) Dusaulx, De la Passion du Jeu. + </p> + <p> + The following narrative elucidates a still more modern phase of this + elegant 'industry.' My authority is M. Robert-Houdin. + </p> + <p> + CAUGHT IN A TRAP. + </p> + <p> + M. Olivier de —— was a dissipated young gentleman. His family + was one of the oldest and most respectable of the country, and deservedly + enjoyed the highest consideration. M. Olivier de ——, his + father, was not rich, and therefore could not do much for his son; the + consequence was that owing to his outrageous prodigality the son was + sorely pinched for means to keep up his position; he exhausted his credit, + and was soon overwhelmed with debt. Among the companions of his + dissipation was a young man whose abundant means filled him with + admiration and envy; he lived like a prince and had not a single creditor. + One day he asked his friend to explain the mystery of the fact that, + without possessing any fortune, he could gratify all his tastes and + fancies, whilst he himself, with certain resources, was compelled to + submit to privations, still getting into debt. + </p> + <p> + Chauvignac—such was the name of the friend thus addressed—was + a card-sharper, and he instantly seized the opportunity to make something + out of the happy disposition of this modern prodigal son, this scion of + gentility. With the utmost frankness he explained to the young man his + wonderful method of keeping his pockets full of money, and showed that + nothing could be easier than for Olivier to go and do likewise in his + terrible condition;—in short, on one hand there were within his + grasp, riches, pleasure, all manner of enjoyment; on the other, pitiless + creditors, ruin, misery, and contempt. The tempter, moreover, offered to + initiate his listener in his infallible method of getting rich. In his + frame of mind Olivier yielded to the temptation, with the full + determination, if not to get money by cheating at cards, at any rate to + learn the method which might serve as a means of self-defence should he + not think proper to use it for attack—such was the final argument + suggested by the human Mephistopheles to his pupil. + </p> + <p> + Taking Olivier to his house, he showed him a pack of cards. 'Now here is a + pack of cards,' he said; 'there seems to be nothing remarkable about it, + does there?' Olivier examined the pack and declared that the cards did not + appear to differ in the least from all others. 'Well,' said Chauvignac, + 'nevertheless they have been subjected to a preparation called biseautage, + or having one end of the cards made narrower than the other. This + disposition enables us to remove from the pack such and such cards and + then to class them in the necessary order so that they may get into the + hand of the operator.' Chauvignac then proceeded to apply his precepts by + an example, and although the young man had no particular qualification for + the art of legerdemain, he succeeded at once to admiration in a game at + Ecarte, for he had already mastered the first process of cheating. Having + thus, as he thought, sufficiently compromised his victim, Chauvignac left + him to his temptations, and took leave of him. + </p> + <p> + Two days afterwards the professor returned to his pupil and invited him to + accompany him on a pleasure trip. Olivier excused himself on account of + his desperate condition—one of his creditors being in pursuit of him + for a debt of one thousand francs. 'Is that all?' said Chauvignac; and + pulling out his pocket-book he added,—'Here's a bank-note; you can + repay me to-morrow.' 'Why, man, you are mad!' exclaimed Olivier. 'Be it + so,' said Chauvignac; 'and in my madness I give you credit for another + thousand-franc bank-note to go and get thirty thousand francs which are + waiting for you.' 'Now, do explain yourself, for you are driving ME mad.' + 'Nothing more easy. Here is the fact,' said Chauvignac. 'M. le Comte de + Vandermool, a wealthy Belgian capitalist, a desperate gamester if ever + there was one, and who can lose a hundred thousand francs without much + inconvenience, is now at Boulogne, where he will remain a week. This + millionnaire must be thinned a little. Nothing is easier. One of my + friends and confreres, named Chaffard, is already with the count to + prepare the way. We have only now to set to work. You are one of us—that's + agreed—and in a few days you will return, to satisfy your creditors + and buy your mistress a shawl.' + </p> + <p> + 'Stop a bit. You are going too fast. Wait a little. I haven't as yet said + Yes,' replied Olivier. 'I don't want your Yes now; you will say it at + Boulogne. For the present go and pay your bill. We set out in two hours; + the post-horses are already ordered; we shall start from my house: be + punctual.' + </p> + <p> + The party reached Boulogne and put up at the Hotel de l'Univers. On their + arrival they were informed that no time was to be lost, as the count + talked of leaving next day. The two travellers took a hasty dinner, and at + once proceeded to the apartment of the Belgian millionnaire. Chaffard, who + had preceded them, introduced them as two of his friends, whose property + was situated in the vicinity of Boulogne. + </p> + <p> + M. le Comte de Vandermool was a man about fifty years of age, with an + open, candid countenance. He wore several foreign decorations. He received + the two gentlemen with charming affability; he did more; he invited them + to spend the evening with him. Of course the invitation was accepted. When + the conversation began to flag, the count proposed a game—which was + also, of course, very readily agreed to by the three comperes. + </p> + <p> + While the table was prepared, Chauvignac gave his young friend two packs + of cards, to be substituted for those which should be furnished by the + count. Ecarte was to be the game, and Olivier was to play, the two other + associates having pretended to know nothing about the game, and saying + that they would content themselves by betting with each other. Of course + Olivier was rather surprised at this declaration, but he soon understood + by certain signs from Chauvignac that this reservation was intended to do + away with the count's suspicions, in case of their success. + </p> + <p> + The count, enormously rich as he was, would only play for bank-notes. + 'Metal smells bad in a room,' he said. The novice, at first confused at + being a party to the intended roguery, followed the dictates of his + conscience and, neglecting the advantages of his hands, trusted merely to + chance. The result was that the only thousand-franc bank-note he had was + speedily transferred to the count. At that moment Chauvignac gave him a + significant look, and this, together with the desire to retrieve his loss, + induced him to put into execution the culpable manoeuvres which his friend + had taught him. His work was of the easiest; the count was so + short-sighted that he had to keep his nose almost upon the cards to see + them. Chance now turned, as might be expected, and thousand-franc + bank-notes soon accumulated in the hands of Olivier, who, intoxicated by + this possession, worked away with incredible ardour. Moreover, the count + was not in the least out of humour at losing so immensely; on the + contrary, he was quite jovial; indeed, from his looks he might have been + supposed to be the winner. At length, however, he said with a smile, + taking a pinch from his golden snuff-box—'I am evidently not in + vein. I have lost eighty thousand francs. I see that I shall soon be in + for one hundred thousand. But it is proper, my dear sir, that I should say + I don't make a habit of losing more than this sum at a sitting; and if it + must be so, I propose to sup before losing my last twenty thousand francs. + Perhaps this will change my vein. I think you will grant me this + indulgence.' The proposal was agreed to. + </p> + <p> + Olivier, almost out of his senses at the possession of eighty thousand + francs, could not resist the desire of expressing his gratitude to + Chauvignac, which he did, grasping his hand with emotion and leading him + into a corner of the room. + </p> + <p> + Alas! the whole thing was only an infamous conspiracy to ruin the young + man. The Belgian capitalist, this count apparently so respectable, was + only an expert card-sharper whom Chauvignac had brought from Paris to play + out the vile tragi-comedy, the denouement of which would be the ruin of + the unfortunate Olivier. + </p> + <p> + At the moment when the latter left the card-table to go to Chauvignac, the + pretended millionnaire changed the pack of cards they had been using for + two other packs. + </p> + <p> + Supper went off very pleasantly. They drank very moderately, for the head + had to be kept cool for what had to follow. They soon sat down again at + the card-table. 'Now,' said the Parisian card-shaper, on resuming his + seat, 'I should like to end the matter quickly: I will stake the twenty + thousand francs in a lump.' + </p> + <p> + Olivier, confident of success after his previous achievement, readily + assented; but, alas, the twenty thousand francs of which he made sure was + won by his adversary. + </p> + <p> + Forty thousand francs went in like manner. Olivier, breathless, utterly + prostrate, knew not what to do. All his manoeuvres were practised in vain; + he could give himself none but small cards. His opponent had his hands + full of trumps, and HE dealt them to him! In his despair he consulted + Chauvignac by a look, and the latter made a sign to him to go on. The + wretched young man went on, and lost again. Bewildered, beside himself, he + staked fabulous sums to try and make up for his losses, and very soon + found, in his turn, that he owed his adversary one hundred thousand + francs(L4166)! + </p> + <p> + At this point the horrible denouement commenced. The pretended count + stopped, and crossing his arms on his breast, said sternly—'Monsieur + Olivier de ——, you must be very rich to stake so glibly such + enormous sums. Of course you know your fortune and can square yourself + with it; but, however rich you may be, you ought to know that it is not + sufficient to lose a hundred thousand francs, but that you must pay it. + Besides, I have given you the example. Begin, therefore, by putting down + the sum I have won from you; after which we can go on.' . . . + </p> + <p> + 'Nothing can be more proper, sir,' stammered out young Olivier, 'I am + ready to satisfy you; but, after all, you know that . . . . + </p> + <p> + gaming debts . . . . my word . . . .' + </p> + <p> + 'The d—l! sir,' said the pretended count, giving the table a violent + blow with his fist—'Why do you talk to me about your WORD. Gad! You + are well entitled to appeal to the engagements of honour! Well! We have + now to play another game on this table, and we must speak out plainly. + Monsieur Olivier de ——, you are a rogue . . . Yes, a rogue! + The cards we have been using are biseautees and YOU brought them hither.' + </p> + <p> + 'Sir! . . You insult me!' said Olivier. + </p> + <p> + 'Indeed? Well, sir, that astonishes me!' replied the false Belgian + ironically. + </p> + <p> + 'That is too much, sir. I demand satisfaction, and that on the very + instant. Do you understand me? Let us go out at once.' + </p> + <p> + 'No! no! We must end this quarrel here, sir. Look here—your two + friends shall be your "seconds;" I am now going to send for MINE.' + </p> + <p> + The card-sharper, who had risen at these words, rang the bell violently. + His own servant entered. 'Go,' said he, 'to the Procureur de Roi, and + request him to come here on a very important matter. Be as quick as you + can.' + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, sir, be merciful! Don't ruin me!' exclaimed the wretched Olivier; 'I + will do what you like.' At these words, the sharper told his servant to + wait behind the door, and to execute his order if he should hear nothing + to the contrary in ten minutes. + </p> + <p> + 'And now, sir,' continued the sharper, turning to Olivier, 'and now, sir, + for the business between you and me. These cards have been substituted by + you in the place of those which I supplied . . . You must do them up, + write your name upon the cover, and seal it with the coat of arms on your + ring.' + </p> + <p> + Olivier looked first at Chauvignac and then at Chaffard, but both the + fellows only made signs to him to resign himself to the circumstances. He + did what was ordered. + </p> + <p> + 'That is not all, sir,' added the false Belgian; 'I have fairly won money + from you and have a right to demand a guarantee for payment. You must draw + me short bills for the sum of one hundred thousand francs.' + </p> + <p> + As the wretched young man hesitated to comply with this demand, his + pitiless creditor rose to ring the bell. + </p> + <p> + 'Don't ring, sir, don't ring,' said Olivier, 'I'll sign.' + </p> + <p> + He signed, and the villany was consummated. Olivier returned to his family + and made an humble avowal of his fault and his engagements. His venerable + father received the terrible blow with resignation, and paid the 100,000 + francs, estimating his honour far above that amount of money.(3) + </p> + <p> + (3) This narrative is condensed from the account of the affair by + Robert-Hondin, Tricherics des Grecs devoilees. + </p> + <p> + AN ATTORNEY 'DONE' BY A GAMBLER. + </p> + <p> + A turfite and gambler, represented under the letters of Mr H—e, + having lost all his money at Doncaster and the following York Meeting, + devised a plan, with his coadjutor, to obtain the means for their + departure from York, which, no doubt, will be considered exceedingly + ingenious. + </p> + <p> + He had heard of an attorney in the town who was very fond of Backgammon; + and on this simple piece of information an elaborate plan was concocted. + Mr H—e feigned illness, went to bed, and sent for a large quantity + of tartar emetic, which he took. After he had suffered the operation of + the first dose he sent for a doctor, who pronounced him, of course, very + languid and ill; and not knowing the cause, ordered him more medicine, + which the patient took good care not to allow to stay on his stomach. + </p> + <p> + On the second day he asked the doctor, with great gravity, if he + considered him in danger, adding, 'because he had never made a WILL to + bequeath his property.' The doctor replied, 'No, not in absolute danger, + but there was no harm in making a WILL.' + </p> + <p> + The attorney, accordingly, was sent for—of course the very man + wished for—the lover of Backgammon before mentioned. The good man + came; he took the 'instructions,' and drew up the last will and testament + of the ruined turfite, who left (in the will) about L50,000, which no man + ever heard of, living or dead. + </p> + <p> + The BUSINESS being done, the patient said that if he had a moment's + relaxation he thought he should rally and overcome the malady. The poor + lawyer said if he could in any way contribute to his comfort he should be + happy. The offer was embraced by observing that if he could sit up in bed—but + he was afraid he was not able—a hit at Backgammon would be a great + source of amusement. + </p> + <p> + The lawyer, like all adepts in such matters, was only too willing to catch + at the idea; the board was brought. + </p> + <p> + Of course the man who had L50,000 to leave behind could not be expected to + play 'for love;' and so when Mr H—e proposed 'a pound a hit or + treble a gammon,' the lawyer not only thought it reasonable, but, + conscious of his power in the game, eagerly accepted the terms of playing. + They played; but the lawyer was gammoned almost incessantly, till he lost + L50. Then H—e proposed 'double or quits to L1000,'—thereupon + the poor lawyer, believing that fortune could not always forsake him, said + he had but L2000 in the world, but that he would set the L1000. He lost; + and became almost frantic. In the midst of his excessive grief, H—e + said, 'You have a HORSE, what is it worth?' L50 was the answer. 'Well, + well, you may win all back now, and I'll set L50 on your horse.' + </p> + <p> + They began again. Lost! 'You have a COW in your paddock, haven't you? + What's that worth?' asked Mr H—e. The attorney said L12. 'Well, I'll + set that sum by way of giving you a chance.' The game proceeded, and the + poor lawyer, equally unfortunate, raved and swore he had lost his last + shilling. 'No, no!' said H—e,' you have not: I saw a HAY-RICK in + your ground. It is of no use now that the horse and cow are gone—what + is that worth?' L15, replied the attorney, with a sigh. 'I set L15 then,' + said H—e. + </p> + <p> + This seemed to be 'rather too much' for the lawyer. The loss of the + hay-rick—like the last straw laid on the overladen camel's back—staggered + him. Besides, he thought he saw—as doubtless he did see—H—e + twisting his fingers round one of the dice. Up he started at once, and + declared that he was cheated! + </p> + <p> + Thereupon the sick man forgot his sickness, jumped out of bed, and gave + the lawyer a regular drubbing, got the cheque for the L2000,—but the + horse, cow, and hay he said he would leave 'until further orders.' + </p> + <p> + A VERY CURIOUS STORY. + </p> + <p> + An Archbishop of Canterbury was once on a tour, when a genteel man, + apparently in earnest conversation, though alone in a wood, attracted his + notice. His Grace made up to him, and, after a little previous + conversation, asked him what he was about. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Stranger. 'I am at play.' + Archbishop. 'At play? With whom? I see nobody.' + Sir. 'I own, sir, my antagonist is not visible: I am playing + with God.' + Abp. 'At what game, pray, sir?' + Str. 'At Chess.' + Abp. 'Do you play for anything?' + Str. 'Certainly.' + Abp. 'You cannot have any chance, as your adversary must be so + superior to you.' + Str. 'He takes no advantage, but plays merely as a man.' + Abp. 'When you win or lose, how do you settle accounts?' + Str. 'Very exactly and punctually.' + Abp. 'Indeed! Pray, how stands your game now?' + Str. 'There! I have just lost!' + Abp. 'How much have you lost?' + Str. 'Fifty guineas.' + Abp. 'How do you manage to pay it? Does God take your money?' + Str. 'No! The poor are his treasurers. He always sends some + worthy person to receive it, and you are at present his + purse-bearer.' +</pre> + <p> + Saying this, the stranger put fifty guineas into his Grace's hand, and + retired, adding—'I shall play no more to-day.' + </p> + <p> + The prelate was delighted; though he could not tell what to make of this + extraordinary man. The guineas were all good; and the archbishop applied + them to the use of the poor, as he had been directed. + </p> + <p> + The archbishop, on his return, stopped at the same town, and could not + help going in search of the chess-player, whom he found engaged as before, + when the following dialogue ensued:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Abp. 'How has the chance stood since we met before?' + Str. 'Sometimes for me—sometimes against me. I have lost and + won.' + Abp. 'Are you at play now?' + Str. 'Yes, sir. We have played several games to-day.' + Abp. 'Who wins?' + Str. 'The advantage is on my side. The game is just over. I + have a fine stroke—check-mate—there it is.' + Abp. 'How much have you won?' + Str. 'Five hundred guineas.' + Abp. 'That is a large sum. How are you to be paid?' + Str. 'God always sends some good rich man when I win, and YOU + are the person. He is remarkably punctual on these occasions.' +</pre> + <p> + The archbishop had received a considerable sum on that day, as the + stranger knew; and so, producing a pistol by way of receipt, he compelled + the delivery of it. His Grace now discovered that he had been the dupe of + a thief; and though he had greatly bruited his first adventure, he + prudently kept his own counsel in regard to the last. + </p> + <p> + Such is the tale. Se non e vero e ben trovato. + </p> + <p> + SKITTLE SHARPERS. + </p> + <p> + 'I know a respectable tradesman,' says a writer in Cassell's Magazine—'I + know him now, for he lives in the house he occupied at the time of my tale—who + was sent for to see a French gentleman at a tavern, on business connected + with the removal of this gentleman's property from one of the London + docks. The business, as explained by the messenger, promising to be + profitable, he of course promptly obeyed the summons, and during his walk + found that his conductor had once been in service in France. This + delighted Mr Chase—the name by which I signify the tradesman—for + he, too, had once so lived in France; and by the time he reached the + tavern he had talked himself into a very good opinion of his new patron. + The French gentleman was very urbane, gave Mr Chase his instructions, let + him understand expense was not to be studied, and, as he was at lunch, + would not be satisfied unless the tradesman sat down with him. This was a + great honour for the latter, as he found his employer was a baron. Well, + the foreigner was disposed to praise everything English; he was glad he + had come to live in London—Paris was nothing to it; they had nothing + in France like the English beer, with which, in the exuberance of his + hospitality, he filled and refilled Mr Chase's glass; but that which + delighted him above all that he had seen "vos de leetle game vid de ball—vot + you call—de—de—aha! de skittel." Mr Chase assented that + it was a very nice game certainly; and the French gentleman seeming by + this time to have had quite enough beer, insisted, before they went to the + docks—which was essential—that they should see just one game + played. + </p> + <p> + 'As he insisted on paying Mr Chase for all the time consumed with him, and + as his servant, of course, could not object, the party adjourned to the + "Select Subscription Ground" at once. In the ground there was a quiet, + insignificant-looking little man, smoking a cigar; and as they were so + few, he was asked to assist, which, after considerable hesitation and many + apologies for his bad play, he did. The end is of course guessed. The + French gentleman was a foolish victim, with more money than wits, who + backed himself to do almost impossible feats, when it was evident he could + not play at all, and laid sovereigns against the best player, who was the + little stranger, doing the easiest. What with the excitement, and what + with the beer, which was probably spiced with some unknown relish a little + stronger than nutmeg, Mr Chase could not help joining in winning the + foreign gentleman's money; it seemed no harm, he had so much of it. + </p> + <p> + 'By a strange concurrence of events, it so happened that by random throws + the Frenchman sometimes knocked all the pins down at a single swoop, + though he clearly could not play—Mr Chase was sure of that—while + the skilful player made every now and then one of the blunders to which + the best players are liable. That the tradesman lost forty sovereigns will + be easily understood; and did his tale end here it would have differed so + little from a hundred others as scarcely to deserve telling; but it will + surprise many, as it did me, to learn that he then walked to and from his + own house—a distance of precisely a mile each way—fetched a + bill for thirty pounds, which a customer had recently paid him, got it + discounted, went back to the skittle-ground, and, under the same malignant + star, lost the whole. + </p> + <p> + 'It was the only case in my experience of the work going on smoothly after + such a break. I never could account for it, nor could Mr Chase. Great was + the latter's disgust, on setting the police to work, to find that the + French nobleman, his servant, and the quiet stranger, were all dwellers + within half a mile or so of his own house, and slightly known to him—men + who had trusted, and very successfully, to great audacity and + well-arranged disguise.' + </p> + <p> + A vast deal of gambling still goes on with skittles all over the country. + At a place not ten miles from London, I am told that as much as two + thousand pounds has been seen upon the table in a single 'alley,' or place + of play. The bets were, accordingly, very high. The instances revealed by + exposure at the police-courts give but a faint idea of the extent of + skittle sharping. + </p> + <p> + Amidst such abuses of the game, it can scarcely surprise us that the + police have been recently directed to prohibit all playing at skittles and + bowls. However much we may regret the interference with popular pastimes, + in themselves unobjectionable, it is evident that their flagrant abuse + warrants the most stringent measures in order to prevent their constantly + repeated and dismal consequences. Even where money was not played for, + pots of beer were the wager—leading, in many instances, to + intoxication, or promoting this habit, which is the cause of so much + misery among the lower orders. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. PROFESSIONAL GAMESTERS AND THEIR FRAUDS. + </h2> + <p> + A gambling house at the end of the last century was conducted by the + following officials:— + </p> + <p> + 1. A Commissioner,—who was always a proprietor; who looked in of a + night, and audited the week's account with two other proprietors. + </p> + <p> + 2. A Director,—who superintended the room. + </p> + <p> + 3. An Operator,—who dealt the cards at the cheating game called + Faro. + </p> + <p> + 4. Two Croupiers, or crow-pees, as they were vulgarly called, whose duty + it was to watch the cards and gather or rake in the money for the bank. + </p> + <p> + 5. Two Puffs,—who had money given to them to decoy others to play. + </p> + <p> + 6. A Clerk,—who was a check on the Puffs, to see that they sank none + of the money given to them to play with. + </p> + <p> + 7. A Squib,—who was a puff of a lower rank, serving at half salary, + whilst learning to deal. + </p> + <p> + 8. A Flasher,—to swear how often the bank had been stripped by lucky + players. + </p> + <p> + 9. A Dunner,—who went about to recover money lost at play. + </p> + <p> + 10. A Waiter,—to fill out wine, snuff candles, and attend the room. + </p> + <p> + 11. An Attorney,—who was generally a Newgate solicitor. + </p> + <p> + 12. A Captain,—who was to fight any gentleman who might be peevish + at losing his money. + </p> + <p> + 13. An Usher,—who lighted the gentlemen up and down stairs, and gave + the word to the porter. + </p> + <p> + 14. A Porter,—who was generally a soldier of the Foot Guards. + </p> + <p> + 15. An Orderly-man,—who walked up and down the outside of the door, + to give notice to the porter, and alarm the house at the approach of the + constables. + </p> + <p> + 16. A Runner,—who was to get intelligence of the Justices' meetings. + </p> + <p> + 17. Link Boys, Coachmen, Chairmen, Drawers, and others, who brought the + first intelligence of Justices' meetings, of constables going out, at half + a guinea reward. + </p> + <p> + 18. Common Bail, Affidavit Men, Ruffians, Bravos, Assassins, &c. &c. + </p> + <p> + It may be proper to remark that the above list of officials was only + calculated for gambling houses of an inferior order. In these it is + evident that the fear of interruption and the necessity for precaution + presided over the arrangements. There were others, however, which seemed + to defy law, to spurn at justice, and to remain secure, in every way, by + the 'respectability' of their frequenters. These were houses supported at + an amazing expense—within sight of the palace—which were open + every night and all night—where men of the first rank were to be + found gambling away immense sums of money, such as no man, whatever his + fortune might be, could sustain. 'What, then,' says a writer at the time, + 'are the consequences? Why, that the UNDONE part of them sell their VOTES + for bread, and the successful give them for honours. + </p> + <p> + 'He who has never seen the gamblers' apartments in some of the magnificent + houses in the neighbourhood of St James's, has never seen the most horrid + sight that the imagination of a thinking man can conceive. + </p> + <p> + 'A new pack of cards is called for at every deal, and the "old" ones are + then thrown upon the floor, and in such an immense quantity, that the + writer of this letter has seen a very large room nearly ANKLE-DEEP, in the + greatest part of it, by four o'clock in the morning! Judge, then, to what + height they must have risen by daylight.' + </p> + <p> + It is a melancholy truth, but confirmed by the history of all nations, + that the most polite and refined age of a kingdom is never the most + virtuous; not, indeed, that any such compliment can be paid to that gross + age, but still it was refined compared with the past. The distinctions of + personal merit being but little regarded—in the low moral tone that + prevailed—there needed but to support a certain 'figure' in life + (managed by the fashionable tailor)(4), to be conversant with a few + etiquettes of good breeding and sentiments of modern or current honour, in + order to be received with affability and courteous attention in the + highest circles. The vilest sharper, having once gained admission, was + sure of constant entertainment, for nothing formed a greater cement of + union than the spirit of HIGH GAMING. There being so little cognizance + taken of the good qualities of the heart in fashionable assemblies, no + wonder that amid the medley of characters to be found in these places the + 'sharper' of polite address should gain too easy an admission. + </p> + <p> + (4) + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'How shalt THOU to Caesar's hall repair? + For, ah! no DAMAGED coat can enter there!' + + BEATTIE'S Minstrel. +</pre> + <p> + This fraternity of artists—whether they were to be denominated + rooks,(5) sharps, sharpers, black-legs, Greeks, or gripes—were + exceedingly numerous, and were dispersed among all ranks of society. + </p> + <p> + (5) So called because rooks are famous for stealing materials out of other + birds' nests to build their own. + </p> + <p> + The follies and vices of others—of open-hearted youth in particular—were + the great game or pursuit of this odious crew. Though cool and + dispassionate themselves, they did all in their power to throw others off + their guard, that they might make their advantage of them. + </p> + <p> + In others they promoted excess of all kinds, whilst they themselves took + care to maintain the utmost sobriety and temperance. 'Gamesters,' says + Falconer, 'whose minds must be always on the watch to take advantages, and + prepared to form calculations, and to employ the memory, constantly avoid + a full meal of animal food, which they find incapacitates them for play + nearly as much as a quantity of strong liquor would have done, for which + reason they feed chiefly on milk and vegetables.' + </p> + <p> + As profit, not pleasure, was the aim of these knights of darkness, they + lay concealed under all shapes and disguises, and followed up their game + with all wariness and discretion. Like wise traders, they made it the + business of their lives to excel in their calling. + </p> + <p> + For this end they studied the secret mysteries of their art by night and + by day; they improved on the scientific schemes of their profound master, + Hoyle, and on his deep doctrines and calculations of chances. They became + skilful without a rival where skill was necessary, and fraudulent without + conscience where fraud was safe and advantageous; and while fortune or + chance appeared to direct everything, they practised numberless devices by + which they insured her ultimate favours to themselves. + </p> + <p> + Of these none were more efficacious, because none are more ensnaring, than + bribing their young and artless dupes to future play by suffering them to + win at their first onsets. By rising a winner the dupe imbibed a + confidence in his own gambling abilities, or deemed himself a favourite of + fortune. He engaged again, and was again successful—which increased + his exultation and confirmed his future confidence; and thus did the + simple gudgeon swallow their bait, till it became at last fast hooked. + </p> + <p> + When rendered thus secure of their prey, they began to level their whole + train of artillery against the boasted honours of his short-lived triumph. + Then the extensive manors, the ancient forests, the paternal mansions, + began to tremble for their future destiny. The pigeon was marked down, and + the infernal crew began in good earnest to pluck his rich plumage. The + wink was given on his appearance in the room, as a signal of commencing + their covert attacks. The shrug, the nod, the hem—every motion of + the eyes, hands, feet—every air and gesture, look and word—became + an expressive, though disguised, language of fraud and cozenage, big with + deceit and swollen with ruin. Besides this, the card was marked, or + 'slipped,' or COVERED. The story is told of a noted sharper of + distinction, a foreigner, whose hand was thrust through with a fork by his + adversary, Captain Roche, and thus nailed to the table, with this cool + expression of concern—'I ask your pardon, sir, if you have not the + knave of clubs under your hand.' The cards were packed, or cut, or even + SWALLOWED. A card has been eaten between two slices of bread and butter, + for the purpose of concealment. + </p> + <p> + With wily craft the sharpers substituted their deceitful 'doctors' or + false dice; and thus 'crabs,' or 'a losing game,' became the portion of + the 'flats,' or dupes. + </p> + <p> + There were different ways of throwing dice. There was the 'Stamp'—when + the caster with an elastic spring of the wrist rapped the cornet or box + with vehemence on the table, the dice as yet not appearing from under the + box. The 'Dribble' was, when with an air of easy but ingenious motion, the + caster poured, as it were, the dice on the board—when, if he + happened to be an old practitioner, he might suddenly cog with his + fore-finger one of the cubes. The 'Long Gallery' was when the dice were + flung or hurled the whole length of the board. Sometimes the dice were + thrown off the table, near a confederate, who, in picking them up, changed + one of the fair for a false die with two sixes. This was generally done at + the first throw, and at the last, when the fair die was replaced. The + sixes were on the opposite squares, so that the fraud could only be + detected by examination. Of course this trick could only be practised at + raffles, where only three throws are required. + </p> + <p> + A pair of false dice was arranged as follows:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + {Two fours + On one die, {Two fives + {Two sixes + + {Two fives + On the other, {Two threes + {Two aces +</pre> + <p> + With these dice it was impossible to throw what is at Hazard denominated + Crabs, or a losing game—that is, aces, or ace and deuce, twelve, or + seven. Hence, the caster always called for his main; consequently, as he + could neither throw one nor seven, let his chance be what it might, he was + sure to win, and he and those who were in the secret of course always took + the odds. The false dice being concealed in the left hand, the caster took + the box with the fair dice in it in his right hand, and in the act of + shaking it caught the fair dice in his hand, and unperceived shifted the + box empty to his left, from which he dropped the false dice into the box, + which he began to rattle, called his main seven, and threw. Having won his + stake he repeated it as often as he thought proper. He then caught the + false dice in the same way, shifted the empty box again, and threw till he + threw out, still calling the same main, by which artifice he escaped + suspicion. + </p> + <p> + Two gambling adventurers would set out with a certain number of signs and + signals. The use of the handkerchief during the game was the certain + evidence of a good hand. The use of the snuff-box a sign equally + indicative of a bad one. An affected cough, apparently as a natural one, + once, twice, three, or four times repeated, was an assurance of so many + honours in hand. Rubbing the left eye was an invitation to lead trumps,—the + right eye the reverse,—the cards thrown down with one finger and the + thumb was a sign of one trump; two fingers and the thumb, two trumps, and + so on progressively, and in exact explanation of the whole hand, with a + variety of manoeuvres by which chance was reduced to certainty, and + certainty followed by ruin.(6) + </p> + <p> + (6) Bon Ton Magazine, 1791. + </p> + <p> + CHEATING AT WHIST. + </p> + <p> + In an old work on cards the following curious disclosures are made + respecting cheating at whist:— + </p> + <p> + 'He that can by craft overlook his adversary's game hath a great + advantage; for by that means he may partly know what to play securely; or + if he can have some petty glimpse of his partner's hand. There is a way by + making some sign by the fingers, to discover to their partners what + honours they have, or by the wink of one eye it signifies one honour, + shutting both eyes two, placing three fingers or four on the table, three + or four honours. FOR WHICH REASON ALL NICE GAMSTERS PLAY BEHIND CURTAINS. + </p> + <p> + 'Dealing the cards out by one and one to each person is the best method of + putting it out of the dealer's power to impose on you. But I shall + demonstrate that, deal the cards which way you will, a confederacy of two + sharpers will beat any two persons in the world, though ever so good + players, that are not of the gang, or in the secret, and "THREE poll ONE" + is as safe and secure as if the money was in their pockets. All which will + appear presently. + </p> + <p> + The first necessary instructions to be observed at Whist, as principals of + the secret, which may be likewise transferred to most other games at + cards, are:— + </p> + <p> + Brief or short cards, + </p> + <p> + Corner-bend, + </p> + <p> + Middle-bend (or Kingston-bridge). + </p> + <p> + 'Of brief cards there are two sorts: one is a card longer than the rest,—the + other is a card broader than the rest. The long sort are such as three, + four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine; the broad sort are such as aces, + kings, queens, and knaves. The use and advantage of each are as follows:— + </p> + <p> + 'Example:—When you cut the cards to your adversary, cut them long, + or endways, and he will have a three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or + nine at bottom. When your adversary cuts the cards to you, put them + broadside to him, and he will naturally cut (without ever suspecting what + you do) ace, king, queen, or knave, &c., which is sufficient advantage + to secure any game. + </p> + <p> + 'And in case you cannot get cards of proper sizes ready-made to mix with + others, you may shave them with a razor or penknife from the threes to the + nines each side, and from the aces to the knaves each end; then put them + up in the same case or cover, and if they are done as they ought to be, + they will pass upon anybody. + </p> + <p> + 'As Whist is a tavern-game, the sharpers generally take care to put about + the bottle before the game begins, so quick, that a BUBBLE cannot be said + to see clearly even when he begins to play. + </p> + <p> + 'The next is the corner-bend, which is four cards turned down finely at + one corner—a signal to cut by. + </p> + <p> + 'The other is vulgarly called Kingston-bridge, or the middle-bend. It is + done by bending your own or adversary's TRICKS two different ways, which + will cause an opening, or arch, in the middle, which is of the same use + and service as the other two ways, and only practised in its turn to amuse + you. + </p> + <p> + 'The next thing to be considered is, who deals the cards, you or your + adversary; because that is a main point, and from whence your advantage + must arise. Suppose, for example, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + {Sharpers, + A and B { + {Partners, + + {Bubbles, or Flats, + C and D { + { Partners. +</pre> + <p> + After a deal or two is formally played, A and B will begin to operate in + the following manner:— + </p> + <p> + 'When A or B is to deal, they observe the PRECEDING DEAL to take up the + tricks thus:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 1. A bad card. 2. A good card. + 3. A bad card. 4. A good card. +</pre> + <p> + (Meaning the best and worst that fall in that list). + </p> + <p> + 'When C or D deals, they must be taken up thus:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 1. A good card. 2. A bad card. + 3. A good card. 4. A bad card. +</pre> + <p> + 'By this rule it is plain that the best cards fall to A and B every deal. + How is it possible, therefore, that C and D should ever win a game without + permission? But it would be deemed ill policy, and contrary to the true + interest of A and B, to act thus every deal. I will, therefore, suppose it + is practised just when they please, according as bets happen in company; + though the rule with gamesters, in low life, is at the first setting out + to stupify you with wine and the loss of your money, that you may never + come to a perfect understanding of what you are doing. It may be truly + said that many an honest gentleman has been kept a month in such a + condition by the management and contrivance of a set of sharpers. + </p> + <p> + 'Now you may imagine it not in the power of A and B to cause the tricks to + be taken up after the manner aforesaid: there is nothing so easy nor so + frequently practised, especially at Three poll One; for in playing the + cards the confederates will not only take care of their own tricks, but + also of yours, for the cards may be so played, and shoved together in such + a manner, as will even cause you to take them right yourself; and if a + trick should lie untowardly on the table, A or B will pay you the + compliment of taking it up for you, and say—"Sir, that's yours." + This operation will the more readily be apprehended by seeing it practised + half a score times; when once you are aware of it, it will otherwise (I + may say fairly) pass upon any person that has not been let into the + secret. This being allowed, the next point and difficulty is to shuffle + and cut. + </p> + <p> + 'I say, that either A or B are such curious workmen, and can make a sham + shuffle with a pack of cards so artfully, that you would believe they were + splitting them, when at the time they will not displace a single card from + its order! Such is the SHARPER'S shuffling. + </p> + <p> + 'Now, to cut the cards, a BEND is prepared for you to cut to—the + middle is the best; and it is odds but you unwarily cut to it; if not, + SLIP is the word; but if you have no opportunity to do that neither, then + deal away at all hazards, it is but an equal bet that they come in your + favour; if right, proceed; if otherwise, miss a card in its course, and it + brings the cards according to your first design; it is but giving two at + last where you missed; and if that cannot be conveniently done, you only + lose the deal, and there is an end of it. + </p> + <p> + 'But when A or B is to cut, they make it all safe; for then they make the + CORNER-BEND, which any one that knows may cut to, a hundred times + together. + </p> + <p> + 'Piping at Whist. By piping I mean, when one of the company that does not + play, which frequently happens, sits down in a convenient place to smoke a + pipe, and so look on, pretending to amuse himself that way. Now, the + disposing of his fingers on the pipe whilst smoking discovers the + principal cards that are in the person's hand he overlooks; which was + always esteemed a sufficient advantage whereby to win a game. There is + another method, namely, by uttering words. "Indeed" signifies diamonds; + "truly," hearts; "upon my word," clubs; "I assure you," spades. But as + soon as these methods become known, new ones are invented; and it is most + curious that two persons may discover to each other what sort of cards + they have in hand, and which ought first to be played, many different + ways, without speaking a word.' + </p> + <p> + There can be no doubt that the act of sorting the cards is capable of + giving an acute observer a tolerably accurate idea of his partner's or + either of his opponents' hands; so that where cheating is suspected it + would be better to play the cards without sorting them. The number of + times a sorter carries a card to a particular part indicates so many of a + suit; your own hand and his play will readily indicate the nature of the + cards in which he is either strong or weak. + </p> + <p> + I now quote Robert-Houdin's account of + </p> + <p> + CARD TELEGRAPHY. + </p> + <p> + Although there are 32 cards in the game of Piquet, all of them may be + designated by twelve different signs, namely, eight for the nature of the + cards, and four for the colours. + </p> + <p> + At Ecarte, the number of the signals is still less, as it is only the + figures that require indication: but to make these indications it is + necessary to execute a sort of pantomime, according to certain authors, + such as blowing the nose, coughing, drumming on the table, sneezing, &c. + Such evolutions, however, are totally unworthy of your modern Greek, and + would soon be denounced as gross fraud. The signals which he employs are + only appreciable by his confederate,—as follows:— + </p> + <p> + If he looks + </p> + <p> + 1. At his confederate, he designates A king. + </p> + <p> + 2. At the play of his adversary . . . A queen. + </p> + <p> + 3. At the stake . . . . . . . . . . . A knave. + </p> + <p> + 4. At the opposite side . . . . . . . An ace. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +And whilst he indicates the nature of the cards he at the same time +makes known the colour by the following signs:— + + 1. The mouth slightly open . . . . . Hearts. + + 2. The mouth shut . . . . . . . . . . Diamonds. + + 3. The upper-lip slightly pouting + over the lower . . . . . . . Clubs. + + 4. The lower-lip drawn over the + upper . . . . . . . . . . . Spades. +</pre> + <p> + Thus, if the Greek wishes to announce, for instance, the knave and ace of + hearts, he successively directs his looks upon the play of his adversary, + upon the stake, and to the opposite side, whilst keeping his mouth + slightly open. + </p> + <p> + It is evident that this telegraphy may be employed at all games where + there is a gallery. In effect, nothing is easier at Piquet than to + indicate, by the aid of these signals, the colour in which the player + should discard and that in which he should keep what cards he has. + </p> + <p> + These are the simplest signs; but some of the Greeks have a great number + of them, to designate everything; and even sometimes to communicate and + receive intelligence, when necessary. This telegraphy is so imperceptible + that it is difficult to describe it, and altogether impossible to detect + it.(7) + </p> + <p> + (7) Tricheries des Grecs devoilees. + </p> + <p> + Robert-Houdin has exhausted the subject of card-trickery, in connection + with that prestidigitation which, it seems, all card-sharpers cultivate, + the description of which, however, is by no means so entertaining as the + visible performance. I find, nevertheless, in his book, under the title of + 'Small Trickeries made innocent by Custom,' certain things alluded to + which I can attest by experience. + </p> + <p> + I. At Whist, no communication whatever must be made by a player to his + partner, excepting those authorized by the laws of the game; but some + persons go further, and by the play of their features 'telegraph' to their + partners the value of their hands. + </p> + <p> + II. Any one with a good memory and endowed with quick perception may form + a very accurate estimate of the hands held by all the players by + remembering THE TRICKS AS THEY ARE PLAYED AND TURNED DOWN—all of a + suit, or trumped. Cards 'stick together' most lovingly, and the ordinary + shuffling scarcely alters their sequence; and so, if a trick has been + taken by an ace over a king, for instance, and in the next deal you get + the same king, you may be sure that the ace is either on your right or + your left, according to the deal; of course, if you get the ace, then the + same probability, or rather necessity, exists as to the king; and so on. + Knave, queen, king, ace, of the same name, are almost sure to be separated + in the deal between the four players, or one player will have two of them. + The observation is a tax upon the faculties; but I am sure, quite sure, + that the thing can be done, and is, when done, of material service; + although, of course, the knowledge can be turned to account only by an + expert player, with a partner who can understand the game which he wishes + to play. + </p> + <p> + Whist is, decidedly, one of the fairest of games; but for that very + reason, it is open to the greatest over-reaching, or, if you like, + cheating. + </p> + <p> + With regard to dice, of course, they were and, doubtless, are still + loaded. Such were formerly called 'dispatches,' because they would 'in + five minutes dispatch L500 out of the pocket of any young man when + intoxicated with champagne.' + </p> + <p> + Roulette and Rouge et Noir tables were and are so arranged as always to + make the bank win at the will of the attendant, regulating them with a + touch. + </p> + <p> + At Hazard, they used 'low or high dice,' that is, with only certain + numbers on them, high or low,—a pair of which every sharper always + had in his possession, changing them with great dexterity. They also used + 'cramped' boxes, by which they 'cogged' or fastened the dice in the box as + they dropped them IN, and so could drop them OUT with the required face + upwards. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. ANECDOTES OF THE PASSIONS AND VICISSITUDES OF GAMESTERS. + </h2> + <p> + Although all the motives of human action have long been known—although + psychology, or the science of soul and sentiment, has ceased to present us + with any new facts—it is quite certain that our edifice of Morals is + not quite built up. We may rest assured that as long as intellectual man + exists the problem will be considered unsolved, and the question will be + agitated. Future generations will destroy what we establish, and will + fashion a something according to their advancement, and so on; for if + there be a term which, of all others, should be expunged from the + dictionaries of all human beings, it seems to be Lord Russell's word + FINALITY. Something NEW will always be wanted. 'Sensation' is the very + life of humanity; it is motion—the reverse of 'death'—which we + all abhor. + </p> + <p> + The gamester lives only for the 'sensation' of gaming. Menage tells us of + a gamester who declared that he had never seen any luminary above the + horizon but the moon. Saint Evremond, writing to the Count de Grammont, + says—'You play from morning to night, or rather from night to + morning. All the rays of the gamester's existence terminate in play; it is + on this centre that his very existence depends. He enjoys not an hour of + calm or serenity. During the day he longs for night, and during the night + he dreads the return of day.' + </p> + <p> + Being always pre-occupied, gamesters are subject to a ridiculous absence + of mind. Tacitus tells us that the Emperor Vitellius was so torpid that he + would have forgotten he was a prince unless people had reminded him of it + from time to time.(8) Many gamesters have forgotten that they were + husbands and fathers. During play some one said that the government were + about to levy a tax on bachelors. 'Then I shall be ruined!' exclaimed one + of the players absorbed in the game. 'Why, man, you have a wife and five + children,' said the speaker. + </p> + <p> + (8) Tanta torpedo invaserat animum Vitellii, ut si principem eum fuisse + non meminissent, ipse oblivisceretur. Hist., lib. iii. + </p> + <p> + This infatuation may be simply ridiculous; but it has also a horrible + aspect. A distracted wife has rushed to the gaming table, imploring her + husband, who had for two entire days been engaged at play, to return to + his home. + </p> + <p> + 'Only let me stay one moment longer—only one moment. . . . . I shall + return perhaps the day after to-morrow,' he stammered out to the wretched + woman, who retired. Alas! he returned sooner than he had promised. His + wife was in bed, holding the last of her children to her breast. + </p> + <p> + 'Get up, madam,' said the ruined gambler, 'the bed on which you lie + belongs to us no longer!' . . . + </p> + <p> + When the gamester is fortunate, he enjoys his success elsewhere; to his + home he brings only consternation. + </p> + <p> + A wife had received the most solemn promise from her husband that he would + gamble no more. One night, however, he slunk out of bed, rushed to the + gaming table, and lost all the money he had with him. He tried to borrow + more, but was refused. He went home. His wife had taken the precaution to + lock the drawer that contained their last money. Vain obstacle! The madman + broke it open, carried off two thousand crowns—to take his revenge, + as he said, but in reality to lose the whole as before. + </p> + <p> + But it is to the gaming room that we must go to behold the progress of the + terrible drama—the ebb and flow of opposite movements—the + shocks of alternate hope and fear, infinitely varied in the countenance, + not only of the actors, but also of the spectators. What is visible, + however, is nothing in comparison to the secret agony. It is in his heart + that the tempest roars most fiercely. + </p> + <p> + Two players once exhibited their rage, the one by a mournful silence, the + other by repeated imprecations. The latter, shocked at the sang-froid of + his neighbour, reproached him for enduring, without complaint, such losses + one after the other. 'Look here!' said the other, uncovering his breast + and displaying it all bloody with lacerations. + </p> + <p> + It is only at play that we can observe, from moment to moment, all the + phases of despair; from time to time there occur new ones—strange, + eccentric, or terrible. After having lost quietly, and even with serenity, + half his fortune, the father of a family staked the remainder, and lost it + without a murmur. Facere solent extrema securos mala.(9) The bystanders + looked at him; his features changed not; only it was perceived that they + were fixed. It seemed that he was unconscious of life. Two streams of + tears trickled from his eyes, and yet his features remained the same. He + was literally a weeping statue. The spectators were seized with fright, + and, although gamesters, they melted into pity. + </p> + <p> + (9) 'Great calamities render us CARELESS.' + </p> + <p> + At Bayonne, in 1725, a French officer, in a rage at billiards, jammed a + billiard-ball in his mouth, where it stuck fast, arresting respiration, + until it was, with difficulty, extracted by a surgeon. Dusaulx states that + he was told the fact by a lieutenant-general, who was an eye-witness. + </p> + <p> + It is well known that gamblers, like dogs that bite a stone flung at them, + have eaten up the cards, crushed up the dice, broken the tables, damaged + the furniture, and finally 'pitched into' each other—as described by + Lucian in his Saturnalia. Dusaulx assures us that he saw an enraged + gambler put a burning candle into his mouth, chew it, and swallow it. A + mad player at Naples bit the table with such violence that his teeth went + deep into the wood; thus he remained, as it were, nailed to it, and + suddenly expired. + </p> + <p> + The other players took to flight; the officers of justice visited the + place; and the corpse was deprived of the usual ceremony of burial.(10) + </p> + <p> + (10) Gazette de Deux-Ponts, du 26 Novembre, 1772. + </p> + <p> + The following strange but apparently authentic fact, is related in the + Mercure Francois (Tome I. Annee 1610). + </p> + <p> + 'A man named Pennichon, being a prisoner in the Conciergerie during the + month of September, 1610, died there of a wonderfully sudden death. He + could not refrain from play. Having one day lost his money, he uttered + frightful imprecations against his body and against his soul, swearing + that he would never play at cards again. Nevertheless, a few days after, + he began to play again with those in his apartment, and on a dispute + respecting discarding, he repeated his execrable oaths. And when one of + the company told him he should fear the Divine justice, he only swore the + more, and made such confusion that there had to be another deal. But as + soon as three other cards were given him, he placed them in his hat, which + he held before him, and whilst looking at them, with his elbows on the + table and his face in the hat, he so suddenly expired that one of the + party said—"Come, now play," and pushed him with his elbow, thinking + he was asleep, when he fell down dead upon the floor.' + </p> + <p> + In some cases the effect of losses at play is simply stupefaction. Some + players, at the end of the sitting, neither know what they do nor what + they say. M. de Crequi, afterwards Duc de Lesdiguieres, leaving a gambling + party with Henry IV., after losing a large sum, met M. de Guise in the + court-yard of the castle. 'My friend,' said he to the latter, 'where are + the quarters of the Guards now-a-days?' M. de Guise stepped back, saying, + 'Excuse me, sir, I don't belong to this country,' and immediately went to + the king, whom he greatly amused with the anecdote. + </p> + <p> + A dissipated buck, who had been sitting all night at Hazard, went to a + church, not far from St James's, just before the second reading of the + Lord's Prayer, on Sunday. He was scarcely seated before he dozed, and the + clerk in a short time bawled out AMEN, which he pronounced A—main. + The buck jumped up half asleep and roared out, 'I'll bet the caster 20 + guineas!' The congregation was thrown into a titter, and the buck ran out, + overwhelmed with shame. A similar anecdote is told of another 'dissipated + buck' in a church. The grand masquerade given on the opening of the Union + Club House, in Pall Mall, was not entirely over till a late hour on the + following Sunday. A young man nearly intoxicated—certainly not + knowing what he was about—reeled into St. James's church, in his + masquerade dress, with his hat on. The late Rev. Thomas Bracken, attracted + by the noise of his entrance, looked directly at him as he chanced to + deliver the following words:—'Friend! how camest thou in hither, not + having on a wedding garment?' It seemed so to strike the culprit that he + instantly took off his hat and withdrew in confusion. + </p> + <p> + At play, a winner redoubles his caution and sang-froid just in proportion + as his adversary gets bewildered by his losses, becoming desperate; he + takes advantage of the weakness of the latter, giving him the law, and + striving for greater success. When the luck changes, however, the case is + reversed, and the former loser becomes, in his turn, ten times more + pitiless—like that Roman prefect, mentioned by Tacitus, who was the + more inexorable because he had been harshly treated in his youth, co + immmitior quia toleraverat. The joy at winning back his money only makes a + gamester the more covetous of winning that of his adversary. A wealthy man + once lost 100,000 crowns, and begged to be allowed to go and sell his + property, which was worth double the amount he had lost. 'Why sell it?' + said his adversary; 'let us play for the remainder.' They played; luck + changed; and the late LOSER ruined the other. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes avidity makes terrible mistakes; many, in order to win more, + have lost their all to persons who had not a shilling to lose. During the + depth of a severe winter, a gamester beheld with terror the bottom of his + purse. Unable to resolve on quitting the gaming table—for players in + that condition are always the most stubborn—he shouted to his valet—'Go + and fetch my great sack.' These words, uttered without design, stimulated + the cupidity of those who no longer cared to play with him, and now they + were eager for it. His luck changed, and he won thrice as much as he had + lost. Then his 'great sack' was brought to him: it was a BEAR-SKIN SACK he + used as a cloak! + </p> + <p> + In the madness of gaming the player stakes everything after losing his + money—his watch, his rings, his clothing; and some have staked their + EARS, and others their very LIVES—instances of all which will be + related in the sequel. + </p> + <p> + Not very long ago a publican, who lost all his money, staked his + public-house, lost it, and had to 'clear out.' The man who won it is alive + and flourishing. + </p> + <p> + 'The debt of honour must be paid: 'these are the terrible words that haunt + the gamester as he wakes (if he has slept) on the morning after the night + of horrors: these are the furies that take him in hand, and drag him to + torture, laughing the while. . . . + </p> + <p> + What a 'sensation' it must be to lose one's ALL! A man, intoxicated with + his gains, left one gaming house and entered another. As soon as he + entered he exclaimed, 'Well, I am filled, my pockets are full of gold, and + here goes, ODDS OR EVEN?' 'Odds,' cried a player. It was ODDS, and the + fortunate winner pocketed the enormous sum just boasted of by the other. + </p> + <p> + On the other hand, sudden prosperity has deranged more heads and killed + more people than reverses and grief; either because it takes a longer time + to get convinced of utter ruin than great good fortune, or because the + instinct of self-preservation compels us to seek, in adversity, for + resources to mitigate despair; whereas, in the assault of excessive joy, + the soul's spring is distended and broken when it is suddenly compressed + by too many thoughts and too many sensations. Sophocles, Diagoras, + Philippides, died of joy. Another Greek expired at the sight of the three + crowns won by his three sons at the Olympic games. + </p> + <p> + Many fine intellects among players have been brutified by loses; others, + in greater number, have been so by their winnings. Some in the course of + their prosperity perish from idleness, get deranged, and ruin themselves + after ruining others. An instance is mentioned of an officer who won so + enormously that he actually lost his senses in counting his gains. + Astonished at himself, he thought he was no longer an ordinary mortal; and + required his valets to do him extraordinary honours, flinging handfuls of + gold to them. The same night, however, he returned to the gaming house, + and recovered from his madness when he had lost not only all his gains, + but even the value of an appointment which he held. + </p> + <p> + UNFORTUNATE WINNING. + </p> + <p> + M. G—me was a most estimable man, combining in himself the best + qualities of both heart and head. He was good-humoured, witty, and + benevolent. With these qualifications, and one other which seldom operates + to a man's disadvantage—a clear income of three thousand a year—the + best society in Paris was open to him. He had been a visitor in that + capital about a month, when he received an invitation to one of the + splendid dinners given weekly at the salon. As he never played, he + hesitated about the propriety of accepting it, but on the assurance that + it would not be expected of him to play; and, moreover, as he might not + again have so good an opportunity of visiting an establishment of the + kind, he resolved to go—merely for the satisfaction of his + curiosity. He had a few stray napoleons in his purse, to throw them—'just + for the good of the house,' as he considered it—could hardly be + called PLAY, so he threw them. Poor fellow! He left off a winner of + fourteen hundred napoleons, or about as many pounds sterling—and so + easily won! He went again, again, and again; but he was not always a + winner; and within fifteen months of the moment when his hand first + grasped the dice-box he was lying dead in a jail! + </p> + <p> + LORD WORTHALL'S DESPERATE WAGER. + </p> + <p> + At a gambling party Lord Worthall had lost all his money, and in a fit of + excitement staked his whole estate against L1000, at cutting low with + cards, and in cutting exclaimed,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'Up now Deuce, or else a Trey, + Or Worthall's gone for ever and aye.' +</pre> + <p> + He had the luck to cut the deuce of diamonds; and to commemorate the + serious event, he got the deuce of diamonds cut in marble and had it fixed + on the parapet of his mansion. + </p> + <p> + THE CELEBRATED THADDEUS STEVENS. + </p> + <p> + He was an inveterate gamester on a small scale, and almost invariably, + after a day's duty in the House, would drop in at a favourite casino, and + win or lose fifty dollars—that being the average limit of his + betting. + </p> + <p> + A PROVIDENT GAMBLER. + </p> + <p> + A Monsieur B—, well known in Parisian life, having recently lost + every shilling at a certain sporting club where play is carried on in + Paris, went to the country, where his sister lent him L150. + </p> + <p> + He won all back again, and got a considerable sum of money in hand. He + then went to his hotel, to his bootmaker, and tailor, paid them, and made + arrangements to be fed, clothed, and shod for ten years. + </p> + <p> + A MAGNIFICENT FORTUNE WASTED. + </p> + <p> + Lord Foley, who died in 1793, entered upon the turf with an estate of + L18,000 per annum, and L100,000 ready money. He left with a ruined + constitution, an encumbered estate, and not a shilling of ready money! + </p> + <p> + AN ENTERPRISING CLERK. + </p> + <p> + Lord Kenyon, in 1795, tried a clerk 'for misapplying his master's + confidence,' and the facts were as follows. He went with a bank note of + L1000 to a gaming house in Osendon Street, where he won a little. He also + won two hundred guineas at another in Suffolk Street. He next accompanied + some keepers of a third house to their tables, where he lost above nine + hundred pounds. He played there almost every night; and finally lost about + L2500! + </p> + <p> + GAMBLING FOR RECRUITS FOR THE ARMY. + </p> + <p> + An Irish officer struck out a mode of gambling, for recruits. He gave five + guineas bounty, and one hundred to be raffled for by young recruits,—the + winner to be paid immediately, and to purchase his discharge, if he + pleased, for L20. The dice-box was constantly going at his recruiting + office in Dublin. + </p> + <p> + DOUBLING THE STAKES. + </p> + <p> + A dashing young man of large fortune, about the year 1820, lost at a + subscription house at the West End, L80,000. The winner was a person of + high rank. The young man, however, by doubling the stakes, not only + recovered his losses, but in his turn gained considerably of his + antagonist. + </p> + <p> + AN ANNUITY FOR A GAMBLING DEBT. + </p> + <p> + A fashionable nobleman had won from a young and noble relative the sum of + L40,000. The cash not being forthcoming, he accepted an annuity of L4000. + </p> + <p> + SIR WILLIAM COLEPEPPER. + </p> + <p> + It is told of Sir William Colepepper that, after he had been ruined + himself at the gaming table, his whole delight was to sit there and see + others ruined. Hardened wretch—'Who though he plays no more, + overlooks the cards'—with this diabolical disposition! + </p> + <p> + THE BITER BITTEN. + </p> + <p> + A certain duchess, of a ci-devant lord-lieutenant, who expected to make a + pigeon of Marshal Blucher, was fleeced of L200,000; to pay which her lord + was obliged to sell a great part of his property, and reside on the + continent. + </p> + <p> + HUNTED DOWN. + </p> + <p> + A stout-hearted and gallant military baronet lost an immense sum at a + celebrated gaming house; but was so fortunate as to recover it, with L1200 + more. This last sum HE PRESENTED TO THE WAITERS. He was pursued by two of + the 'play-wrights' to a northern watering-place, where he was so plucked + that all his possessions were brought to the hammer. A competency was, + however, saved from the magnificent wreck. + </p> + <p> + COMING OF AGE. + </p> + <p> + When Sir C— T—, a weak young man, with a large fortune, came + of age, the Greeks, thinking him an excellent quarry, went to York Races, + made him drunk and plundered him of a large sum. The next morning one of + the party waited upon him to acquaint him of his loss—(L20,000 or + L30,000), and brought bonds for his signature to that amount! + </p> + <p> + HEAVY LIABILITIES TO BEGIN WITH. + </p> + <p> + In the year 1799, when the Marquis of Donegal succeeded to the title on + his father's death, his debts, principally to gamblers and money-lenders, + amounted to two hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling! + </p> + <p> + A GENTLEMAN TURNED BARBER. + </p> + <p> + In an old magazine I find the following curious statement:— + </p> + <p> + 'There is now living in Barnaby Street, Carnaby Market, a man who, + although exercising the menial office of penny barber, was in his younger + days in possession of estates and personal property to a large amount, and + is the only lineal descendant remaining of the very ancient family of the + H—s of Bristol. + </p> + <p> + 'His relations dying when he was young, he was placed under proper + guardians, and received a liberal education, first at Westminster, and + afterwards at Cambridge, suitable to his rank and fortune. When of age he + converted his estates into money, and retired to Dublin, where he remained + some time. He then made the tour of Europe, and returned to Ireland, where + he went through all the scenes of dissipation to which young men are so + much addicted, till at last he was beset by those harpies the gamblers, + and stripped of his immense fortune in one single night! + </p> + <p> + 'He then subsisted for some little time on the bounty of his undoers, who + intended to make him one of them; but, not having sufficient address for + the profession, he was dismissed and "left in the lurch;" and most of his + friends discarding him, he embarked with his last guinea for England. Here + he has encountered many difficulties, often been in gaol for debt, and + passed through various scenes of life, as valet, footman, thief-taker, and + at length, a penny-barber! He has a wife and large family and lives in a + very penurious manner, often lamenting his early folly.'(11) + </p> + <p> + (11) 'The Western County Magazine, 1791. By a Society of Gentlemen.' This + well-conducted old magazine was printed and published at Salisbury, and + was decidedly a credit to the town and county. + </p> + <p> + PENSIONED OFF BY A GAMING HOUSE. + </p> + <p> + A visitor at Frascati's gaming house in Paris tells us:— + </p> + <p> + 'I saw the Chevalier de la C—(a descendant of the once celebrated + romance-writer) when he was nearly ninety. The mode of life of this old + man was singular. He had lost a princely property at the play-table, and + by a piece of good fortune of rare occurrence to gamesters, and + unparalleled generosity, the proprietors of the salon allowed him a + pension to support him in his miserable senility, just sufficient to + supply him with a wretched lodging—bread, and a change of raiment + once in every three or four years! In addition to this he was allowed a + supper—which was, in fact, his dinner—at the gaming house, + whither he went every night at about eleven o'clock. Till supper-time (two + o'clock in the morning) he amused himself in watching the games and + calculating the various chances, although incapable of playing a single + coup. At four o'clock he returned to his lodging, retired to bed, and lay + till between nine and ten o'clock on the following night. A cup of coffee + was then brought to him, and, having dressed himself, at the usual hour he + again proceeded to the salon. This had been his round of life for several + years; and he told me that during all that time (excepting on a few + mornings about Midsummer) he had never beheld the sun!' + </p> + <p> + A Mr R—y, son of a baronet, left Wattier's club one night with only + L4 in his pocket, saying that he would look in at the hells. + </p> + <p> + He did so, and, returning after three o'clock in the morning, offered to + bet L500 that he had above L4000. The result proved that he had L4300, all + won at gaming tables, from the small beginning of L4. He then sat down to + play games of skill at Wattier's, and went home at six o'clock without a + single pound! The same man subsequently won L30,000, and afterwards lost + it all, with L15,000 more, and then 'went to the Continent.' + </p> + <p> + A major of the Rifle Brigade, in consequence of gambling in London, by + which he lost vast sums of money, went out of his senses and died a few + years ago in an asylum. This occurred within the last ten or twelve years. + </p> + <p> + Says Mr Seymour Harcourt, in his 'Gaming Calendar,' 'I have myself seen + hanging in chains a man whom, a short time before, I saw at a Hazard + table!' + </p> + <p> + Hogarth lent his tremendous power to the portrayal of the ruined gamester, + and shows it to the life in his print of the gaming house in the 'Rake's + Progress.' + </p> + <p> + Three stages of that species of madness which attends gaming are there + described. On the first shock all is inward dismay. The ruined gamester is + represented leaning against a wall with his arms across, lost in an agony + of horror. Shortly after this horrible gloom bursts into a storm and fury. + He tears in pieces whatever comes near him, and, kneeling down, invokes + curses on himself. His next attack is on others—on every one whom he + imagines to have been instrumental in his ruin. The eager joy of the + winning gamester, the attention of the usurer, and the profound reverie of + the highwayman, are all strongly marked in this wonderful picture. + </p> + <p> + HOW MANY GAMESTERS LIVE BY PLAY? + </p> + <p> + It is an observation made by those who calculate on the gaming world, that + above nine-tenths of the persons who play LIVE by it. + </p> + <p> + Now, as the ordinary establishment of a GENTEEL gamester, as he is + commonly called, cannot be less than L1000 per annum, luck, which turns + out EQUAL in the long run, will not support him; he must therefore LIVE by + what they call among themselves the BEST OF THE GAME—or, in plain + English, cheating. + </p> + <p> + So much for the inner and outer life of gamblers. And now I shall + introduce Mr Ben. Disraeli, recounting, in the happiest vein of his + younger days, a magnificent gambling scene, quite on a par with the legend + of the Hindoo epic before quoted,(12) and which, I doubt not, will (to use + the young Disraeli's own words) make the reader 'scud along and warm up + into friskiness.' + </p> + <p> + (12) Chapter II. + </p> + <p> + A curious phrase occurs in the 9th chapter of 'The Young Duke,' in the + paragraph at the beginning, after the words—'O ye immortal gods!' + </p> + <p> + Although the scene of the drama is part of a novel, yet there can be no + doubt of its being 'founded on fact'—at any rate, I think there + never was a narrative of greater verisimilitude. + </p> + <p> + 'After dinner, with the exception of Cogit, who was busied in compounding + some wonderful liquid for the future refreshment, they sat down to Ecarte. + Without having exchanged a word upon the subject, there seemed a general + understanding among all the parties, that to-night was to be a pitched + battle—and they began at once, very briskly. Yet, in spite of their + universal determination, midnight arrived without anything very decisive. + Another hour passed over, and then Tom Cogit kept touching the baron's + elbow, and whispering in a voice which everybody could understand. All + this meant that supper was ready. It was brought into the room. + </p> + <p> + 'Gaming has one advantage—it gives you an appetite; that is to say, + so long as you have a chance remaining. The duke had thousands,—for + at present his resources were unimpaired, and he was exhausted by the + constant attention and anxiety of five hours. He passed over the + delicacies, and went to the side-table, and began cutting himself some + cold roast beef. Tom Cogit ran up, not to his Grace, but to the baron, to + announce the shocking fact, that the Duke of St James was enduring great + trouble; and then the baron asked his Grace to permit Mr Cogit to serve + him. + </p> + <p> + 'Our hero devoured—we use the word advisedly, as fools say in the + House of Commons—he devoured the roast beef, and rejecting the + hermitage with disgust, asked for porter. + </p> + <p> + 'They set to again, fresh as eagles. At six o'clock, accounts were so + complicated, that they stopped to make up their books. Each played with + his memorandums and pencil at his side. Nothing fatal had yet happened. + The duke owed Lord Dice about L5000, and Temple Grace owed him as many + hundreds. Lord Castlefort also was his debtor to the tune of 750, and the + baron was in his books, but slightly. + </p> + <p> + 'Every half-hour they had a new pack of cards, and threw the used ones on + the floor. All this time Tom Cogit did nothing but snuff the candles, stir + the fire, bring them a new pack, and occasionally made a tumbler for them. + </p> + <p> + 'At eight o'clock the duke's situation was worsened. The run was greatly + against him, and perhaps his losses were doubled. He pulled up again the + next hour or two; but, nevertheless, at ten o'clock owed every one + something. No one offered to give over; and every one, perhaps, felt that + his object was not obtained. They made their toilets, and went down-stairs + to breakfast. In the mean time the shutters were opened, the room aired; + and in less than an hour they were at it again. + </p> + <p> + 'They played till dinner-time without intermission; and though the duke + made some desperate efforts, and some successful ones, his losses were, + nevertheless, trebled. Yet he ate an excellent dinner, and was not at all + depressed; because the more he lost the more his courage and his resources + seemed to expand. At first, he had limited himself to 10,000; after + breakfast, it was to have been 20,000; then 30,000 was the ultimatum; and + now he dismissed all thoughts of limits from his mind, and was determined + to risk or gain everything. + </p> + <p> + 'At midnight he had lost L48,000. + </p> + <p> + 'Affairs now began to be serious. His supper was not so hearty. While the + rest were eating, he walked about the room, and began to limit his + ambition to recovery, and not to gain. + </p> + <p> + 'When you play to win back, the fun is over: there is nothing to + recompense you for your bodily tortures and your degraded feelings; and + the very best result that can happen, while it has no charms, seems to + your cowed mind impossible. + </p> + <p> + 'On they played, and the duke lost more. His mind was jaded. He floundered—he + made desperate efforts, but plunged deeper in the slough. Feeling that, to + regain his ground, each card must tell, he acted on each as if it must + win, and the consequences of this insanity (for a gamester at such a + crisis is really insane) were, that his losses were prodigious. + </p> + <p> + 'Another morning came, and there they sat, ankle-deep in cards. No attempt + at breakfast now—no affectation of making a toilet, or airing the + room. The atmosphere was hot, to be sure, but it well became such a hell. + There they sat, in total, in positive forgetfulness of everything but the + hot game they were hunting down. There was not a man in the room, except + Tom Cogit, who could have told you the name of the town in which they were + living. There they sat, almost breathless, watching every turn with the + fell look in their cannibal eyes, which showed their total inability to + sympathize with their fellow-beings. All the forms of society had been + forgotten. There was no snuff-box handed about now, for courtesy, + admiration, or a pinch; no affectation of occasionally making a remark + upon any other topic but the all-engrossing one. + </p> + <p> + 'Lord Castlefort rested with his arms on the table:—a false tooth + had got unhinged. His Lordship, who, at any other time, would have been + most annoyed, coolly put it in his pocket. His cheeks had fallen, and he + looked twenty years older. + </p> + <p> + 'Lord Dice had torn off his cravat, and his hair flung down over his + callous, bloodless checks, straight as silk. + </p> + <p> + 'Temple Grace looked as if he were blighted by lightning; and his + deep-blue eyes gleamed like a hyaena. + </p> + <p> + 'The baron was least changed. + </p> + <p> + 'Tom Cogit, who smelt that the crisis was at hand, was as quiet as a + bribed rat. + </p> + <p> + 'On they played till six o'clock in the evening, and then they agreed to + desist till after dinner. Lord Dice threw himself on a sofa. Lord + Castlefort breathed with difficulty. The rest walked about. While they + were resting on their oars, the young duke roughly made up his accounts. + He found that he was minus about L100,000. + </p> + <p> + 'Immense as this loss was, he was more struck—more appalled, let us + say—at the strangeness of the surrounding scene, than even by his + own ruin. As he looked upon his fellow-gamesters, he seemed, for the first + time in his life, to gaze upon some of those hideous demons of whom he had + read. He looked in the mirror at himself. A blight seemed to have fallen + over his beauty, and his presence seemed accursed. He had pursued a + dissipated, even more than a dissipated, career. Many were the nights that + had been spent by him not on his couch; great had been the exhaustion that + he had often experienced; haggard had sometimes even been the lustre of + his youth. But when had been marked upon his brow this harrowing care? + When had his features before been stamped with this anxiety, this anguish, + this baffled desire, this strange, unearthly scowl, which made him even + tremble? What! was it possible?—it could not be—that in time + he was to be like those awful, those unearthly, those unhallowed things + that were around him. He felt as if he had fallen from his state, as if he + had dishonoured his ancestry, as if he had betrayed his trust. He felt a + criminal. + </p> + <p> + 'In the darkness of his meditations a flash burst from his lurid mind, a + celestial light appeared to dissipate this thickening gloom, and his soul + felt, as it were, bathed with the softening radiancy. He thought of May + Dacre, he thought of everything that was pure, and holy, and beautiful, + and luminous, and calm. It was the innate virtue of the man that made this + appeal to his corrupted nature. His losses seemed nothing; his dukedom + would be too slight a ransom for freedom from these ghouls, and for the + breath of the sweet air. + </p> + <p> + 'He advanced to the baron, and expressed his desire to play no more. There + was an immediate stir. All jumped up, and now the deed was done. Cant, in + spite of their exhaustion, assumed her reign. They begged him to have his + revenge,—were quite annoyed at the result,—had no doubt he + would recover if he proceeded. + </p> + <p> + 'Without noticing their remarks, he seated himself at the table, and wrote + cheques for their respective amounts, Tom Cogit jumping up and bringing + him the inkstand. Lord Castlefort, in the most affectionate manner, + pocketed the draft; at the same time recommending the duke not to be in a + hurry, but to send it when he was cool. Lord Dice received his with a bow, + Temple Grace with a sigh, the baron with an avowal of his readiness always + to give him his revenge. + </p> + <p> + 'The duke, though sick at heart, would not leave the room with any + evidence of a broken spirit; and when Lord Castlefort again repeated—"Pay + us when we meet again," he said, "I think it very improbable that we shall + meet again, my Lord. I wished to know what gaming was. I had heard a great + deal about it. It is not so very disgusting; but I am a young man, and + cannot play tricks with my complexion." + </p> + <p> + 'He reached his house. The Bird was out. He gave orders for himself not to + be disturbed, and he went to bed; but in vain he tried to sleep. What rack + exceeds the torture of an excited brain and an exhausted body? His hands + and feet were like ice, his brow like fire; his ears rung with + supernatural roaring; a nausea had seized upon him, and death he would + have welcomed. In vain, in vain he courted repose; in vain he had recourse + to every expedient to wile himself to slumber. Each minute he started from + his pillow with some phrase which reminded him of his late fearful + society. Hour after hour moved on with its leaden pace; each hour he heard + strike, and each hour seemed an age. Each hour was only a signal to cast + off some covering, or shift his position. It was, at length, morning. With + a feeling that he should go mad if he remained any longer in bed, he rose, + and paced his chamber. The air refreshed him. He threw himself on the + floor, the cold crept over his senses, and he slept.'(13) + </p> + <p> + (13) 'The Young Duke,' by B. Disraeli, chapter VIII. This gambling is the + turning-point in the young duke's career; he proves himself at length not + unworthy of his noble ancestry arm his high hereditary position,—takes + his place in the Senate, and weds the maiden of his love. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. ATROCITIES, DUELS, SUICIDES, AND EXECUTION OF GAMBLERS. + </h2> + <p> + The history of all nations is but the record of their cupidity; and when + the fury of gaming appears on the scene, it has never failed to double the + insolence and atrocities of tyranny. + </p> + <p> + The atrocious gambling of the Hindoo Rajas has been related;(14) and I + have incidentally adverted to similar concomitants of the vice among all + nations. I now propose to bring together a series of facts specially + elucidative of the harrowing theme. + </p> + <p> + (14) Chapter II. + </p> + <p> + One of the Ptolemys, kings of Egypt, required all causes to be submitted + to him whilst at play, and pronounced even sentence of death according to + chance. On one occasion his wife, Berenice, pronounced thereanent those + memorable words:—'There cannot be too much deliberation when the + death of a man is concerned'—afterwards adopted by Juvenal—Nulla + unquam de morte hominis cunctatio longa est.(15) + </p> + <p> + (15) Aelian, Var. Hist. lib. XLIV. c. xiii.; Juvenal, Sat. vi. + </p> + <p> + Tolomnius, King of the Veii, happened to be playing at dice when the + arrival of Roman ambassadors was announced. At the very instant he uttered + the word KILL, a term of the game; the word was misinterpreted by the + hearers, and they went forthwith and massacred the ambassadors. Livy + suggests that this was an excuse alleged AFTER the commission of the deed; + but gamesters are subject to such absence of mind that there is really + nothing incredible or astonishing in the act. 'Sire,' exclaimed a + messenger to the Caliph Alamin, 'it is no longer time for play—Babylon + is besieged!' 'Silence!' said the caliph, 'don't you see I am on the point + of giving checkmate?' The same story is told of a Duke of Normandy. + </p> + <p> + Wars have arisen from very trivial causes—among the rest gambling. + Henry, the son of William the Conqueror, was playing at chess with Louis, + the son of Philip, King of France. The latter, perceiving that he was + losing the game got into a passion, and calling Henry the son of a + bastard, flung the chess-board into his face. Henry took the chess-board + and struck Louis with it so violently that he drew blood, and would have + killed him if his brother, who happened to come in, had not prevented him. + The two brothers took to flight, but a great and lasting war was the + consequence of the gambling fracas. + </p> + <p> + A gaming quarrel was the cause of the slap in the face given by the Duc + Rene to Louis XII., then only Duc d'Orleans. This slap was the origin of a + ligue which was termed 'the mad war.' The resentment of the outraged + prince was not appeased until he mounted the throne, when he uttered these + memorable words:—'A King of France does not avenge insults offered + to a Duke of Orleans.' + </p> + <p> + Many narratives of suicide committed by desperate gamblers are on record, + some of which I now adduce. + </p> + <p> + SIR JOHN BLAND, OF KIPPAX PARK. + </p> + <p> + Sir John Bland, of Kippax Park, flirted away his whole fortune at Hazard. + 'He, t'other night,' says Walpole, 'exceeded what was lost by the late + Duke of Bedford, having at one period of the night (though he recovered + the greater part of it) lost two and thirty thousand pounds.' Sir John + Kippax shot himself in 1705. + </p> + <p> + LORD MOUNTFORD. + </p> + <p> + Lord Mountford came to a tragic end through his gambling. He had lost + money; feared to be reduced to distress; asked for a government + appointment, and determined to throw the die of life or death on the + answer received from court. The answer was unfavourable. He consulted + several persons, indirectly at first, afterwards pretty directly, on the + easiest mode of finishing life; invited a dinner-party for the day after; + supped at White's, and played at Whist till one o'clock of the New Year's + morning. Lord Robert Bertie drank to him 'a happy new year;' he clapped + his hand strangely to his eyes. In the morning, he sent for a lawyer and + three witnesses, executed his will, made them read it over twice, + paragraph by paragraph, asked the lawyer if that will would stand good + though a man were to shoot himself. Being assured it would, he said—'Pray + stay, while I step into the next room;' went into the next room and shot + himself, placing the muzzle of the pistol so close to his head that the + report was not heard. + </p> + <p> + A SUICIDE ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL. + </p> + <p> + Gamblers have been known to set as coolly and deliberately about blowing + out their brains as if they had only been going to light their cigars. + Lord Orford, in his correspondence with Horace Walpole, mentions two + curious instances. + </p> + <p> + One of the fashionable young men of Lord Orford's day had been unhappily + decoyed into a gambling house, where his passion for play became so great + that he spent nearly the whole of his time in throwing the dice. He + continued to gamble until he had not only lost a princely fortune, but had + incurred a large amount of debt among his tradesmen. With the loss of his + money, and the utter beggary which stared him in the face, the unfortunate + victim of play lost all relish for life; and sought in death the only + refuge he could fancy from the infamy and misery which he had brought upon + himself. But whilst fully resolved on self-destruction, he thought, before + carrying his fatal purpose into execution, he might as well do his + tradesmen an act of justice, even if in so doing he should do injustice to + others. He insured his life to the extent of his debts, amounting to + several thousand pounds. Being acquainted with several of the directors of + the company (he called them his life-and-death brokers) in which he + insured, he invited them to dinner the following day, with the ostensible + view of celebrating the completion of the insurance. The tradesmen also + received strict orders to be present; and as the non-payment of their + accounts for a long period to come was the penalty of not acceding to his + wishes in this respect, it can scarcely be necessary to say that they were + all 'punctual as lovers to the moment sworn.' The dinner over, and a + liberal allowance of wine having been quaffed, the ruined gambler desired + the servant to call up all who were in the hall below. In a few seconds + the dining-room was filled with tradesmen, all eager to receive payment of + their accounts. 'Now, gentlemen,' said the gambler, addressing his guests, + and pointing to the little crowd of tradesmen,—'now, gentlemen, + these are all my tradesmen; they are honest industrious men, to whom I am + indebted, and as I see no other earthly means of being ever able to meet + their just claims, you will be so kind as to pay them out of the sum for + which I insured my life yesterday. Allow me, gentlemen, to bid you + farewell.' And so saying, he pulled a pistol from his pocket, and placing + it to his head, that instant blew out his brains. Of course his insurance + office must have been one that undertook to pay insurances whatever might + be the cause of death, not excepting suicide—which, like duelling, + has usually been a bar to such claims. + </p> + <p> + REVELATIONS OF A GAMBLER ON THE POINT OF COMMITTING SELF-MURDER. + </p> + <p> + The following is 'A full and particular account of a person who threw + himself into the Thames, from Blackfriars Bridge, on Wednesday, July 10, + 1782; with the melancholy paper he left behind him, accounting to his wife + and children for so rash an action.' It is said that several thousands of + the papers were dispersed through London, and it is to be hoped that some + of them might produce that good effect which seems to have been so + anxiously desired by the person who wished them to be distributed. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'Midnight, July 10, 1782. +</pre> + <p> + 'Whoever thou art that readest this paper, listen to the voice of one from + the DEAD. While thine eyes peruse the lines their writer may be suffering + the most horrid punishments which an incensed Creator can inflict upon the + greatest sinner. + </p> + <p> + 'Reader, art thou of my own sex? Art thou a man? Oh, in whatever rank of + life, whether high or low,—beware of gambling! Beware of so much as + approaching an E O table! Had I ever met with such a dreadful warning as I + now offer thee, I might perhaps have been saved from death—have been + snatched from damnation. Reader, art thou a woman? Oh, whether rich or + poor, whether wife, mother, sister, or daughter,—if thou suspect + that the late hours, the feverish body, the disturbed mind, the ruffled + temper, the sudden extravagance of him whom thou lovest, are caused by + frequenting the gaming table, oh, fail not to discover thy suspicions—fail + not to remonstrate! Had but my dear wife remonstrated with me, when she + saw me, in consequence of my winnings, indulge in expense, which she must + have known I could not honestly afford, she would not now, within the next + hour, be deprived of her husband—of the only support of herself and + her three poor children in this world,—and deprived of him in a + manner which effectually cuts off all hopes of our ever meeting in the + happiness of another. * * * * + </p> + <p> + 'Yes, in less than an hour, coward as I am, I shall have deserted my duty + and my family in this world; and, wretch as I am, shall have rushed into + all the horrors of hell in another world, by drowning myself. + </p> + <p> + 'By curiosity I was first led to the E O table. Ashamed to stand idle I + put upon E, it came E; upon O, it came O. Fortune favoured me (as I + foolishly called it), and I came away a winner. + </p> + <p> + Something worse than curiosity, though hardly more dangerous, carried me + to another table another night. My view in going was answered. My view was + to WIN, and again I WON in the course of the evening. Again I went, and + again I won. For some weeks this was the constant story. Oh, happy had I + lost at first! Now I went every night. Everything I ought to have done, + neglected. Up all night, I was forced to lie in bed all day. The strength + of my mind, which at THIS moment might save me, was hourly wasting away. + My wife was deceived with continual falsehoods, to which nothing but her + fondness for me blinded her. Even my winnings, with the expense and + extravagance in which I indulged myself and family, were every day more + than half exhausted. But I felt that I was always to win. Fortune favoured + me. Fortune was now my deity. * * * * + </p> + <p> + 'But fortune, my new, my false deity, deserted me. My luck TURNED. I am + undone! Ruined! A beggar! My wife and children will want a morsel of bread + to eat. * * * * To destroy myself is the only way to preserve my family + from want, and to keep myself from the GALLOWS. This morning I absolutely + hesitated whether I should not procure a sum of money with which to try my + luck by FORGERY. Gamesters, think of that—FORGERY! O my dear wife, + is not anything better than seeing me conveyed to Tyburn? Yes, it is + better that before many hours you and your three helpless daughters should + be hanging in tears (I little merit) over my lifeless, cold, and swollen + body. + </p> + <p> + 'Readers, farewell! From my sad and voluntary death, learn wisdom. In + consequence of gaming I go to seek my destruction in the Thames. Oh, think + in what manner he deserves to be punished who commits a crime which he is + fully persuaded merits, and will not fail to meet, the severest + punishment.' + </p> + <p> + The narrative proceeds to state that, 'between one and two o'clock in the + morning he took a sad farewell of this world, and leaped over Blackfriars + Bridge. It pleased Providence, however, that he should be seen committing + this desperate action by two watermen, who found his body after it had + been a considerable time under water. In consequence of the methods used + by the men of the Humane Society, he was at length almost miraculously + restored to life and to his family. It is further stated that—'In + consequence of the advice of a worthy clergyman he was restored to reason + and to religion. He now wonders how he could think of committing so horrid + a crime; and is not without hope that by a life of continual repentance + and exemplary religion, he may obtain pardon hereafter. The paper which he + wrote before he set forth to drown himself he still desires should be made + as public as possible, and that this narrative should be added to it. + </p> + <p> + INCORRIGIBLE. + </p> + <p> + In the year 1799, Sir W. L—, Bart., finding his eldest son extremely + distressed and embarrassed, told him that he would relieve him from all + his difficulties, on condition that he would state to him, without + reserve, their utmost extent, and give him his honour never to play again + for any considerable sum. The debts—amounting to L22,000—were + instantly discharged. Before a week had elapsed he fell into his old + habits again, and lost L5000 more at a sitting; upon which he next morning + shot himself! + </p> + <p> + SUICIDE IN 1816. + </p> + <p> + In 1816 a gentleman, the head of a first-rate concern in the city, put a + period to his existence by blowing out his brains. He had gone to the + Argyle Rooms a few nights before the act, and accompanied a female home in + a coach, with two men, friends of the woman. When they got to her + residence the two men proposed to the gentleman to play for a dozen + champagne to treat the lady with, which the gentleman declined. They, + however, after a great deal of persuasion, prevailed on him to play for + small sums, and, according to the usual trick of gamblers, allowed him to + win at first, till they began to play for double, when there is no doubt + the fellows produced loaded dice, and the gentleman lost to the amount of + L1800! This brought him to his senses—as well it might. He then + invented an excuse for not paying that sum, by saying that he was under an + agreement with his partner not to draw for a larger amount than L300 for + his private account—and gave them a draft for that amount, promising + the remainder at a future day. This promise, however, he did not attend + to, not feeling himself bound by such a villainous transaction, especially + after giving them so much. But the robbers found out who he was and his + residence, and had the audacity to go, armed with bludgeons, and attack + him publicly on his own premises, in the presence of those employed there, + demanding payment of their nefarious 'debt of honour,' and threatening + him, if he did not pay, that he should fight! + </p> + <p> + This exposure had such an effect on his feelings that he made an excuse to + retire—did so—and blew out his brains with a pistol! + </p> + <p> + This rash act was the more to be lamented because it prevented the + bringing to condign punishment, the plundering villains who were the cause + of it.(16) + </p> + <p> + (16) Annual Register, vol. lviii. + </p> + <p> + OTHER INSTANCES. + </p> + <p> + A gallant Dutch officer, after having lost a splendid fortune not long + since (1823) in a gambling house at Aix-la-Chapelle, shot himself. A + Russian general, also, of immense wealth, terminated his existence in the + same manner and for the same cause. More recently, a young Englishman, who + lost the whole of an immense fortune by gambling at Paris, quitted this + world by stabbing himself in the neck with a fork. A short time previously + another Englishman, whose birth was as high as his wealth had been + considerable, blew his brains out in the Palais Royal, after having + literally lost his last shilling. Finally, an unfortunate printer at + Paris, who had a wife and five children, finished his earthly career for + the same cause, by suffocating himself with the fumes of charcoal; he + said, in his farewell note to his unhappy wife—'Behold the effect of + gaming!'(17) + </p> + <p> + (17) Ubi supra. + </p> + <p> + 'IF I LOSE I SHALL COMMIT SUICIDE.' + </p> + <p> + A young man having gambled away his last shilling, solicited the loan of a + few pounds from one of the proprietors of the hell in which he had been + plundered. 'What security will you give me?' asked the fellow. 'My word of + honour,' was the reply. 'Your word of honour! That's poor security, and + won't do,' rejoined the hellite; 'if you can pawn nothing better than + that, you'll get no money out of me.' 'Then you won't lend me a couple of + pounds?' 'Not without security,' was the reply. 'Why, surely, you won't + refuse me a couple of sovereigns, after having lost so much?' 'I won't + advance you a couple of shillings without security.' + </p> + <p> + Still bent upon play, and greedy for the means to gratify his passion, the + unhappy man, as if struck by a sudden thought, exclaimed—'I'll give + you security—the clothes on my back are quite new, and worth eight + guineas; you shall have them as security. Lend me two sovereigns on them.' + </p> + <p> + 'Suppose you lose,' doggedly rejoined the other, 'I cannot strip them off + your back.' 'Don't trouble yourself on that head,' replied the desperate + wretch; 'if I lose I shall commit suicide, which I have been meditating + for some time, and you shall surely have my clothes. I shall return to my + lodgings before daylight, in the most worn-out and worthless dressing-gown + or great-coat you can procure for me, leaving my clothes with you.' + </p> + <p> + The two sovereigns were advanced, and in ten or twelve minutes were lost. + The keeper of the table demanded the clothes, and the unfortunate man + stripped himself with the utmost coolness of manner, and wrapping his body + in a worn-out greatcoat, quitted the place with the full purpose of + committing self-murder. He did not direct his steps homeward, however, but + resolved to accomplish the horrid deed by suspending himself from a + lamp-post in a dark lane near the place. While making the necessary + preparations he was observed by a constable, who at once took him into + custody, and on the following morning he was carried before the + magistrate, where all the circumstances of the affair came out. + </p> + <p> + SUICIDE AT VERDUN. + </p> + <p> + During the great French War, among other means resorted to in order to + ease the English prisoners at Verdun of their loose cash, a gaming table + was set up for their sole accommodation, and, as usual, led to scenes of + great depravity and horror. For instance, a young man was enticed into + this sink of iniquity, when he was tempted to throw on the table a + five-franc piece; he won, and repeated the experiment several times + successfully, until luck turned against him, and he lost everything he + had. The manager immediately offered a rouleau of a thousand francs, + which, in the heat of play, he thoughtlessly accepted, and also lost. He + then drew a bill on his agent, which his captain (he was an officer in the + English army) endorsed. The proceeds of this went the way of the rouleau. + He drew two more bills, and lost again. The next morning he was found dead + in his bed, with his limbs much distorted and his fingers dug into his + sides. On his table was found an empty laudanum bottle, and some scraps of + paper on which he had been practising the signature of Captain B——. + On inquiry it was found that he had forged that officer's name to the two + last bills. + </p> + <p> + 'IN AT THE DEATH.' + </p> + <p> + In 1819 an inquest was held on the body of a gentleman found hanging from + one of the trees in St James's Park. The evidence established the + melancholy fact that the deceased was in the habit of frequenting gambling + houses, and had sunk into a state of dejection on account of his losses; + and it seemed probable that it was immediately after his departure from + one of these receptacles of rogues and their dupes that he committed + suicide. The son of the gate-keeper at St James's saw several persons + round the body at four o'clock in the morning, one of whom, a noted + gambler, said: 'Look at his face; why, have you forgotten last night? + Don't you recollect him now?' They were, no doubt, all gamblers—in + at the death.' + </p> + <p> + The three following stories, if not of actual suicide, relate crimes which + bear a close resemblance to self-murder. + </p> + <p> + A GAMBLER PAWNING HIS EARS. + </p> + <p> + A clerk named Chambers, losing his monthly pay, which was his all, at a + gaming table, begged to borrow of the manager's; but they knew his history + too well to lend without security, and therefore demanded something in + pawn. 'I have nothing to give but my ears,' he replied. 'Well,' said one + of the witty demons, 'let us have them.' The youth immediately took a + knife out of his pocket and actually cut off all the fleshy part of one of + his cars and threw it on the table, to the astonishment of the admiring + gamesters. He received his two dollars, and gambled on. + </p> + <p> + A GAMBLER SUBMITTING TO BE HANGED. + </p> + <p> + The following incident is said to have occurred in London:—Two + fellows were observed by a patrol sitting at a lamp-post in the New Road; + and, on closely watching them, the latter discovered that one was tying up + the other, who offered no resistance, by the neck. The patrol interfered + to prevent such a strange kind of murder, and was assailed by both, and + very considerably beaten for his good offices; the watchmen, however, + poured in, and the parties were secured. On examination next morning, it + appeared that the men had been gambling; that one had lost all his money + to the other, and had at last proposed to stake his clothes. The winner + demurred—observing that he could not strip his adversary naked in + the event of his losing. 'Oh,' replied the other, 'do not give yourself + any uneasiness about that; if I lose I shall be unable to live, and you + shall hang me, and take my clothes after I am dead, for I shall then, you + know, have no occasion for them.' The proposed arrangement was assented + to; and the fellow having lost, was quietly submitting to the terms of the + treaty when he was interrupted by the patrol, whose impertinent + interference he so angrily resented. + </p> + <p> + TWO GAMBLERS TOSSING WHO SHOULD HANG THE OTHER. + </p> + <p> + In the year 1812 an extraordinary investigation took place at Bow Street. + Croker, the officer, was passing along Hampstead Road; he observed at a + short distance before him two men on a wall, and directly after saw the + tallest of them, a stout man, about six feet high, hanging by his neck + from a lamp-post attached to the wall, being that instant tied up and + turned off by the short man. + </p> + <p> + This unexpected and extraordinary sight astonished the officer; he made up + to the spot with all speed, and just after he arrived there the tall man, + who had been hanged, fell to the ground, the handkerchief with which he + had been suspended having given way. Croker produced his staff, said he + was an officer, and demanded to know of the other man the cause of such + conduct; in the mean time the man who had been hanged recovered, got up, + and on Croker's interfering, gave him a violent blow on his nose, which + nearly knocked him backward. The short man was endeavouring to make off; + however, the officer procured assistance, and both were brought to the + office, where the account they gave was that they worked on canals. They + had been together on Wednesday afternoon, tossed for money, and afterwards + for their CLOTHES; the tall man who was hanged won the other's jacket, + trousers, and shoes; they then tossed up which should HANG THE OTHER, and + the short one won the toss. They got upon the wall, the one to submit, and + the other to hang him on the lamp-iron. They both agreed in this + statement. The tall one, who had been hanged, said if he had won the toss + he would have hanged the other. He said he then felt the effects upon his + neck of his hanging, and his eyes were so much swelled that he saw DOUBLE. + </p> + <p> + The magistrates, continues the report in the 'Annual Register,' expressed + their horror and disgust; and ordered the man who had been hanged to find + bail for the violent and unjustifiable assault upon the officer; and the + short one, for hanging the other—a very odd decision in the latter + case—since the act was murder 'to all intents and purposes' designed + and intended. The report says, however, that, not having bail, they were + committed to Bridewell for trial.(20) The result I have not discovered. + </p> + <p> + (20) Annual Register, 1812, vol. liv. + </p> + <p> + Innumerable duels have resulted from quarrels over the gaming table, + although nothing could be more Draconic than the law especially directed + against such duels. By the Act of Queen Anne against gaming, all persons + sending a challenge on account of gaming disputes were liable to forfeit + all their goods and to be committed to prison for two years. No case of + the kind, however, was ever prosecuted on that clause of the Act, which + was, in other respects, very nearly inoperative. + </p> + <p> + GAMBLING DUELS IN THE YEAR 1818. + </p> + <p> + It so happened that almost every month of the year 1818 was + 'distinguished' by a duel or two, resulting from quarrels at gambling or + in gambling houses. + </p> + <p> + January. 'A meeting took place yesterday at an early hour, between Captain + B—r—y and Lieutenant T—n—n, in consequence of a + dispute at play. Wimbledon Common was the ground, and the parties fired + twice, when the lieutenant was slightly wounded in the pistol hand, the + ball grazing the right side; and here the affair ended.' + </p> + <p> + January. 'A meeting took place on the 9th instant, at Calais, between + Lieut. Finch, 20th regiment of Dragoons, and Lieut. Boileau, on half-pay + of the 41st regiment. Lieut. Finch was bound over, some days back, to keep + the peace in England; in consequence of which he proceeded to Calais, + accompanied by his friend, Captain Butler, where they were followed by + Lieut. Boileau and his friend Lieut. Hartley. It was settled by Captain + Butler, previous to Lieut. Finch taking his ground, that HE WAS BOUND IN + HONOUR to receive LIEUT. BOILEAU'S FIRE as he had given so serious a + provocation as a blow. This arrangement was, however, defeated, by Lieut. + Finch's pistol "accidentally" going off, apparently in the direction of + his opponent, which would probably have led to fatal consequences had it + not been for the IMPLICIT RELIANCE placed by Lieut. Boileau's friend on + the STRICT HONOUR of Capt. Butler, whose anxiety, steadiness, and + gentlemanly conduct on this and every other occasion, were too well known + to leave a doubt on the minds of the opposite party, that Lieut. Finch's + pistol going off was ENTIRELY ACCIDENTAL. A reconciliation, therefore, + immediately took place.' + </p> + <p> + February 17. 'Information was received at the public office, Marlborough + Street, on Saturday last, that a duel was about to take place yesterday, + in the fields contiguous to Chalk Farm, between Colonel Tucker and Lieut. + Nixon, the latter having challenged the former in public company, for + which and previous abuse the colonel inflicted severe chastisement with a + thick stick. Subsequent information was received that the colonel's + friends deemed it unnecessary for him to meet the challenger, but that his + remedy was to repeat the former chastisement when insulted. It was further + stated that a few half-pay officers, of inferior rank, had leagued + together for the purpose of procuring others to give a challenge, and + which it was the determination to put down by adopting the colonel's + plan.' + </p> + <p> + February. 'A captain in the army shook hands with a gallant lieut.-colonel + (who had distinguished himself in the Peninsula) at one of the West End + gaming houses, and Lieut. N—, who was present, upbraided the colonel + with the epithet of "poltroon." On a fit opportunity the colonel inflicted + summary justice upon the lieutenant with a cane or horse-whip. This + produced a challenge; but the colonel was advised that he would degrade + himself by combat with the challenger, and he therefore declined it, but + promised similar chastisement to that inflicted. It was then stated that + the colonel was bound to fight any other person who would stand forth as + the champion of Lieut. N—, to which the colonel consented,—when + a Lieut. J—n—e appeared as the champion, and the meeting was + appointed for Tuesday morning at Turnham Green. The information of the + police was renewed, and Thomas Foy apprehended the parties at an inn near + the spot, early in the morning. They were consequently bound over to keep + the peace. It appears, however, that the lieutenant in this instance was + not the champion of the former, but had been challenged by the colonel.' + </p> + <p> + April. 'A meeting was to have taken place yesterday in consequence of a + dispute at play, between Captain R—n—s and Mr B—e—r, + a gentleman of fortune; but it was prevented by the interference of the + police, and the parties escaped. It took place, however, on the following + day, on Wimbledon Common, and after exchanging a single shot the matter + was adjusted.' + </p> + <p> + May. 'In consequence of a dispute at a gaming table, on Monday night, in + the vicinity of Piccadilly, Mr M—, who was an officer in the British + service at Brussels, and Mr B—n, a medical man, met, at three in the + morning, on Tuesday, in the King's Road. They fought at twelve paces. Mr B—n + was wounded on the back part of the hand, and the affair was adjusted.' + </p> + <p> + July. 'A duel was fought yesterday morning, on Wimbledon Common, between a + Mr Arrowsmith and Lieut. Flynn, which ended in the former being wounded in + the thigh. The dispute which occasioned the meeting originated in a gaming + transaction.' + </p> + <p> + September. 'A duel was fought this morning on Hounslow Heath, between + Messrs Hillson and Marsden. The dispute arose in one of the stands at + Egham races. The latter was seriously wounded in the left side, and + conveyed away in a gig.' + </p> + <p> + November. 'A duel originating, over a dispute at play was fixed to take + place on Wimbledon Common, at daybreak, yesterday morning, but information + having been received that police officers were waiting, the parties + withdrew.' + </p> + <p> + GAMING DUEL AT PARIS, 1827. + </p> + <p> + A medical student, named Goulard, quarrelled at billiards with a + fellow-student named Caire. Their mutual friends, having in vain tried + every means of persuasion to prevent the consequences of the dispute, + accompanied the young men without the walls of Paris. Goulard seemed + disposed to submit to an arrangement, but Cairo obstinately refused. The + seconds measured the ground, and the first shot having been won by + Goulard, he fired, and Caire fell dead. Goulard did not appear during the + prosecution that followed; he continued absent on the day fixed for + judgment, and the court, conformably to the code of criminal proceedings, + pronounced on the charge without the intervention of a jury. It acquitted + Goulard of premeditation, but condemned him for contumacy, to perpetual + hard labour, and to be branded; and this in spite of the fact that the + advocate-general had demanded Goulard's acquittal of the charge. + </p> + <p> + THE END OF A GAMESTER. + </p> + <p> + In 1788, a Scotch gentleman, named William Brodie, was tried and convicted + at Edinburgh, for stealing bank-notes and money, with violence. This man, + at the death of his father, twelve years before, inherited a considerable + estate in houses, in the city of Edinburgh, together with L10,000 in + money; but, by an unhappy connection and a too great propensity to gaming, + he was reduced to the desperation which brought him at last to the + scaffold. It is stated that his demeanour on receiving the dreadful + sentence was equally cool and determined; moreover, that he was dressed in + a blue coat, fancy vest, satin breeches, and white silk stockings; a + cocked hat; his hair full dressed and powdered; and, lastly, that he was + carried back to prison in a chair. Such was the respectful treatment of + 'gentlemen' prisoners in Scotland towards the end of the last century. + </p> + <p> + DUEL WITH A SHARPER. + </p> + <p> + A Monsieur de Boisseuil, one of the Kings equerries, being at a + card-party, detected one of the players cheating, and exposed his conduct. + </p> + <p> + The insulted 'gentleman' demanded satisfaction, when Boisseuil replied + that he did not fight with a person who was a rogue. + </p> + <p> + 'That MAY be,' said the other, 'but I do not like to be CALLED one.' + </p> + <p> + They met on the ground, and Boisseuil received two desperate wounds from + the sharper. + </p> + <p> + This man's plea against Boisseuil is a remarkable trait. Madame de Stael + has alluded to it in her best style. 'In France,' she says, 'we constantly + see persons of distinguished rank, who, when accused of an improper + action, will say—"It may have been wrong, but no one will dare + assert it to my face!" Such an expression is an evident proof of confirmed + depravity; for, what would be the condition of society if it was only + requisite to kill one another, to commit with impunity every evil action,—to + break one's word and assert falsehood—provided no one dared tell you + that you lied?' + </p> + <p> + In countries where public opinion is more severe on the want of probity + and fair-dealing, should a man transgress the laws of these principles of + human conduct, ten duels a day would not enable him to recover the esteem + he has forfeited. + </p> + <p> + MAJOR ONEBY AND MR GOWER. + </p> + <p> + This duel originated as follows:—It appears that a Major Oneby, + being in company with a Mr Gower and three other persons, at a tavern, in + a friendly manner, after some time began playing at Hazard; when one of + the company, named Rich, asked if any one would set him three half-crowns; + whereupon Mr Gower, in a jocular manner, laid down three half-pence, + telling Rich he had set him three pieces, and Major Oneby at the same time + set Rich three half-crowns, and lost them to him. + </p> + <p> + Immediately after this, Major Oneby, in a angry manner, turned about to Mr + Gower and said—'It was an impertinent thing to set down half-pence,' + and called him 'an impertinent puppy' for so doing. To this Mr Gower + answered—'Whoever calls me so is a rascal. 'Thereupon Major Oneby + took up a bottle, and with great force threw it at Mr Gower's head, but + did not hit him, the bottle only brushing some of the powder out of his + hair. Mr Gower, in return, immediately tossed a candlestick or a bottle at + Major Oneby, which missed him; upon which they both rose to fetch their + swords, which were then hung in the room, and Mr Gower drew his sword, but + the Major was prevented from drawing his by the company. Thereupon Mr + Gower threw away his sword, and the company interposing, they sat down + again for the space of an hour. + </p> + <p> + At the expiration of that time, Mr Gower said to Major Oneby—'We + have had hot words, and you were the aggressor, but I think we may pass it + over'—at the same time offering him his hand; but the Major replied—'No, + d—n you, I WILL HAVE YOUR BLOOD.' + </p> + <p> + After this, the reckoning being paid, all the company, excepting Major + Oneby, went out to go home, and he called to Mr Gower, saying—'Young + man, come back, I have something to say to you.' Whereupon Mr Gower + returned to the room, and immediately the door was closed, and the rest of + the company excluded—when a clashing of swords was heard, and Major + Oneby gave Mr Gower a mortal wound. It was found, on the breaking up of + the company, that Major Oneby had his great coat over his shoulders, and + that he had received three slight wounds in the fight. Mr Gower, being + asked on his death-bed whether he had received his wounds in a manner + among swordsmen called fair, answered—'I think I did.' Major Oneby + was tried for the offence, and found guilty of murder, 'having acted upon + malice and deliberation, and not from sudden passion.' + </p> + <p> + THE NEPHEW OF A BRITISH PEER. + </p> + <p> + In 1813, the nephew of a British peer was executed at Lisbon. He had + involved himself by gambling, and being detected in robbing the house of + an English friend, by a Portuguese servant, he shot the latter dead to + prevent discovery. This desperate act, however, did not enable him to + escape the hands of justice. After execution, his head was severed from + his body and fixed on a pole opposite the house in which the murder and + robbery were committed. + </p> + <p> + The following facts will show the intimate connection between gambling and + Robbery or Forgery. + </p> + <p> + EDWARD WORTLEY MONTAGU AND THE JEW ABRAHAM PAYBA. + </p> + <p> + Edward Wortley Montagu was the only son of the celebrated Lady Mary + Wortley Montagu, whose eccentricities he inherited without her genius. + Montagu, together with Lords Taffe and Southwell, was accused of having + invited one Abraham Payba, alias James Roberts, a Jew, to dine with them + at Paris, in the year 1751; and of having plied him with wine till he + became intoxicated, and so lost at play the sum of 800 louis d'ors. It was + affirmed that they subsequently called at his house, and that on his + exhibiting an evident disinclination to satisfy their demands, they + threatened to cut him across the face with their swords unless he + instantly paid them. Terrified by their violence, and, at the same time, + unwilling to part with his gold, the Jew had cunning enough to give them + drafts on a Paris banker, by whom, as he had no dealings with him, he well + knew that his bills would be dishonoured; and, to escape the vengeance of + those whom he had outwitted, quitted Paris. On ascertaining how completely + they had been duped, Montagu, with his associates Lords Taffe and + Southwell, repaired to the house of the Jew, and after ransacking his + drawers and strong boxes, are said to have possessed themselves of a very + considerable sum of money, in addition to diamonds, jewels, and other + valuable articles. The Jew had it now in his power to turn on his + persecutors, and accordingly he appealed to the legislature for redress. + Lord Southwell contrived to effect his escape, but Lord Taffe and Montagu + were arrested, and were kept in separate dungeons in the Grand Chatelet, + for nearly three months. The case was subsequently tried in a court of + law, and decided in favour of the accused,—the Jew being adjudged to + make reparation and defray the costs! Against the injustice of this + sentence he appealed to the high court of La Tournelle at Paris, which + reversed it. Lord Taffe and Montagu afterwards appealed, in their turn, + but of the definitive result there is no record. + </p> + <p> + DR WILLIAM DODD. + </p> + <p> + Le Sage, in his 'Gil Blas,' says that 'the devil has a particular spite + against private tutors;' and he might have added, against popular + preachers. By popular preachers I do not mean such grand old things as + Bossuet, Massillon, and Bourdaloue. All such men were proof against the + fiery darts of the infernal tempter. From their earliest days they had + been trained to live up to the Non nobis Domine, 'Not unto us, O Lord, but + unto thy name, give glory.' All of them had only at heart the glory of + their church-cause; though, of course, the Jesuit Bourdaloue worked also + for his great Order, then culminating in glory. + </p> + <p> + The last-named, too, was another La Fontaine in simplicity, preparing for + his grandest predications by sorrily rasping on an execrable fiddle. So, + if the devil had lifted him up to a high mountain, showing him all he + would give him, he would have simply invited him to his lonely cell, to + have a jig to the tune of his catguts. + </p> + <p> + Your popular preachers in England have been, and are, a different sort of + spiritual workers. They have been, and are, individualities, perpetually + reminded of the fact, withal; and fiercely tempted accordingly. The world, + the flesh, and the devil, incessantly knock at their door. If they fall + into the snare it is but natural, and much to be lamented. + </p> + <p> + Dr Dodd had many amiable qualities; but his reputation as a scholar, and + his notoriety as a preacher, appear to have entirely turned his head. + </p> + <p> + He had presented to him a good living in Bedfordshire; but the income + thereof was of no avail in supplying his wants: he was vain, pompous, in + debt, a gambler. Temptation came upon him. To relieve himself he tried by + indirect means to obtain the rectory of St George's, Hanover Square, by + sending an anonymous letter to Lady Apsley, offering the sum of L3000 if + by her means he could be presented to the living; the letter was + immediately sent to the chancellor, and, after being traced to the sender, + laid before the king. His name was ordered to be struck out of the list of + chaplains; the press abounded with satire and invective; Dodd was abused + and ridiculed, and even Foote, in one of his performances at the + Haymarket, made him a subject of entertainment. Dodd then decamped, and + went to his former pupil, Lord Chesterfield, in Switzerland, who gave him + another living; but his extravagance being undiminished, he was driven to + schemes which covered him with infamy. After the most extravagant and + unseemly conduct in France, he returned to England, and forged a bond as + from his pupil, Lord Chesterfield, for the sum of L4200, and, upon the + credit of it, obtained a large sum of money; but detection instantly + following, he was committed to prison, tried and convicted at the Old + Bailey, Feb. 24, and executed at Tyburn, June 27 (after a delay of four + months), exhibiting every appearance of penitence. The great delay between + the sentence and execution was owing to a doubt for some time respecting + the admissibility of an evidence which had been made use of to convict + him. + </p> + <p> + Lord Chesterfield has been accused of a cold and relentless disposition in + having deserted his old tutor in his extremity. But Mr Jesse says that he + heard it related by a person who lived at the period, that at a + preliminary examination of the unfortunate divine, Lord Chesterfield, on + some pretence, placed the forged document in Dodd's hands, with the kind + intention that he should take the opportunity of destroying it, but the + latter wanted either the courage or the presence of mind enough to avail + himself of the occasion. This, however, is scarcely an excuse, for, + certainly, it was not for Dr Dodd to destroy the fatal document. If Lord + Chesterfield had wished to suppress that vital evidence he could have done + so. + </p> + <p> + Dr Johnson exerted himself to the utmost to try and save poor Dodd; but + George III. was inexorable. Respecting this benevolent attempt of the + Doctor, Chalmers writes as follows:— + </p> + <p> + Dr Johnson appears indeed in this instance to have been more swayed by + popular judgment than he would perhaps have been willing to allow. The cry + was—"the honour of the clergy;" but if the honour of the clergy was + tarnished, it was by Dodd's crime, and not his punishment; for his life + had been so long a disgrace to his cloth that he had deprived himself of + the sympathy which attaches to the first deviation from rectitude, and few + criminals could have had less claim to such a display of popular feeling.' + </p> + <p> + All applications for the Royal mercy having failed, Dr Dodd prepared + himself for death, and with a warmth of gratitude wrote to Dr Johnson as + follows:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'June 25, Midnight. +</pre> + <p> + 'Accept, thou GREAT and GOOD heart, my earnest and fervent thanks and + prayers for all thy benevolent and kind efforts in my behalf.—Oh! Dr + Johnson! as I sought your knowledge at an early hour in my life, would to + Heaven I had cultivated the love and acquaintance of so excellent a man!—I + pray God most sincerely to bless you with the highest transports—the + infelt satisfaction of HUMANE and benevolent exertions!—And + admitted, as I trust I shall be, to the realms of bliss before you, I + shall hail YOUR arrival there with transport, and rejoice to acknowledge + that you were my comforter, my advocate, and my FRIEND. God be EVER with + YOU!' + </p> + <p> + Dr Johnson's reply. + </p> + <p> + 'To the Reverend Dr Dodd. + </p> + <p> + 'Dear Sir,—That which is appointed to all men is now coming upon + you. Outward circumstances, the eyes and thoughts of men, are below the + notice of an immortal being about to stand the trial for eternity, before + the Supreme Judge of heaven and earth. Be comforted: your crime, morally + or religiously considered, has no very deep dye of turpitude. It corrupted + no man's principles. It attacked no man's life. It involved only a + temporary and reparable injury. Of this, and of all other sins, you are + earnestly to repent; and may God, who knoweth our frailty, and desireth + not our death, accept your repentance, for the sake of His Son Jesus + Christ our Lord! + </p> + <p> + 'In requital of those well-intended offices which you are pleased so + emphatically to acknowledge, let me beg that you make in your devotions + one petition for my eternal welfare. 'I am, dear Sir, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'Your affectionate servant, + + 'SAM. JOHNSON. +</pre> + <p> + Next day, 27th June, Dr Dodd was executed. + </p> + <p> + CAPTAIN DAVIS. + </p> + <p> + Captain Davis was some time in the Life Guards, and a lieutenant in the + Yeomen of the Household—a situation which placed him often about the + persons of the Royal family. He was seldom known to play for less stakes + than L50, often won or lost large sums, and was represented as a gentleman + of extensive and independent fortune, although some of his enemies + declared otherwise, and repeated anecdotes to confirm the assertion. He + was at length committed for forgeries to an immense amount. To the + fidelity of a servant he owed his escape from Giltspur Street prison—another + fatal example of the sure result of gambling. Heir to a title—moving + in the first society—having held a commission in the most + distinguished of the Royal regiments—he was reduced to the + alternative of an ignominious flight with outlawry, or risking the + forfeiture of his wretched life, to the outraged laws of his country. When + in Paris, he at one time had won L30,000, and on his way home he dropped + into another gambling house, where he lost it all but L3000. He set out in + life with L20,000 in money! + </p> + <p> + DESPERATE CAREER OF HENRY WESTON. + </p> + <p> + Henry Weston was nephew to the distinguished Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser. + </p> + <p> + Having unlimited control of the large property of his employer, a Mr + Cowan, during the absence of the latter from town, he was tempted first to + gamble in the funds, wherein being unfortunate, he next went to a gambling + house in Pall Mall, and lost a very large sum; and at length, gamed away + nearly all his master's property. + </p> + <p> + In this tremendous result—lost to all intents and purposes—he + made a supreme effort to 'patch up' the ruin he had made. He forged the + name of General Tonyn; and so dexterously, that he obtained from the Bank + of England the sum of L10,000. + </p> + <p> + This huge robbery from Peter was not to pay Paul. Not a bit of it. It was + to try the fickle goddess of gaming once more—a Napoleonic stroke + for an Austerlitz of fortune. + </p> + <p> + He lost this L10,000 in two nights. + </p> + <p> + Did he despair at this hideous catastrophe? Did he tear his hair—rush + out of the room—blow his brains out or drown himself? + </p> + <p> + Not a bit of it. He 'set his wits to work' once more. He procured a woman + to personate General Tonyn's sister—forged again—and again + obtained from the Bank of England another large supply of ready cash—with + which, however, he 'went off' this time. + </p> + <p> + He was caught; and then only he thought of self-murder, and cut his throat—but + not effectually. He recovered, was tried at the Old Bailey, and hanged on + the 6th of July, 1796. + </p> + <p> + No doubt the reader imagines that the man of such a career was an OLD + stager—some long-visaged, parchment-faced fellow the OTHER side of + forty at least. Well, this hero of the gaming table, Henry Weston, was + aged only TWENTY-THREE years! What terrible times those must have been to + produce such a prodigy! + </p> + <p> + To the judge who tried him Henry Weston sent a list of a number of + PROFESSIONAL GAMBLERS, among them was a person of high rank. Weston, at + different times, lost above L46,000 at play; and at a house in Pall Mall, + where he lost a considerable part of it, three young officers also lost no + less than L35,000. + </p> + <p> + ARTHUR THISTLEWOOD. + </p> + <p> + It seems that the wretched traitor Arthur Thistlewood, who paid the + forfeit of his life for his crimes, had dissipated by gaming the property + he had acquired by a matrimonial connection—L12,000. An unfortunate + transaction at cards, during the Lincoln races, involved him in + difficulties, which he found it impossible to meet; and he fled to avoid + the importunities of his more fortunate associates. He was afterwards + known only as the factious demagogue and the professed gambler! + </p> + <p> + FOUNTLEROY, THE FORGER. + </p> + <p> + Henry Fountleroy was a gentleman of rank, a partner in the banking house + of Marsh, Sibbold, and Co., of Berners Street. He was convicted of having + forged a deed for the transfer of L5450 long annuities, in fraud of a + certain Frances Young. Like Thurtell, Fountleroy defended himself, and + battled with the prejudicial reports circulated against him—among + the rest his addiction to gambling. 'I am accused,' he said, 'of being an + habitual gambler, an accusation which, if true, might easily account for + the diffusion of the property. I am, indeed, a member of two clubs, the + Albion and the Stratford, but never in my life did I play in either at + cards, or dice, or any game of chance; this is well known to the gentlemen + of these clubs; and my private friends, with whom I more intimately + associated, can equally assert my freedom from all habit or disposition to + play.'(21) + </p> + <p> + (21) See the case in 'Celebrated Trials,' vol. vi + </p> + <p> + I close this record of crime and misery by a few narratives of a more + miscellaneous character. + </p> + <p> + GAMBLING FOR LIFE. + </p> + <p> + Marshal Grammont used to tell a story of three soldiers, who, having + committed offences punishable by death, it was ordered that one of them + should be hanged as an example, and the three were directed to decide + which of them should suffer by throwing dice. The first threw fourteen, + the second seventeen, and the last, taking up the dice as coolly as though + he were engaged in a trivial game, threw eighteen! Thereupon he exclaimed, + with an expression of vexation, 'Ah, now! if I had been playing for money + I should not have been so lucky!' + </p> + <p> + This may appear 'taking it very cool;' but I think the following cases of + Englishmen' rather stronger.' + </p> + <p> + ONE OF MANY INSTANCES. + </p> + <p> + In the Times of February 11th, 1819, mention is made of a gang of nearly + thirty persons, male and female, and all presenting the most shocking + appearance of both want and depravity, who were brought to the Marlborough + Street Office. Among these wretched beings was a woman named Hewitt, said + to be the wife of one Captain Hewitt, a leader of the ton, who, after + ruining himself and family at the gambling table, ran away from them, and + was not since heard of. His wife being left to herself, and having + probably been tainted by his evil example, by an easy gradation became + first embarrassed, then a prostitute, then a thief, and on the occasion + above mentioned exhibited one of the most distressing spectacles of vice + and misery that could be conceived. + </p> + <p> + TRURTELL THE MURDERER. + </p> + <p> + This man, it is well known, was executed for the murder of Weare. + </p> + <p> + Thurtell was evidently no common man. His spoken defence, as reported, is + one of the finest specimens of impassioned eloquence—perfectly + Demosthenic. His indignation at the reports circulated in prejudice of his + case was overwhelming. Nothing can be finer than the turn of the following + sentence:—'I have been represented by the Press—WHICH CARRIES + ITS BENEFITS OR CURSES ON RAPID WINGS from one extremity of the kingdom to + the other—as a man more depraved, more gratuitously and habitually + profligate and cruel, than has ever appeared in modern times.' + </p> + <p> + Touching his gambling pursuits, he said:—'I have been represented to + you as a man who was given to gambling, and the constant companion of + gamblers. To this accusation in some part my heart, with feeling + penitence, pleads guilty. I have gambled; I have been a gambler, but not + for the last three years. During that time I have not attended or betted + upon a horse-race, or a fight, or any public exhibition of that nature. If + I have erred in these things, half of the nobility of the land have been + my examples; some of the most enlightened statesmen of the country have + been my companions in them. I have, indeed, been a gambler; I have been an + unfortunate one. But whose fortune have I ruined?—whom undone? My + own family have I ruined; I have undone myself!'(22) + </p> + <p> + (22) See the entire speech in 'Celebrated Trials,' vol. vi. 547. + </p> + <p> + A MOST WONDERFUL END OF A GAMBLER. + </p> + <p> + In the Annual Register for the year 1766 occurs the following + 'circumstantial and authentic account of the memorable case of Richard + Parsons,' transmitted by the high sheriff of Gloucestershire to his friend + in London. + </p> + <p> + On the 20th of February, 1766, Richard Parsons and three more met at a + private house in Chalfold, in order to play at cards, about six o'clock in + the evening. They played at Loo till about eleven or twelve that night, + when they changed their game for Whist. After a few deals a dispute arose + about the state of the game. Parsons asserted with oaths that they were + six, which the others denied; upon which he wished 'that he might never + enter the kingdom of heaven, and that his flesh might rot upon his bones, + if there were not six in the game.' These wishes were several times + repeated both then and afterwards. Upon this the candle was put out by a + party present, who said he was shocked with the oaths and expressions he + heard, and that he put out the candle with a design to put an end to the + game. Presently upon this they adjourned to another house, and there began + a fresh game, when Parsons and his partner had great success. They then + played at Loo again till four in the morning. During the second playing + Parsons complained to one Rolles, his partner, of a bad pain in his leg, + which from that time increased. There was an appearance of a swelling, and + afterwards the colour changing to that of a mortified state. On the + following Sunday he took advice of a surgeon, who attended him until his + death. Notwithstanding all the applications that were made the + mortification increased, and showed itself in different parts of the body. + He was visited by a clergyman, who administered the sacrament to him, + without any knowledge of what had happened before—the man appearing + to be extremely ignorant of religion, having been accustomed to swear, to + drink, to game, and to profane the Sabbath. After receiving the sacrament + he said—'Now, I must never sin again.' He hoped God would forgive + him, having been wicked not above six years, and that whatever should + happen he would not play at cards again. + </p> + <p> + After this he was in great agony—chiefly delirious; spoke of his + companions by name, and seemed as if his imagination was engaged at cards. + He started, had distracted looks and gestures, and in a dreadful fit of + shaking and trembling died on the 4th of March, just about a fortnight + after the utterance of his terrible imprecation. + </p> + <p> + The worthy sheriff of Gloucestershire goes on to say that the man's eyes + were open when he died, and could not be closed by the common method, so + that they remained open when he was put into the coffin. From this + circumstance arose a report that he WISHED HIS EYES MIGHT NEVER CLOSE; + 'but,' says the sheriff, 'this is a mistake; for, from the most creditable + witnesses, I am fully convinced no such wish was uttered; and the fact is, + that he did close his eyes after he was taken with the mortification, and + either dozed or slept several times. + </p> + <p> + 'When the body came to be laid out, it appeared all over discoloured or + spotted; and it might, in the most literal sense, be said, that his flesh + rotted on his bones before he died.' + </p> + <p> + At the request of the sheriff, the surgeon (a Mr Pegler) who attended the + unfortunate man, sent in the following report:—'Sir,—You + desire me to acquaint you, in writing, with what I know relating to the + melancholy case of the late Richard Parsons; a request I readily comply + with, hoping that his sad catastrophe will serve to admonish all those who + profane the sacred name of God. + </p> + <p> + 'February 27th last I visited Richard Parsons, who, I found, had an + inflamed leg, stretching from the foot almost to the knee, tending to a + gangrene. The tenseness and redness of the skin was almost gone off, and + became of a duskish and livid colour, and felt very lax and flabby. + Symptoms being so dangerous, some incisions were made down to the quick, + some spirituous fomentations made use of, and the whole limb dressed up + with such applications as are most approved in such desperate + circumstances, joined with proper internal medicines. The next day he + seemed much the same; but on March the 1st he was worse, the incisions + discharged a sharp fetid odor (which is generally of the worst + consequence). On the next day, which was Sunday, the symptoms seemed to be + a little more favourable; but, to my great surprise, the very next day I + found his leg not only mortified up to the knee, but the same began anew + in four different parts, viz., under each eye, on the top of his shoulder, + and on one hand; and in about twelve hours after he died. I shall not + presume to say there was anything supernatural in the case; but, however, + it must be confessed, that such cases are rather uncommon in subjects so + young, and of so good a habit as he had always been previous to his + illness.' + </p> + <p> + On one occasion Justice Maule was about to pass sentence on a prisoner, + who upon being asked to say why judgment should not be pronounced, 'wished + that God might strike him dead if he was not innocent of the crime.' After + a pause, the judge said:—'As the Almighty has not thought proper to + comply with your request, the sentence of the court is,' &c. + </p> + <p> + A SAD REMINDER. + </p> + <p> + Every Englishman recollects the fate of that unhappy heiress, the richest + of all Europe, married to a man of rank and family, who was plundered in + the course of a few years of the whole of his wealth, in one of those club + houses, and was obliged to surrender himself to a common prison, and + ultimately fly from his country, leaving his wife with her relations in + the greatest despair and despondency.'(23) + </p> + <p> + (23) Rouge et Noir: the Academicians of 1823. + </p> + <p> + GEORGE IV. There are few departments of human distinction in which Great + Britain cannot boast a 'celebrity'—genteel or ungenteel. In the + matter of gambling we have been unapproachable—not only in the + 'thorough' determination with which we have exhausted the pursuit—but + in the vast, the fabulous millions which make up the sum total that + Englishmen have 'turned over' at the gaming table. + </p> + <p> + I think that many thousands of millions would be 'within the mark' as the + contribution of England to the insatiate god of gambling. + </p> + <p> + I have presented to the reader the record of gambling all the world over—the + gambling of savages—the gambling of the ancient Persians, Greeks, + and Romans—the gambling of the gorgeous monarchs of France and their + impassioned subjects; but I have now to introduce upon the horrible stage + a Prince Royal, who surpassed all his predecessors in the gaming art, + having right royally lost at play not much less than a million sterling, + or, as stated, L800,000—before he was twenty-one years of age! + </p> + <p> + If the following be facts, vouched for by a writer of authority,(24) the + results were most atrocious. + </p> + <p> + (24) James Grant (Editor of the Morning Advertiser), Sketches in London. + </p> + <p> + 'Every one is aware that George IV., when Prince of Wales, was, as the + common phrase is, over-head-and-ears in debt; and that it was because he + would thereby be enabled to meet the claims of his creditors, that he + consented to marry the Princess Caroline of Brunswick. But although this + is known to every one, comparatively few people are acquainted with the + circumstances under which his debts were contracted. Those debts, then, + were the result of losses at the gaming table. He was an inveterate + gambler—a habit which he most probably contracted through his + intimacy with Fox. It is a well-ascertained fact that in two short years, + after he attained his majority, he lost L800,000 at play. + </p> + <p> + 'It was with the view and in the hope that marriage would cure his + propensity for the gaming table, that his father was so anxious to see him + united to Caroline; and it was solely on account of his marriage with that + princess constituting the only condition of his debts being paid by the + country, that he agreed to lead her to the hymeneal altar. + </p> + <p> + 'The unfortunate results of this union are but too well known, not only as + regarded the parties themselves, but as regarded society generally. To the + gambling habits, then, of the Prince of Wales are to be ascribed all the + unhappiness which he entailed on the unfortunate Caroline, and the vast + amount of injury which the separation from her, and the subsequent trial, + produced on the morals of the nation generally.' + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. ODDITIES AND WITTICISMS OF GAMBLERS. + </h2> + <h3> + OSTENTATIOUS GAMESTERS. + </h3> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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.' + </p> + <p> + '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.' + </p> + <p> + 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? + </p> + <p> + (25) Melanges d' Hist. et de Lit. + </p> + <p> + 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) + </p> + <p> + (26) Mem. de Jeu M. le Duc d'Orleans. + </p> + <p> + 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) + </p> + <p> + (27) Consideration sur les Moeeurs. + </p> + <p> + 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) + </p> + <p> + (28) Ann. l. xiii + </p> + <p> + AN INSINUATING, ELEGANT GAMESTER. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + A PENITENT SONNET. + </p> + <p> + written by the Lord Fitz-Gerald(29) (a great gamester) a little before his + death, which was in the year 1580. + </p> + <p> + (29) This Lord Fitzgerald was eldest son to the Earl of Kildare, and died + at the age of twenty-one. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + '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) +</pre> + <p> + (30) Harl. Miscel. + </p> + <p> + LOVE AND GAMBLING. + </p> + <p> + 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.' + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 'MANNERS MAKE THE MAN. + </p> + <p> + 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:— + </p> + <p> + MANNERS MAKE(S) THE MAN. SHARP PRACTICE—NOT BY AN ATTORNEY. + </p> + <p> + 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! + </p> + <p> + A GAMESTER TO THE BACK-BONE. + </p> + <p> + 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) + </p> + <p> + (31) A similar anecdote is related of a Frenchman. + </p> + <p> + FOOTE'S WITTICISMS. + </p> + <p> + 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.' + </p> + <p> + 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.' + </p> + <p> + 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.' + </p> + <p> + EFFECT OF A SEVERE LOSS AT PLAY. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + PADDY'S DECISION. + </p> + <p> + 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.' + </p> + <p> + GAMBLING CAUSED BY GRIEF. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + A GAMBLER'S EXCUSE FOR NOT BEING A SECOND IN A DUEL. + </p> + <p> + 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.' + </p> + <p> + 'MORE FORTUNATE.' + </p> + <p> + 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.' + </p> + <p> + CAPTAIN ROCHE. + </p> + <p> + 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.' + </p> + <p> + 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.' + </p> + <p> + FARO AT ROUTS. + </p> + <p> + The following advertisement appeared in the Courier newspaper in 1794:— + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + 'Address, G. A., by letter, to be left at Mr Harding's, Piccadilly, nearly + opposite Bond Street. + </p> + <p> + 'N.B.—This advertisement will not appear again.' + </p> + <p> + PROSPECT OF L5200 PER ANNUM FROM A CAPITAL OF L2000. + </p> + <p> + The following advertisement appeared in the Morning Chronicle in 1817:— + </p> + <p> + '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.' + </p> + <p> + OF WHAT TRADE IS A GAMING-HOUSE KEEPER? + </p> + <p> + 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.' + </p> + <p> + THE GAME PLAYED IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + THE ORIGINAL OF A RECENT PROPOSAL. + </p> + <p> + 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:— + </p> + <p> + '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.' + </p> + <p> + GAME AND GAMBLING. + </p> + <p> + 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.' + </p> + <p> + CATCHING A TARTAR. + </p> + <p> + '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) + </p> + <p> + (32) Confessions of a Gamester. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 'NOT KNOWING YOUR MAN.' + </p> + <p> + 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! + </p> + <p> + (33) This term means making sure of what you throw. + </p> + <p> + A BLIND GAMESTER. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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! + </p> + <p> + A NOBLE LORD AND A COMMONER, IN 1823. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. + </p> + <p> + 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.' . . . + </p> + <p> + 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) + </p> + <p> + (34) Menageana. + </p> + <p> + A TENDER MOTHER. + </p> + <p> + 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.' + </p> + <p> + 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!' + </p> + <p> + TWO MASTERS OF THE ART. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. THE GAMING CLUBS. + </h2> + <p> + On the subject of Clubs Mr Cunningham in his 'Clubs of London,' and Mr + Timbs in his 'Club Life in London,' have said pretty well everything that + we want to know, and by their help, and that of other writers, I shall + endeavour to give an account of the gambling carried on in such places. + </p> + <p> + 1. ALMACK'S. + </p> + <p> + 'The gaming at Almack's,' writes Walpole to Horace Mann, 'which has taken + the pas of White's, is worthy of the decline of our empire, or + commonwealth, which you please. The young men of the age lose ten, + fifteen, twenty thousand pounds in an evening there. Lord Stavordale, not + one-and-twenty, lost L11,000 there last Tuesday, but recovered it by one + great hand at Hazard. He swore a great oath—"Now, if I had been + playing DEEP I might have won millions!" His cousin, Charles Fox, shines + equally here and in the House of Commons.' + </p> + <p> + Among the rules of the establishment, it was ordered 'that every person + playing at the twenty-guinea table do not keep less than twenty guineas + before him,' and 'that every person playing at the new guinea table do + keep fifty guineas before him.' That the play ran high may be inferred + from a note against the name of Mr Thynne, in the Club-books:—'Mr + Thynne having won ONLY 12,000 guineas during the last two months, retired + in disgust, March 21st, 1772.' Indeed, the play was unusually high—for + rouleaus of L50 each, and generally there was L10,000 in specie on the + table. The gamesters began by pulling off their embroidered clothes, and + putting on frieze great coats, or turned their coats inside out for luck! + They put on pieces of leather (such as are worn by footmen when they clean + knives) to save their laced ruffles; and to guard their eyes from the + light, and to keep their hair in order, wore high-crowned straw hats with + broad brims adorned with flowers and ribbons; they also wore masks to + conceal their emotions when they played at quinz.(35) Each gamester had a + small neat stand by him, to hold his tea, or a wooden bowl with an edge of + ormolu, to hold the rouleaus of guineas. + </p> + <p> + (35) Quinze, the French for fifteen. This is a game at cards, in which the + winner is he who counts fifteen, or nearest to that number, in all the + points of his hand. Three, five, or six might play at it. Two entire packs + of cards are used, so disposed that the spades and clubs are on one side, + and the hearts and diamonds on the other. The entire art of the game + consists in making fifteen; below that number the party loses. + </p> + <p> + 2. THE COCOA-TREE CLUB. + </p> + <p> + This club was remarkable for high if not for foul play. Walpole, writing + to Horace Mann in 1780, says:—'Within this week there has been a + cast at Hazard at the Cocoa-tree (in St James's Street) the difference of + which amounted to one hundred and fourscore thousand pounds! Mr O'Birne, + an Irish gamester, had won one hundred thousand pounds of a young Mr + Harvey of Chigwell, just started into an estate by his elder brother's + death. O'Birne said,—"You can never pay me." "I can," said the + youth, "my estate will sell for the debt." "No," said O'Birne, "I will win + ten thousand,—you shall throw for the odd ninety." They did, and + Harvey won!' + </p> + <p> + 3. GRAHAM'S CLUB. + </p> + <p> + This gaming club is remarkable for a scandal which made some noise at the + time of its occurrence, and one version of which a writer in the Times has + been at some pains to rectify. In Mr Duncombe's 'Life' of his father + occurs the following account of this curious transaction. + </p> + <p> + 'In Graham's Club there was also a good deal of play, and large sums were + lost and won among the noblemen and gentlemen who were its members. An + unpleasant rumour circulated in town in the winter of 1836, to the effect + that a noble lord had been detected in cheating by means of marked cards. + The presumed offender was well known in society as a skilful card-player, + but by those who had been most intimate with him was considered incapable + of any unfair practice. He was abroad when the scandal was set afloat, but + returned to England directly he heard of it, and having traced the + accusation to its source, defied his traducers. Thus challenged, they had + no alternative but to support their allegation, and it took this shape:—They + accused Henry William Lord de Ros of marking the edges of the court cards + with his thumb-nail, as well as of performing a certain trick by which he + unfairly secured an ace as the turn-up card. His accusers were —— + ——, who had formerly kept a gaming table; Mr —— + ——, also a professional gambler; Lord Henry Bentinck, and Mr + F. Cumming. Lord Henry appears to have taken no very active part in the + proceedings; the other three had lost money in play with Lord de Ros, and, + as unsuccessful gamblers have done before and since, considered that they + had lost it unfairly. + </p> + <p> + 'Lord de Ros, instead of prosecuting the four for a libel, brought an + action only against Cumming, which permitted the others to come forward as + witnesses against him. The cause came on in the Court of King's Bench + before Lord Denman. The plaintiff's witnesses were Lord Wharncliffe, Lord + Robert Grosvenor, the Earl of Clare, and Sir Charles Dalbiac, who had + known and played with him from between 20 to 30 years, as a very skilful + but honourable Whist player. The evidence of Mr Lawrence, the eminent + surgeon, proved that Lord de Ros had long suffered under a stiffness of + the joints of the fingers that made holding a pack of cards difficult, and + the performance of the imputed trick of legerdemain impossible. For the + defence appeared the keeper of the house and his son; two or three + gamblers who had lived by their winnings; one acknowledged to have won + L35,000 in 15 years. Mr Baring Wall, one of the witnesses, swore that he + had never witnessed anything improper in the play of Lord de Ros, though + he had played with and against him many years; another witness, the Hon. + Colonel Anson, had observed nothing suspicious; but the testimony of + others went to prove that the aces and kings had been marked inside their + edges; and one averred that he had seen Lord de Ros perform sauter la + coupe a hundred times. The whole case wore much the look of a combination + among a little coterie who lived by gambling to drive from the field a + player whose skill had diminished their income; nevertheless, the + incidents sworn to by some of them wore a suspicious significance, and a + verdict was given against Lord de Ros, which he only survived a short + time.' + </p> + <p> + On this statement the Times' reviewer comments as follows:— + </p> + <p> + 'If many old scandals may be revived with impunity, there are some that + cannot. Mr Duncombe the younger has hit on one which affects several + gentlemen still living, and his injurious version of it cannot be + neutralized or atoned for by an apology to one. We call attention to it in + the hope that any more serious notice will be rendered needless by the + simple exposure of its inaccuracies. + </p> + <p> + 'It is difficult to conceive a more inexcusable misstatement, for the case + was fully reported,(36) and the public judgment perfectly coincided with + the verdict. Lord de Ros was not abroad when the scandal was set afloat. + He went abroad after the scene at Graham's had set all London talking, and + he returned in consequence of a peremptory call from his friends. He was + most reluctantly induced to take the required steps for the vindication of + his character; and it is preposterous to suppose that any little coterie + would have dreamt of accusing a man of his rank and position with the view + of driving a skilful player from the field. His accusers were not + challenged. Neither were they volunteers. They became his accusers, + because they formed the Whist party at which he was first openly + denounced. They signed a paper particularizing their charge, and offered + to refer the question to a tribunal of gentlemen, with the Duke of + Wellington or Lord Wharncliffe to preside. Would a little coterie, who + lived by gambling, have made this offer? Or would Lord de Ros have refused + it if he had been the intended victim of a conspiracy? Lord Henry Bentinck + signed the paper, appeared as a witness, and took quite as active a part + in the proceedings as any of the four, except Mr Cumming, who undertook + the sole legal liability by admitting the publication of the paper. + </p> + <p> + (36) The Times of February 11 and 13, 1837. + </p> + <p> + 'The evidence was overwhelming. Suspicions had long been rife; and on no + less than ten or twelve occasions the marked packs had been examined in + the presence of unimpeachable witnesses, and sealed up. These packs were + produced at the trial. Several witnesses swore to the trick called sauter + la coupe. It was the late Sir William Ingilby who swore that he had seen + Lord de Ros perform it from 50 to 100 times; and when asked why he did not + at once denounce him, he replied that if he had done so before his + Lordship began to get blown upon, he should have had no alternative + between the window and the door. Of course, every one who had been in the + habit of playing with Lord de Ros prior to the exposure would have said + the same as Sir Charles Dalbiac and Mr Baring Wall. With regard to the + gentlemen whose names we have omitted we take it for granted that the + author is not aware of the position they held, and continue to hold, or he + would hardly have ventured to describe them so offensively. He has + apologized to one, and he had better apologize to the other without delay. + </p> + <p> + 'The case was complete without the evidence of either of the original + accusers, and the few friends of Lord de Ros who tried to bear him up + against the resulting obloquy were obliged to go with the stream. When + Lord Alvanley was asked whether he meant to leave his card, he replied, + "No, he will stick it in his chimney-piece and count it among his + honours.'" + </p> + <p> + Having read through the long case as reported in the Times, I must declare + that I do not find that the evidence against Lord de Ros was, after all, + so 'overwhelming' as the reviewer declares; indeed, the 'leader' in the + Times on the trial emphatically raises a doubt on the subject. Among other + passages in it there is the following:— + </p> + <p> + 'In the process of the trial it appeared that the most material part of + the evidence against Lord de Ros, that called sauter la coupe,—which, + for the sake of our English readers we shall translate into CHANGING THE + TURN-UP CARD,—the times and places at which it was said to have been + done could not be specified. Some of the witnesses had seen the trick done + 50 or 100 times by Lord de Ros, but could neither say on what day, in what + week, month, or even year, they had so seen it done. People were + excessively struck at this deviation from the extreme punctuality required + in criminal cases by the British courts of law.' + </p> + <p> + 'The disclosures,' says Mr Grant,(27) 'which took place in the Court of + Queen's Bench, on the occasion of the trial of Lord de Ros, for cheating + at cards, furnished the strongest demonstration that he was not the only + person who was in the habit of cheating in certain clubs; while there were + others who, if they could not be charged with direct cheating, or cheating + in their own persons, did cheat indirectly, and by proxy, inasmuch as + they, by their own admission, were, on frequent occasions, partners with + Lord de Ros, long after they knew that he habitually or systematically + cheated. The noble lord, by the confession of the titled parties to whom I + allude, thus cheated for himself and them at the same time.' + </p> + <p> + (37) Sketches in London. + </p> + <p> + Lord de Ros was at the head of the barons of England. He was the son of + Lord Henry Fitzgerald, and Lady de Ros, who inherited in her own right + that ancient title, which dates from the reign of Henry III. He had + studied at Eton and Oxford, and afterwards on the Continent, and there was + not a more accomplished man in Europe. He possessed an ample fortune, was + a member of several of the clubs—White's, Boodle's, Brookes', and + Graham's, and one of the best Whist players in England. + </p> + <p> + It appears that at Graham's Club, at the commencement of the season, and + before Lord de Ros came to town, whispers were circulated of unfair play, + and various persons were supposed guilty. A determination was therefore + formed that the club should be dissolved and reconstructed, leaving out + the names of certain persons to whom suspicion attached. The main object + of the master of the club, and of some of those who attended it for the + purpose of professional gain, was that its character should be cleared. + Not long after Lord de Ros came to town he received an anonymous letter, + cautioning him against continuing to play at Graham's, and intimating to + him, if he did so, that measures would be taken which he would have reason + to regret. Of course his Lordship disregarded the threat; he attended the + club for several days more assiduously than before, and continued to play + until the end of the season, in the beginning of July. In September the + Satirist newspaper published a distinct charge of unfair play against Lord + de Ros, whilst the latter was at Baden, and he returned to England and + commenced an action for libel against the newspaper. + </p> + <p> + He was charged with being in the habit of marking the cards, the effect + being to create a very slight and almost imperceptible indentation, and to + make a ridge or wave on the back, so that a practised eye would be able, + on looking at the right place, knowing where to expect a mark, to discern + whether the ace was there or not. He was also charged with cheating by + reversing the cut—that is, when the cards had come to him, after + having been cut by his adversary, instead of putting the bottom card at + the top, keeping the bottom card at the bottom, by some shuffling + contrivance when he dealt. Another witness said:— + </p> + <p> + 'When he took up the two parcels of cards, after the operation of cutting + the pack by his right-hand adversary, he was always attacked with a + hacking cough, or what I may properly denominate, especially from the + result it produced, a 'king cough,' because a king or an ace was + invariably its effect. The cough always came on at the most convenient + moment to distract the attention of the other players, and was evidently + indulged in for the purpose of abstracting their attention from the table + and from the manoeuvre he was about to perform. However, I never saw him + "slip the card," and I never had cognizance of its execution, but certain + it was that the ace or the king, which was at the bottom of the pack prior + to the cut, invariably found its way to the same position after the cut, + and hence was the turn-up card. With regard to the operation of dealing, + his Lordship delivered the cards particularly slow, examining every card + minutely towards its corners, as if looking for some mark.' + </p> + <p> + Many curious facts came out during the trial. + </p> + <p> + It was Mr Brooke Greville who admitted that he was a considerable winner + at play—having 'no hesitation in saying that he had won L35,000 in + the course of 15 years,' chiefly at Whist; that he had followed play as an + occupation, at Graham's Club. He lost, however, L14,000 at Brighton in + 1828, a considerable portion of it to Lord de Ros; but this loss he made + up in three or four years (that is, won L14,000 in that time), and, + excepting that reverse, he was generally fortunate at play.' + </p> + <p> + A Captain J. Alexander, half-pay R. N., declared that he had won as much + as L700 at a time, having, however, to pay half to another partner; his + winnings might be L1600 a-year. 'I began to play,' he said, 'about 25 or + 28 years ago, and, expecting that I should be asked the question, I have + looked into my accounts, and find that I am about L10,000 better than as + though I had not played. That is a yearly average of L500.' He had, + however, lost about L1000 during the previous year. + </p> + <p> + This Captain Alexander was asked how many hours he played before dinner, + and he answered—'From three to five hours'—adding, however, + that 'he HAD played ALL NIGHT.' Then the counsel said, 'I suppose you take + but a slight dinner?' He replied:— + </p> + <p> + 'Why, I generally make as good a dinner as I can get.' The learned counsel + continued:— + </p> + <p> + 'A small boiled chicken and a glass of lemonade, perhaps?' This seemed an + offensive question, and the captain said,— + </p> + <p> + 'I believe never, and (with increased earnestness of manner) mind, I DENY + THE LEMONADE ALTOGETHER; I never take lemonade. (Laughter, in which the + noble lords on the bench joined involuntarily.) + </p> + <p> + Sir W. Ingilby entered into a description and practical illustration of + the trick of sauter la coupe with a pack of cards, and it is said that the + performance of the honourable baronet elicited demonstrations of laughter, + which the judge suppressed, and even REPROBATED. Altogether, it must have + been a most interesting and exciting trial. + </p> + <p> + As before stated, Lord Denman was the presiding judge; there was a special + jury; the attorney-general, Sir W. Follet, and Mr Wightman appeared for + the noble plaintiff; and the keen-witted and exquisitely polished Mr + Thesiger (now Lord Cholmondeley), Mr Alexander, and Mr W. H. Watson for + the defendant. A great many of the nobility were present, together with + several foreigners of distinction. + </p> + <p> + 4. BROOKES' CLUB, IN ST JAMES'S STREET. + </p> + <p> + This was a house notorious for very high gaming, and was frequented by the + most desperate of gamblers, among the rest Fox, Brummell, and Alderman + Combe. According to Captain Gronow:— + </p> + <p> + At Brookes's, for nearly half a century, the play was of a more gambling + character than at White's. . . . On one occasion Lord Robert Spencer + contrived to lose the last shilling of his considerable fortune given him + by his brother, the Duke of Marlborough. General Fitzpatrick being much in + the same condition, they agreed to raise a sum of money, in order that + they might keep a Faro bank. The members of the club made no objection, + and ere long they carried out their design. As is generally the case, the + bank was a winner, and Lord Robert bagged, as his share of the proceeds, + L100,000. He retired, strange to say, from the fetid atmosphere of play, + with the money in his pocket, and never again gambled. The lowest stake at + Brookes' was L50; and it was a common event for a gentleman to lose or win + L10,000 in an evening. Sometimes a whole fortune was lost at a single + sitting.(38) + </p> + <p> + (38) Walpole, passim. + </p> + <p> + 5. WHITE'S CLUB. + </p> + <p> + White's Club seems to have won the darkest reputation for gambling. Lord + Lyttleton, writing to Dr Doddridge, in 1750, says:—'The Dryads of + Hogley are at present pretty secure, but I tremble to think that the + rattling of a dice-box at White's may one day or other (if my son should + be a member of that noble academy) shake down all our fine oaks. It is + dreadful to see, not only there, but almost in every house in the town, + what devastations are made by that destructive fury, the spirit of play.' + A fact stated by Walpole to Horace Mann shows the character of the company + at this establishment:—'There is a man about town, Sir William + Burdett, a man of very good family, but most infamous character. In short, + to give you his character at once—there is a wager in the bet-book + at White's (a MS. of which I may one day or other give you an account), + that the first baronet that will be hanged is this Sir William Burdett.' + Swift says:—'I have heard that the late Earl of Oxford, in the time + of his ministry, never passed by White's chocolate-house (the common + rendezvous of infamous sharpers and noble cullies) without bestowing a + curse upon that famous academy as the bane of half the English nobility.' + </p> + <p> + It was from the beginning a gaming club, 'pure and simple.' The play was + mostly at Hazard and Faro. No member was to hold a Faro bank. Whist was + comparatively harmless. Professional gamblers, who lived by dice and + cards, provided they were free from the imputation of cheating, procured + admission to White's. It was a great supper-house, and there was play + before and after supper, carried on to a late hour and to heavy amounts. + </p> + <p> + At White's they betted on every possible thing, as shown by the + betting-book of the establishment—on births, deaths, and marriages; + the length of a life; the duration of a ministry; a placeman's prospect of + a coronet; the last scandal at Ranelagh or Madame Cornely's; or the shock + of an earthquake! 'A man dropped down at the door of White's; he was + carried into the house. Was he dead or not? The odds were immediately + given and taken for and against. It was proposed to bleed him. Those who + had taken the odds that the man was dead protested that the use of a + lancet would affect the fairness of the bet.' I have met with a similar + anecdote elsewhere. A waiter in a tavern in Westminster, being engaged in + attendance on some young men of distinction, suddenly fell down in a fit. + Bets were immediately proposed by some of the most thoughtless on his + recovery, and accepted by others. The more humane part of the company were + for sending immediately for medical assistance, but this was overruled; + since, by the tenor of the bets, he was to be 'left to himself,' and he + died accordingly! + </p> + <p> + According to Walpole—'A person coming into the club on the morning + of the earthquake, in 1750, and hearing bets laid whether the shock was + caused by an earthquake or the blowing up of powder-mills, went away in + horror, protesting they were such an impious set that he believed if the + last trump were to sound they would bet puppet-show against Judgment.' + </p> + <p> + And again: 'One of the youths at White's, in 1744, has committed a murder, + and intends to repeat it. He betted L1500 that a man could live twelve + hours under water; hired a desperate fellow, sunk him in a ship, by way of + experiment, and both ship and man have not appeared since. Another man and + ship are to be tried for their lives instead of Mr Blake, the assassin.' + </p> + <p> + He also tells us of a very curious entry in the betting-book. Lord + Mountford bets Sir John Bland twenty guineas that Nash outlives Cibber.' + 'How odd,' says Walpole, 'that these two old creatures, selected for their + antiquities, should live to see both their wagerers put an end to their + own lives! Cibber is within a few days of eighty-four, still hearty, and + clear, and well. I told him I was glad to see him look so well. "Faith," + said he, "it is very well that I look at all." Lord Mountford would have + been the winner: Cibber died in 1757, Nash in 1761.' + </p> + <p> + Hogarth's scene at the gambling house is taken at White's. 'We see the + highwayman, with his pistols peeping out of his pocket, waiting by the + fireside till the heaviest winner takes his departure, in order to + "recoup" himself for his losings; and in the Beaux' Stratagem, Aimwell + asks of Gibbet—"Ha'n't I seen your face at White's?" "Ay, and at + Will's too," is the highwayman's answer.' + </p> + <p> + According to Captain Gronow, George Harley Drummond, of the famous + banking-house, Charing Cross, only played once in his whole life at + White's Club, at Whist, on which occasion he lost L20,000 to Brummell. + This even caused him to retire from the banking-house, of which he was a + partner. + </p> + <p> + 'Walpole and a party of friends (Dick Edgecumbe, George Selwyn, and + Williams), in 1756, composed a piece of heraldic satire—a coat of + arms for the two gaming clubs at White's—which was "actually + engraven from a very pretty painting of Edgecumbe, whom Mr Chute, as + Strawberry King at Arms," appointed their chief herald-painter. The blazon + is vert (for a card-table); three parolis proper on a chevron sable (for a + Hazard table); two rouleaux in saltire between two dice proper, on a + canton sable; a white ball (for election) argent. The supporters are an + old and young knave of clubs; the crest, an arm out of an earl's coronet + shaking a dice-box; and the motto, Cogit amor nummi—"The love of + money compels." Round the arms is a claret-bottle ticket by way of order.' + </p> + <p> + 6. WATTIER'S CLUB. + </p> + <p> + This great Macao gaming house was of short duration. Mr Raikes says of it:—'The + club did not endure for twelve years altogether; the pace was too quick to + last; it died a natural death in 1819, from the paralyzed state of its + members. The house was then taken by a set of blacklegs, who instituted a + common bank of gambling. To form an idea of the ruin produced by this + short-lived establishment among men whom I have so intimately known, a + cursory glance to the past suggests the following melancholy list, which + only forms a part of its deplorable results: none of the dead reached the + average age of man.' Among the members were Beau Brummell and the madman + Bligh. + </p> + <p> + 7. CROCKFORD'S CLUB. + </p> + <p> + This once celebrated gaming house is now 'The Wellington,' where the + rattle of knives and forks has succeeded that of dice. It was erected in + 1827, and at its opening it was described as 'the new Pandemonium—the + drawing-rooms, or real hell, consisting of four chambers: the first an + ante-room, opening to a saloon embellished to a degree which baffles + description; thence to a small curiously-formed cabinet or boudoir, which + opens to the supper-room. All these rooms are panelled in the most + gorgeous manner; spaces are left to be filled up with mirrors and silk, or + gold enrichments; while the ceilings are as superb as the walls. A + billiard-room on the upper floor completes the number of apartments + professedly dedicated to the use of the members. Whenever any secret + manoeuvre is to be carried on, there are smaller and more retired places, + both under this roof and the next, whose walls will tell no tales.' + </p> + <p> + 'It rose,' says a writer in the Edinburgh Review, 'like a creation of + Aladdin's lamp; and the genii themselves could hardly have surpassed the + beauty of the internal decorations, or furnished a more accomplished + maitre d'hotel than Ude. To make the company as select as possible, the + estabishment was regularly organized as a club, and the election of + members vested in a committee. "Crockford's" became the rage, and the + votaries of fashion, whether they like play or not, hastened to enroll + themselves. The Duke of Wellington was an original member, though (unlike + Blucher, who repeatedly lost everything he had at play) the great captain + was never known to play deep at any game but war or politics. Card-tables + were regularly placed, and Whist was played occasionally; but the aim, + end, and final cause of the whole was the Hazard bank, at which the + proprietor took his nightly stand, prepared for all comers. Le Wellington + des Joueurs lost L23,000 at a sitting, beginning at twelve at night, and + ending at seven the following evening. He and three other noblemen could + not have lost less, sooner or later, than L100,000 a piece.(39) Others + lost in proportion (or out of proportion) to their means; but we leave it + to less occupied moralists and better calculators to say how many ruined + families went to make Mr Crockford a MILLIONNAIRE—for a millionnaire + he was in the English sense of the term, after making the largest possible + allowance for bad debts. A vast sum, perhaps half a million, was sometimes + due to him; but as he won, all his debtors were able to raise, and easy + credit was the most fatal of his lures. He retired in 1840, much as an + Indian chief retires from a hunting country when there is not game enough + left for his tribe, and the club tottered to its fall.' + </p> + <p> + (39) 'Le Wellington des Joueurs was the name given to Lord Rivers in + Paris. The other three, we believe, were Lord Sefton, Lord Chesterfield, + and Lord Granville or Lord Talbot.' Times, 7 Jan. 1868. + </p> + <p> + Crockford was originally a FISHMONGER, keeping a shop near Temple Bar. By + embarking in this speculation he laid the foundation of the most colossal + fortune that was ever made by play. + </p> + <p> + It was said there were persons of rank and station, who had never paid + their debts to Crockford, up to 1844, and that some of his creditors + compounded with him for their gambling debts. His proprietorship had + lasted 15 or 16 years. + </p> + <p> + Crockford himself was examined by the committee of the House of Commons on + the Gaming Houses; but in spite of his assurance by the members that were + indemnified witnesses in respect of pending actions, he resolutely + declined to 'tell the secrets of his prison-house.' When asked whether a + good deal of play was carried on at his club, he said:—'There may + have been so; but I do not feel myself at liberty to answer that question—to + DIVULGE THE PURSUITS OF PRIVATE GENTLEMEN. Situated as I was, I do not + feel myself at liberty to do so. I do not feel myself at liberty to answer + that question.' + </p> + <p> + When asked to whom he had given up the house, he fenced in like manner, + saying that he had given it up to a 'committee' of about 200 gentlemen,—concerning + which committee he professed to 'know absolutely nothing'—he could + not even say to whom he had given up the house—he gave it up to the + gentlemen of the club four years before—he could not even say (upon + his word) whether he signed any paper in giving it up—he believed he + did not—adding—'I said I grew too old, and I could not + continue in the club any longer, and I wished to give up the club to the + gentlemen, who made their own arrangement.' + </p> + <p> + Being asked, 'Do you think that a person is just as honourably bound to + pay a debt which he loses upon a game of Hazard, as he would be to pay a + bet which he loses on a horse-race?' Crockford replied—'I think most + certainly he would honourably be bound to pay it.'—'Do you think + that if the loser of a bet on a game at Hazard had no charge to make of + any kind of unfairness, and he were to commence an action to recover that + money back again, he would lay himself open to a charge in the world of + having acted dishonourably?' The old gambler's reply was most emphatic, + overwhelming, indignant—'I should take all the pains I could to + avoid such a man.' + </p> + <p> + If this evidence was not satisfactory, it was, at any rate, very + characteristic. + </p> + <p> + A few interesting facts came out before the parliamentary committee on + Gaming, in 1844, respecting Crockford's. + </p> + <p> + It was said that Crockford gave up the business in 1840, because there + were no more very high players visiting his house. + </p> + <p> + 'A number of persons,' according to the admission of the Honourable + Frederick Byng, 'who were born to very large properties, were very nearly + ruined at Crockford's.' + </p> + <p> + The sums won on the turf were certainly larger than those won by players + at Crockford's; a man might lose L20,000 in one or more bets, to one or + more persons; but against this he might have won an equivalent amount in + small sums from 200 or more persons.(40) + </p> + <p> + (40) This is not very clearly put, but the meaning is that much more money + was lost at Crockford's than on the turf. + </p> + <p> + Some years previously to Crockford's retirement, it is said that he found + the debts so bad that he was obliged to leave off his custom of paying + cheques; and said he would cancel all previous debts, but that in future + gentlemen would have to pay with money. + </p> + <p> + He made them play for money instead of with counters, in consequence of + the large sums that were owing to him upon those counters. + </p> + <p> + 8. THE TRAVELLERS' CLUB, + </p> + <p> + next the Athenaeum in Pall Mall, originated soon after the peace of 1814, + in a suggestion of the late Lord Londonderry, then Lord Castlereagh, for + the resort of gentlemen who had resided or travelled abroad, as well as + with a view to the accommodation of foreigners, who, when properly + recommended, receive an invitation for the period of their stay.(41) Here + Prince Talleyrand was fond of a game at Whist. With all the advantage of + his great imperturbability of face, he is said to have been an indifferent + player. + </p> + <p> + (41) Quarterly Review, No. cx. p. 481. + </p> + <p> + Rule 10 of the club directs, 'that no dice and no game of hazard be + allowed in the rooms of the club, nor any higher stake than guinea points, + and that no cards be introduced before dinner.' + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. DOINGS IN GAMING HOUSES. + </h2> + <p> + Besides the aristocratic establishments just described, there were + numerous houses or places of resort for gambling, genteel and ungenteel. + In vain did the officers of the law seem to exert their utmost vigilance; + if they drove the serpent out of one hole it soon glided into another; + never was the proverb—'Where there's a will there's a way'—more + strikingly fulfilled. + </p> + <p> + COFFEE-HOUSE SHARPERS. + </p> + <p> + Sir John Fielding thus describes the men in the year 1776. 'The deceivers + of this denomination are generally descended from families of some repute, + have had the groundwork of a genteel education, and are capable of making + a tolerable appearance. Having been equally profuse of their own substance + and character, and learnt, by having been undone, the ways of undoing, + they lie in wait for those who have more wealth and less knowledge of the + town. By joining you in discourse, by admiring what you say, by an + officiousness to wait upon you, and to assist you in anything you want to + have or know, they insinuate themselves into the company and acquaintance + of strangers, whom they watch every opportunity of fleecing. And if one + finds in you the least inclination to cards, dice, the billiard table, + bowling-green, or any other sort of Gaming, you are morally sure of being + taken in. + </p> + <p> + For this set of gentry are adepts in all the arts of knavery and tricking. + If, therefore, you should observe a person, without any previous + acquaintance, paying you extraordinary marks of civility; if he puts in + for a share of your conversation with a pretended air of deference; if he + tenders his assistance, courts your acquaintance, and would be suddenly + thought your friend, avoid him as a pest; for these are the usual baits by + which the unwary are caught.'(42) + </p> + <p> + (42) The Magistrate: Description of London and Westminster. + </p> + <p> + In 1792, Mr Br—gh—n, the son of a baronet, one day at a + billiard-table in St James's Street, won L7000 from a Mr B—, but the + latter, at the close of the day, recovered the loss, and won L15,000 more. + Payment was thus arranged—L5000 on the death of the father of the + former, and L10,000 secured by a reversionary annuity, to commence on the + father's decease, on the life of the Duc de Pienne, between whom and B— + a previous gaming account existed. + </p> + <p> + In 1794, Mr —— was a billiard player of the first class, + ranking with Brenton, Phillips, Orrel, and Captain Wallis, who were the + leaders of the day in this noble game of skill, tact, and discretion.(43) + Having accidentally sported his abilities with two other players, he was + marked as a 'pigeon' whom every preparation was made for 'plucking.' + Captain Cates, of Covent Garden celebrity, was pitted against him at the + coffee-room billiard-table, during Epsom races, to play 21 games, for two + guineas each game, and five guineas the odds. Mr —— won 13 + games to eight from his veteran opponent, who was invariably backed by the + leading sportingmen of the day, whilst the company at large were casually + the adherents of Mr ——. + </p> + <p> + (43) The game of Chess may be played in application of the principles of + Strategy; the game of Billiards in application of Tactics; indeed, all + man's favourite diversions and pastimes most significantly relate to war—which + has been called his natural state—exemplifying always either the + brute-force that crushes, the skill that foils, the stratagem that + surprises, or the ruse that deceives; and such is war to all intents and + purposes. The philosophic diversions of science also come in and lend + their aid in the game of war—the pastime of heroes and the necessary + defence of nations. + </p> + <p> + The match was renewed at the ensuing Ascot meeting, at the rooms of the + celebrated Simson, so much frequented by the Etonians—where Mr + —— again obtained the victory, by 36 games to 17. Immense sums + were sported on these occasions. + </p> + <p> + Mr —— resided at Windsor, and was surprised by a message on + the Sunday evening preceding the Winchester races, purporting that a + gentleman wished to see him on very particular business. It proved to be a + request to play a match at Billiards during the races at Winchester, for + which the parties offered 10 guineas for the journey. But it was explained + to him that the match was of a particular kind, and must be played in a + PARTICULAR way—either to WIN or LOSE—so that those concerned + might be sure of winning upon the whole, let the match terminate how it + would! . . . . + </p> + <p> + This villainous proposal being made without the presence of a third + person, Mr —— indignantly rejected it, instantly left the + room, and communicated the facts for the protection of the unwary against + a set of desperate sharpers. + </p> + <p> + MILLER'S GAMING HOUSE. + </p> + <p> + In 1796, one Thomas Miller was indicted for keeping a gaming house; and + wished to have the matter settled summarily by admitting conviction; but + Lord Kenyon, the presiding judge, chose to have evidence brought forward. + John Shepherd, an attorney of the King's Bench, who had himself been + plundered, stated that he was at the defendant's, Leicester Street, on a + certain night, and saw Hazard played. Sometimes L20 or L30 depended on a + throw. One morning between three and four o'clock, a gentleman came in + much intoxicated. He had a great deal of money about him. Miller said—'I + did not mean to play; but now I'll set to with this fellow.' Miller + scraped a little wax with his finger off one of the candles, and put the + dice together, so that they came seven every way. Seven was the main, and + he could not throw anything but seven. A dispute arose, and the persons at + the table gave it in Miller's favour. The young man said he had lost about + L70. Miller observed—'We have cleaned him.' If the attorney had + remarked on this at the time, they would have broken his head, or thrown + him out of the window. + </p> + <p> + He had often seen men pawn their watches and rings to Miller, and once a + man actually pawned his coat, and went away without it! When articles were + offered to be pawned, Liston, who was a partner in the concern, said—'I + don't understand the value of these things well,' and he would then call + Miller.(44) + </p> + <p> + (44) Even at the present day it is said that other 'articles' besides + 'valuables' are 'left' with the marker at billiards 'for a consideration.' + A fine umbrella, very little used, was lately shown to me as having been + sold for five shillings, by a marker; it probably cost twenty-five. + </p> + <p> + Miller said there was no disgrace in standing in the pillory for gaming. + He could spare L500 out of his coffers without missing it. His gaming + table was once broken up by a warrant from Bow Street, when he said it was + too good a thing to relinquish, and he set up another, one large enough + for 20 or 30 persons to sit at. They played at it all night, and on one or + two occasions all the next day too, so that Miller said to witness on his + return in the evening—'Some of the people are still here who came + last night. They stick to it rarely.' Sunday was the grand day. He had + seen more than 40 persons at a time there, and they frequently offered + half-a-crown for a seat. Wine and suppers were furnished gratis. Some + looked over the backs of others and betted. A Mr Smith, the very man who + had pawned his coat, confirmed the above evidence. Miller was convicted, + and the judge, Lord Kenyon, made the following solemn observations before + passing sentence:— + </p> + <p> + 'Gaming is a crime of greater enormity, and of more destructive + consequences to society, than many which the laws of the country have made + capital. What is the crime of stealing a sheep, or picking a pocket of a + handkerchief, when placed in comparison with this crime, traced through + all its consequences? + </p> + <p> + 'With regard to those in the higher walks of life, experience tells us it + often leads to self-murder and duelling, about gambling debts, which + terminate in the total ruin of families once opulent, and reduce to + beggary their innocent and helpless children; and as for those in a lower + sphere of life, when they have lost their money, they often betake + themselves to housebreaking and the highway, in order to replenish their + coffers, and at last end their lives by the hand of justice.' + </p> + <p> + With many other most excellent observations on the tendency of this + selfish and avaricious vice, he concluded by sentencing Miller to a fine + of L500, one year's imprisonment, and security for his good behaviour for + seven years, himself in L500 and two others in L250 each, adding:—'It + appeared that you played with loaded dice. The Court has not taken that + into consideration, because it was not charged in the indictment.' + </p> + <p> + ATTACKS ON GAMING HOUSES. + </p> + <p> + In 1797 the Bedford Arms, Covent Garden, kept by one John Twycross, was + attacked, under warrant. The gaming-room stood an hour's siege, for the + doors were so plated with iron that the repeated blows of a sledge-hammer + made no impression on them. The officers at length entered the back + through the window. They found fifteen persons at table, but not actually + playing, so no conviction could take place. + </p> + <p> + In the same year a party of Bow Street officers searched a gaming house at + 19, Great Suffolk Street. They were an hour in effecting their entrance. + Two very stout doors, strongly bolted and barred, obstructed them. All the + gamesters but one escaped by a subterraneous passage, through a long range + of cellars, terminating at a house in Whitcomb Street, whence their + leader, having the keys of every door, conducted them safely into the open + air. + </p> + <p> + In the previous year a party, mostly French emigrants, were taken at a + house in Oxendon Street, with the table, cards, &c. A city magistrate + and a city officer had a dispute at cards, and a knock-down game ensued. + </p> + <p> + In 1799 the Marlborough Street officers apprehended at the gaming house, + No. 3, Leicester Square, thirteen out of twenty persons, from the first + floor, playing at Rouge et Noir. One of the gamblers, when they first + entered, threw up the sash, and, stepping from the leads, fell into the + area, and died in being conveyed to the hospital. + </p> + <p> + In the same year, two notorious gaming houses, Nos. 1 and 3, King's Place, + were attacked, by authority of a search warrant. All the paraphernalia of + the profession, as tables, dice, counters, &c., were seized; but the + inmates effected their escape over the roofs of the adjoining houses. The + proprietor of No. 3 was smoked in a chimney, and three French emigrants + intercepted in their retreat. On one of them was found a gold watch, which + appeared, by the robbery-book, to have been stolen about five years + previously. The banks had been conveyed away,—at least, they were + not among the captures. + </p> + <p> + 'SOMETHING HONOURABLE TO THE BRITISH FLAG.' + </p> + <p> + It is stated as highly honourable to the British flag that, among the + gamesters of the first quarter of the present century, no Admirals were + seen at the INFERIOR tables. Their proper pride kept them from a familiar + association with pursers, clerks, grocers, horse-dealers, linen-drapers, + silk-mercers, masons, builders, timber-merchants, booksellers, &c., + &c., and men of the very lowest walks of life. + </p> + <p> + COARSE LANGUAGE OF GAMESTERS. + </p> + <p> + 'I heard those who, in another place, even in the most polished courts, + would take a high rank for good breeding and gentlemanly education, at + these tables make use of language which, I hope, Billingsgate itself would + turn from with disgust. It cannot be repeated; neither would it be + believed, unless by such as, like myself, have had "confirmation strong," + too strong to be rejected, if I did not, at the same time, reject the + evidence of my senses.'(45) + </p> + <p> + (45) Seymour Harcourt, The Gaming Calendar. + </p> + <p> + BOASTED PROTECTION OF GREAT NAMES TO GAMING HOUSES. + </p> + <p> + 'On one occasion I was at the Pigeon Hole, in St James's Square (since + removed to King Street), when the apprehensions which the rapid sale of + The Greeks (a work exposing the system) excited among the players were + warmly debated. To my great astonishment, a person who I supposed was a + proprietor, boasted the impenetrability of HIS house, and on what ground, + think you? Why, on that of it having the countenance of the Lord Chief + Justice of England! True or false, it seemed to revive the flagging + spirits of its visitors. They knew better. Not even the warm feelings of a + father would turn the scale of justice in the even hand of Lord + Ellenborough.' + </p> + <p> + It must not, however, be taken for granted, merely because these fellows + assert it, that the sons of the late Chief Justice really frequented that + den of iniquity. It is part of the system of these houses to delude the + ignorant, by pretending that this or the other person uses their tables. I + had an instance of that myself at ——, in Pall Mall. Asking who + that gentleman was, pointing to the party, I was answered—'That is + Mr Hay, private secretary to Lord Melville, the First Lord of the + Admiralty.' Now, I believe I may safely say, and from my own knowledge, + too, that Mr Hay, whose character and conduct is deservedly held in the + highest estimation, NEVER was at that or any such house; yet his name was + constantly quoted, and particularly to young officers of the navy and + marines, to whom his acquaintance held out hopes of future advantage in + their profession!(46) + </p> + <p> + (46) Id. ibid. + </p> + <p> + FORTUNATE RISE OF A CLUB-HOUSE WAITER. + </p> + <p> + 'A waitership at a club sometimes led to fortune. Thomas Rumbold, + originally a waiter at White's gaming club, got an appointment in India, + and suddenly rose to be Sir Thomas, and Governor of Madras! On his return, + with immense wealth, a bill of pains and penalties was brought into the + House by Dundas, with the view of stripping Sir Thomas of his ill-gotten + gains. This bill was briskly pushed through the earlier stages; suddenly + the proceedings were arrested by adjournment, and the measure fell to the + ground. The rumour of the day attributed Rumbold's escape to the corrupt + assistance of Rigby; who, in 1782, found himself, by Lord North's + retirement, deprived of his place in the Pay Office, and called upon to + refund a large amount of public moneys unaccounted for. In this strait, + Rigby was believed to have had recourse to Rumbold. Their acquaintance had + commenced in earlier days, when Rigby was one of the boldest "punters" at + White's, and Rumbold bowed to him for half-crowns as waiter. Rumbold is + said to have given Rigby a large sum of money, on condition of the former + being released from the impending pains and penalties. The truth of the + report has been vehemently denied; but the circumstances are suspicious. + The bill was dropped; Dundas, its introducer, was Rigby's intimate + associate. Rigby's nephew and heir soon after married Rumbold's daughter. + Sir Thomas himself had married a daughter of Dr Law, Bishop of Carlisle. + The worthy bishop stood godfather to one of Rumbold's children; the other + godfather was the Nabob of Arcot, and the child was christened "Mahomet." + So, at least, Walpole informs Mann.'(47) + </p> + <p> + (47) Timbs, Club Life in London. + </p> + <p> + PLAY IN 1820. + </p> + <p> + According to the Morning Post of May 15, 1820, at one of the gaming houses + at the West End, in one night, property to the amount of L50,000 is said + to have changed hands. + </p> + <p> + ACCOUNT OF A GAME AT HAZARD. + </p> + <p> + The following account of a game at Hazard was given by a young man, who, + in the year 1820, was decoyed into one of the gambling houses in the city, + kept by one John Morley, who was convicted by the Lord Mayor, in the + penalty of L200, 'for keeping Hazard;' but who, it is stated, left this + country for Ireland the moment proceedings were instituted. + </p> + <p> + 'The house in question was to all appearance devoted to the game of + billiards, and most of those who frequented it engaged merely in that + game. Through the agency of professed gamesters, who shared in the profits + of the concern, those who appeared to be proper objects of plunder were + soon introduced to the Hazard table, which was kept in a retired and + private part of the house. + </p> + <p> + 'The evidence of the young man was to the following effect:—He had + been in Morley's house; the game of Hazard was played in the front room on + the second floor; a door led into it from the landing-place, and another + from the public billiard-room, which was the back room on the same floor; + both these doors were during the time of play kept barred and locked, and + never opened except to the voice of some person known to the master of the + house. During the play the door was seldom or never opened, but before the + play commenced there was an understanding given that proceedings were + about to begin. + </p> + <p> + 'In the centre of the room was a large circular table, over which a lamp + was suspended, and round the table the players sat, in number, generally, + from six to ten. + </p> + <p> + 'The play commenced by one of the players taking the dice-box with two + dice in it; two other dice were covered on the table, and might be + substituted for those in the box, upon application to Morley, who acted as + "groom porter." The person who held the box was called the caster, and he + called a main, that is, he mentioned aloud any number on the dice from + five to nine; and throwing the dice on the table, counted the number on + the two dice as his chance, the number which he called being the chance of + his setter. Before the main is called, the caster throws down his stake, + which any person present has the option of covering, or, as it is called, + "setting," by placing a similar sum on the table. For instance, if the + caster, after being "set," call five the main, and throws immediately four + and one, or three and two, he "nicks" it, that is, wins his money at once. + If he throws six and one, five and two, or four and three, each of which + two numbers makes seven, he bets the ODDS, which are three to two in his + favour—inasmuch as there are three ways of throwing seven, and only + two of throwing five; and he continues throwing until either five or seven + come off. By the former he loses, by the latter he wins. + </p> + <p> + 'If he calls seven the main, and throws three and one, or six and four, + the odds are two to one against him—inasmuch as there are only three + ways each of throwing, the four and the ten and six wins, throwing the + seven, that is, three on each die.(48) If the caster wishes, he calls a + main, and continues to do so till he loses, which, in the technical + phraseology, is "throwing out." He then passes the bow to the person next + on the left hand, who, in like manner, passes it to his neighbour. Morley + is remunerated for his table very handsomely. When the caster throws in + three mains successively, he pays to Morley what is called a box (one of + the pieces of the house with which the game is played). The prices are + eighteen-pence each, and he gives them in exchange for notes, and retakes + them. The caster pays nothing unless he wins. The players generally leave + off play at eleven or twelve o'clock. On Saturday there is most play, as + Morley on that day always gives a dinner at four o'clock, immediately + after which the play commences. On other days tea and coffee are given.' + </p> + <p> + (48) I confess I do not understand the above passage. + </p> + <p> + A number of young men, most of whom were clerks, were called to confirm + the evidence as to the system, but none of them appeared. + </p> + <p> + In a letter published in the Times of July 22, 1824, we read as follows:— + </p> + <p> + 'The action against the keepers of a certain notorious "hell," which was + noticed in the different journals as "coming on," is withdrawn, or, more + properly speaking, is "compromised." Thus it will always be; and the + different hells still flourish with impunity, to the enrichment of a few + knaves, and the ruin of many thousands, till more effectual laws are + framed to meet the evil. As they net thousands a night, a few hundreds or + even thousands can be well spared to smother a few actions and + prosecutions, which are very rarely instituted against them, and never but + by ruined men, who are easily quieted by a small consideration, which, + from recent judgments, will not be withheld; therefore we shall see + recorded but very few convictions if any at all. At the head of these + infamous establishments is one yclept "Fishmollgers' Hall,"(49) which + sacks more plunder than all the others put together, though they consist + of about a dozen. This place has been fitted up at an expense of L40,000, + and is the most splendid house, interiorly and exteriorly, in all the + neighbourhood. It is established as a bait for the fortunes of the great, + many of whom have already been severe sufferers. Invitations to dinner are + sent to noblemen and gentlemen, at which they are treated with every + delicacy, and the most intoxicating wines. + </p> + <p> + (49) Otherwise called Crock-odile Hall. + </p> + <p> + 'After such "liberal" entertainment, a visit to the French Hazard table, + in the adjoining room, is a matter of course, when the consequences are + easily divined. A man thus allured to the den may determine not to lose + more than the few pounds he has about him; but in the intoxication of the + moment, and the delirium of play, it frequently happens that, + notwithstanding the best resolves, he borrows money on his cheques, which + are known to be good, and are readily cashed to very considerable amounts. + In this manner L10,000, L20,000, L30,000, or more, have been often swept + away! + </p> + <p> + They left King Street about three years ago, when, in conjunction with T + —— (a man who a few years ago took the benefit of the act, and + subsequently took one or two "hells" in Pall Mall, but has amassed full + L150,000 of plunder) and A ——, who has L70,000 of plunder, + they opened a club-house in Piccadilly, with a French Hazard bank of + L10,000, when in a short time they divided between the four—after + all their heavy expenses were covered—upwards of L200,000. In + proportion to the extent of the bank and the stakes, so do they collect + the plunder.' + </p> + <p> + PROGRESS IN THE GAMING TRADE. + </p> + <p> + In the minor gaming houses the players assembled in parties of from 40 to + 50 persons, who probably brought on an average, each night, from one to + twenty shillings to play with. As the money was lost, the losers fell off, + if they could not borrow or beg more; and this went on sometimes in the + winter season for 14 to 16 hours in succession; so that from 100 to 150 + persons might be calculated to visit one gaming table in the course of a + night; and it not unfrequently happened that ultimately all the money + brought to the table got into the hands of one or two of the most + fortunate adventurers, save that which was paid to the table for + 'box-hands'—that is, when a player won three times in succession. At + these establishments the price of a box varied from one shilling to + half-a-crown. Every man thus engaged was destined to become either a more + finished and mischievous gambler, or to appear at the bar of the Old + Bailey. The successful players by degrees improved their external + appearance, and obtained admittance into houses of higher play, where two + shillings and sixpence or three shillings and fourpence was demanded for + the box-hand. If success attended them in the first step of advancement, + they next got initiated into better houses, and associated with gamblers + of a higher grade. + </p> + <p> + PLAY IN 1838. + </p> + <p> + About the year 1838 the gaming houses were kept open all day, the dice + were scarcely ever idle, day or night. From Sunday to Sunday, all the year + round, persons were to be found in these places, losing their money, and + wasting away their very bodies by the consuming anxiety consequent on + their position at the Hazard or Roulette table. + </p> + <p> + STATISTICS OF GAMBLING IN 1844. + </p> + <p> + The following facts came out in evidence before the committee of the House + of Commons, in 1844. + </p> + <p> + Down to that year there were no less than 12 gaming houses in St James's + and St George's. The play was higher in old times, but not so GENERAL. + </p> + <p> + 'The increase of gambling houses was entirely the offspring of + Crockford's.' Such was the opinion of the Honourable Frederick Byng, + before the committee, who added, 'that the facility to everybody to gamble + at Crockford's led to the establishment of other gambling houses fitted up + in a superior style, and attractive to gentlemen who never would have + thought of going into them formerly.' + </p> + <p> + Previously, in the clubs, the gambling was confined to a very high rate + and to a very few people. The above-named witness said he 'could have + named all the gamblers in his early days at the clubs. No person coming + into a room where Hazard was carried on would have been permitted to play + for a SMALL SUM, and therefore he left it.' + </p> + <p> + The same gentleman remembered the time when gambling tables were kept in + private houses. + </p> + <p> + 'It is a fact that most of those who played very high were pretty well + cleaned out.' + </p> + <p> + 'Crockford increased gambling everywhere.' 'Persons of the middling + classes, butchers, and gentleman's servants went to the low gambling + houses.' + </p> + <p> + These places held out inducements to robbery. 'If a servant or shopman + could scrape together L200 or L300, he had, by the agency of the keepers + of these houses, the opportunity of lending out his money to the losers at + 60 per cent.' + </p> + <p> + DESPERATION AT GAMING HOUSES. + </p> + <p> + The most particular inspection was made of the player's person by the + gaming house keeper's spies, and even his dress was strictly observed. He + was obliged, before entering the saloon, to deposit his great coat and + cane, which might perchance afford the introduction of some WEAPON; and + the elegance of the covering did not save him from the humiliation of + having it taken from him at the door. The attempts which were sometimes + made on the lives of the bankers led to these precautions—like the + indignities which are practised only in prisons for the security of the + unhappy inmates. It is certain that gamesters, reduced to desperation, and + on the eve of committing suicide, have conveyed into these places infernal + machines with an intention of destroying at once their cruel plunderers + and themselves. + </p> + <p> + 'DEVILISH DOINGS IN A "HELL." ' + </p> + <p> + In 'Doings in London,' a work published as lately as the year 1850, we + find under this startling title a strange story. + </p> + <p> + 'A scandalous scene of violence, which often happens at these places, but + seldom becomes publicly known, on account of the disgrace attending + exposures, occurred lately at a low "hell" in King Street, St James's. A + gentleman who had lost considerable sums of money at various times, + announced his full determination never to come to a place of the sort + again with money. His visits, therefore, were no longer wanted, and so + orders were given to the porters not to admit him again. About two o'clock + on a subsequent night, which happened to be Saturday, he sought + admittance, and was refused. A warm altercation ensued in the passage + between him and the porters, which brought down some of the proprietors. + One of them—a powerful man—a bankrupt butcher—struck him + a tremendous blow, which broke the bridge of his nose, covered his face + with blood, and knocked him down. On getting up he was knocked down again. + He arose once more, and instantly received another blow, which would have + laid him upon his back, but one of the porters by this time had got behind + him, and as he was falling struck him at the back of his head, which sent + him upon his face. The watch had now arrived, into whose hands the keeper + of the "hell" and the porter were given. At the watch-house they were + ordered to find bail. The gentleman was then about quitting, when he was + suddenly called back. A certain little lawyer, who alternately prosecutes + and defends keepers of gaming houses, was sent for. He whispered to the + ex-butcher to charge the gentleman with stealing his handkerchief and hat, + which, it was alleged, had been lost in the affray. Though nothing was + found upon the gentleman, who desired to be searched, this preposterous + and groundless charge was taken, and the hellites admitted to bail; but + the gentleman who had been so cruelly beaten, being charged with a felony + on purpose to cause his detention, and the power held by magistrates to + take bail in doubtful cases not extending to night-constables, he was + locked up below with two wretches who had stolen lead, and five + disorderlies—his face a mass of blood and bruises—and there + detained till Monday morning, in a most pitiable condition. The magistrate + before whom the party appeared on that day, understanding that the affair + took place at a gaming house, dismissed both complaints, leaving the + parties to their remedy at the sessions.' + </p> + <p> + GAFFING. + </p> + <p> + Gaffing is or was one of the ten thousand modes of swindling practised in + London. Formerly it was a game in very great vogue among the macers, who + congregated nightly at the 'flash houses.' One of these is described as + follows:—This gaffer laughed a great deal and whistled Moore's + melodies, and extracted music from a deal table with his elbow and wrist. + When he hid a half-penny, and a flat cried 'head' for L10, a 'tail' was + sure to turn up. One of his modes of commanding the turn-up was this: he + had a half-penny with two heads, and a half-penny with two tails. + </p> + <p> + When he gaffed, he contrived to have both half-pence under his hand, and + long practice enabled him to catch up in the wrinkles or muscles of it the + half-penny which it was his interest to conceal. If 'tail' was called a + 'head' appeared, and the 'tail' half-penny ran down his wrist with + astonishing fidelity. This ingenious fellow often won 200 or 300 + sovereigns a night by gaffing; but the landlord and other men, who were + privy to the robbery, and 'pitched the baby card' (that is, encouraged the + loser by sham betting), always came in for the 'regulars,' that is, their + share of the plunder. + </p> + <p> + This gaffer contrived to 'bilk' all the turnpikes in the kingdom. + </p> + <p> + In going to a fight or to a race-course, when he reached a turnpike he + held a shilling between his fingers, and said to the gatekeeper—'Here, + catch,' and made a movement of the hand towards the man, who endeavoured + to catch what he saw. The shilling, however, by a backward jerk, ran down + the sleeve of the coat, as if it had life in it, and the gate-keeper + turned round to look in the dust, when the tall gaffer drove on, saying—'Keep + the change.' + </p> + <p> + A young fellow, who previously was a marker at a billiard-table, and who + had the appearance of a soft, inexperienced country-lad, was another great + hand at gaffing. There was a strong adhesive power in his hand, and such + exquisite sensibility about it, that he could ascertain by dropping his + palm, even upon a worn-out half-penny or shilling, what side was turned + up. Indeed, so perfect a master was he of the science that Breslaw could + never have done more upon cards than he could do with a pair of 'grays' + (gaffing-coins). + </p> + <p> + A well-known macer, who was celebrated for slipping an 'old gentleman' (a + long card) into the pack, and was the inheritor by birth of all the + propensities of this description, although the inheritance was equally + divided between his brother and himself, got hold of a young fellow who + had L170 in his pocket, and introduced him to one of the 'cock-and-hen' + houses near Drury Lane Theatre, well-primed with wine. Gaffing began, and + the billiard-marker before described was pitched upon to 'do' the + stranger. The macer 'pitched the baby card,' and of course lost, as well + as the unfortunate victim. He had borrowed L10 of the landlord, who was to + come in for the 'regulars;' but when all was over, the billiard-marker + refused to make any division of the spoil, or even to return the L10 which + had been lost to him in 'bearing up' the cull. The landlord pressed his + demand upon the macer, who, in fact, was privately reimbursed by the + marker; but he was coolly told that he ought not to allow such improper + practices in his house, and that the sum was not recoverable, the + transaction being illegal. + </p> + <p> + How these spurious coins are procured is a question; but I am assured that + they are still in use and often made to do service at public-houses and + other places. + </p> + <p> + TOMMY DODD. + </p> + <p> + This is a mode of gambling very much in vogue at the present time. It is + often played at public-houses among parties to decide who is to pay the + reckoning. Each party turns down a half-penny, and, on uncovering it, the + matter is decided as in 'heads or tails.' Of course this expeditious + method is also used in gambling for money. Not long ago a retired + tradesman, happening to be in a public-house, where such things were + connived at, allowed himself to be induced to play at Tommy Dodd with two + low sharpers. They soon eased him of all the cash he had about him. A + bright idea, however, occurred to him. 'Stop a bit,' he said, 'I must have + my revenge. Just wait till I go home for more money.' The sharpers were + rejoiced at the idea, and rubbed their hands with delight, whilst the + tradesman went, as they felt sure, only to bring more money into their + 'till.' The man made all haste, for he was determined to have his revenge, + and soon returned with a large bag of money, which he clinked on the + table. + </p> + <p> + He first pulled out some coppers, telling them to choose from the lot the + coins they would play with. They assented, although they did not seem + 'much to like it.' 'And now,' said the tradesman, 'let's set to business.' + </p> + <p> + The game proceeded with alternate success on both sides; but the tradesman + went on DOUBLING THE STAKES EVERY TIME, WHETHER HE LOST OR WON, and, of + course, at length completely broke their bank, and went off with their + money. + </p> + <p> + GAMBLING AT THE WINE AND OYSTER ROOMS, OR 'SALOONS.' + </p> + <p> + The gambling which was carried on in the private rooms of the wine and + oyster houses, about thirty years ago, and perhaps later, was just such as + that which had so long flourished in the low vicinity of St James's. + Indeed, the constant frequenters of the former had attained the most + profound knowledge of the art of robbing at the West End gaming houses. + The blacklegs visited the saloons every night, in order to pick up new + acquaintances among the young and inexperienced. They were polite, + well-dressed, gentlemanlike persons; and if they could trace anything + 'soft' in the countenance of a new visitor, their wits went to work at + once to establish an acquaintance with him. Wine was set a-going, and + cards were proposed. The master of the concern soon provided a room, and + play advanced, accompanied by the certainty of loss to the unfortunate + stranger. But if the invitation to play was rejected, they made another + plant upon him. The ruffians attacked him through a passion of a different + kind. They gave the word to one of their female 'pals,' who threw herself + in his way, and prevailed upon him to accompany her to HER establishment. + In the morning the 'gentleman,' who in vain had solicited him to play at + the saloon the night before, would call—just to pay 'a friendly + visit.' Cards were again spoken of, and again proposed, with the + additional recommendation of the 'lady,' who offered to be the partner of + her friend in the game. The consequence was inevitable. Many young + noblemen and gentlemen were plundered by this scheme, of hundreds, nay, of + thousands of pounds. To escape without loss was impossible. They packed + and distributed the cards with such amazing dexterity, that they could + give a man, as it were, whatever cards they pleased. + </p> + <p> + CARDS THAT WOULD BEAT THE D—L HIMSELF! + </p> + <p> + A number of sharpers were detected in a trick by which they had won + enormous sums. An Ecarte party, consisting of a nobleman, a captain in the + army, an Armenian gentleman, and an Irish gentleman, sat down in one of + the private chambers attached to one of the large wine and shell-fish + rooms. The Armenian and the Irishman were partners, and were wonderfully + successful; indeed, so extraordinary was their luck in turning up cards, + that the captain, who had been in the town for some time, suspected the + integrity of his competitors, and, accordingly, handled the cards very + minutely. He soon discovered that there was an 'old gentleman' (a card + somewhat larger and thicker than the rest of the pack, and in considerable + use among the LEGS) in the midst of them. The captain and his partner + exclaimed that they were robbed, and the cards were sealed up, and + referred to a card-maker for his opinion. + </p> + <p> + 'The old saying,' said the referee, 'that THE CARDS WOULD BEAT THE + CARD-MAKER, was never more true than it is in this instance, for this pack + would beat not only me, but the very d—l himself; there is not only + an OLD GENTLEMAN, but an OLD LADY (a card broader than the rest) amongst + them.' + </p> + <p> + The two 'gentlemen' were immediately accused of the imposition, but they + feigned ignorance of the fraud, refused to return a farthing of the + 'swag,' and, in their turn, charged the losers with having got up the + story in order to recover what they had fairly lost. + </p> + <p> + GENEROSITY (?) OF A GAMING HOUSE KEEPER. + </p> + <p> + A young West Indian chanced one night to enter one of the gaming houses in + London, and began trying his chance at Roulette. Fortune favoured him at + first, and he won about a hundred pounds. + </p> + <p> + Instead of leaving off he only became the more excited by his success, + when his luck began to change, and he lost and lost until he staked the + last coin he had in his pocket. He then pawned to the master of the table + successively every ring and trinket he had, for money to continue the + stakes. All in vain. His luck never returned; and he made his way + down-stairs in a mood which may well be imagined. But what was his + surprise when the master of the table came running after him, saying—'Sir, + these things may be valuable to you—do me the favour to take them + with you. Next time I hope you will be more lucky,' and returned all his + rings and trinkets. + </p> + <p> + The moon was shining brightly at the time, and the young man swore by it, + that he would never again enter a gaming house, and he kept his oath. Of + course the generosity was but a decoy to entice the youth to further ruin. + </p> + <p> + HOSPITALITY OF GAMING HOUSES, AND POPULARITY OF CITY MEN AT THEM. + </p> + <p> + Joseph Atkinson and his wife, who for many years kept a gaming house at + No. 15 under the Piazza, Covent Garden, gave daily magnificent play + dinners,—cards of invitation for which were sent to the clerks of + merchants, bankers, and brokers in the city. Atkinson used to say that he + liked CITIZENS—whom he called FLATS—better than any one else, + for when they had DINED they played freely, and after they had lost all + their money they had credit to borrow more. When he had CLEANED THEM OUT, + when THE PIGEONS WERE COMPLETELY PLUCKED, they were sent to some of their + solvent friends. After dinner play was introduced, and, till dinner time + the nest day, different games at cards, dice, and E O were continually + going on. + </p> + <p> + THE TRAFFIC IN HUSH MONEY. + </p> + <p> + Theophilus Bellasis, an infamous character, was well known at Bow Street, + where he had been charged with breaking into the counting-house of Sir + James Sanderson, Bart. Bellasis was sometimes clerk and sometimes client + to John Shepherd, an attorney of Bow Street; while at other times Shepherd + was prosecutor of those who kept gaming houses, and Bellasis attorney. Sir + William Addington, the magistrate, was so well aware that these two men + commenced prosecutions solely for the purpose of HUSH MONEY, that he + refused to act. The Joseph Atkinson just mentioned at one time gave them + L100, at another L80; and in this way they had amassed an immense sum, and + undertook, for a specific amount, to defend keepers of gaming houses + against all prosecutions! + </p> + <p> + WALKING OFF WITH A L200 BANK-NOTE. + </p> + <p> + The runaway son of an extensive linen-draper went to a gaming house in + King Street, and pocketed a L200 bank-note from the table. He was not + kicked out, because it would not be safe for the proprietors of these + houses to run the risk of getting involved in law; but he was civilly + walked down-stairs by the master of the establishment, who forbad him the + house evermore. The dashing youth, however, put both the money and the + affront in his pocket, and was only too thankful to get away in so good a + plight. + </p> + <p> + PERQUISITES OF GAMBLING HOUSE WAITERS. + </p> + <p> + A waiter in one of the gambling houses in St James's Street received in + Christmas boxes above L500. A nobleman, who had in the course of a week + won L80,000, gave him L100 of his winnings. He was said to have actually + borrowed of the waiter the money which led to his extraordinary success! + </p> + <p> + PAUL ROUBEL. + </p> + <p> + Paul Roubel was a gaming house keeper, who seems to have been an exception + to his class, according to the following account:—'A foreigner once + applied for the situation of croupier at old Paul Roubel's, stating as his + qualification that he could cut or turn up whatever card he pleased. The + old man (for he was nearly eighty, and a very good hearty fellow in his + way) declined the offer, saying—"You are too clever for me; my + customers must have some chance!" It is true Roubel kept a gambling house; + but it is also true that few men in higher walks of life possessed a + kinder heart, or a hand which opened more freely or more liberally to the + calls of humanity! Peace be to his manes!' + </p> + <p> + TITLED GREEKS, OR 'DECOYS.' + </p> + <p> + In all the gaming houses of any note there were unprincipled and reckless + persons paid by the hellites, employed in various capacities, and for + various purposes. Sometimes they played for the proprietors against any + one who chose to put down his money; at other times, when there were no + other individuals playing at all, they pretended to be strangers + themselves, and got up sham games with the proprietors, with the view of + practising a deception on any strangers who might be in the room, and by + that means inducing them to put down their money. They were dressed in the + most fashionable manner, always exhibiting a profusion of jewellery, and + living in great splendour when they have any particular person in their + eye, in the various hotels throughout town.(50) + </p> + <p> + (50) Grant, Sketches in London. + </p> + <p> + In some cases, in the higher class of gaming establishments, the Greeks, + or decoys, being men of title or considerable standing in society, did not + receive a fixed salary for seducing young men of fortune, but being in + every case very needy men, they nominally borrowed, from time to time, + large sums of money from the hell-keepers. It was, however, perfectly + understood on both sides that the amount so borrowed was never to be + repaid.(51) + </p> + <p> + (51) Grant, Ubi supra. + </p> + <p> + WHY CHEATS WERE CALLED GREEKS. + </p> + <p> + M. Robert-Houdin says that this application of the term 'Greek' originated + from a certain modern Greek, named Apoulos, who in the reign of Louis XIV. + was caught cheating at court, and was condemned to 20 years at the + galleys. I think this a very improbable derivation, and unnecessary + withal. Aristotle of old, as before stated, ranked gamesters 'with thieves + and plunderers, who for the sake of gain do not scruple to despoil their + best friends.' We afterwards find them bearing just as bad a character + among the Romans. Says Juvenal— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Graeculus esuriens in coelum jusseris, ibit. + 'Bid the hungry Greek to heaven, to heaven he goes.' +</pre> + <p> + Dr Johnson translated the words, 'Bid him to h—l, to h—l he + goes'—which is wrong. A DIFFICULTY is implied, and everybody knows + that it is easier to go to the latter place than the former. It means that + a needy Greek was capable of doing anything. Lord Byron protested that he + saw no difference between Greeks and Jews—of course, meaning 'Jews' + in the offensive sense of the word. Among gamblers the term was chiefly + applied to 'decoys.' + </p> + <p> + GAMING TABLE SLANG AND MANOEUVRES. + </p> + <p> + Captain Sharp. A cheating bully, whose office it was to bully any + 'Pigeon,' who, suspecting roguery, refused to pay what he had lost. + </p> + <p> + St Hugh's bones. Dice. A bale of bard cinque deuces; a bale of flat cinque + deuces; a bale of flat size aces; a bale of bard cater treys; a bale of + flat cater treys; a bale of Fulhams; a bale of light graniers; a bale of + gordes, with as many highmen and lowmen for passage; a bale of demies; a + bale of long dice for even or odd; a bale of bristles; a bale of direct + contraries,—names of false dice. + </p> + <p> + Do. To cheat. + </p> + <p> + Done up. Ruined. + </p> + <p> + Down-hills. False dice which run low. + </p> + <p> + Elbow-shaker. A gamester. + </p> + <p> + Fulhams. Loaded dice. + </p> + <p> + Fuzz. To shuffle cards closely: to change the pack. + </p> + <p> + Game. Bubbles, Flats, Pigeons. + </p> + <p> + Gull Gropers. Usurers who lend money to gamesters. + </p> + <p> + Greeks. Cheats at play. + </p> + <p> + Hedge. To secure a bet by betting on the other side. + </p> + <p> + High Jinks. A gambler who drinks to intoxicate his Pigeon. + </p> + <p> + Hunting. Drawing in the unwary. + </p> + <p> + Main. Any number on the dice from five to nine. + </p> + <p> + Paum. To hide a card or die. + </p> + <p> + Pigeons. Dupes of sharpers at play. + </p> + <p> + Vincent's Law. The art of cheating at cards, by the banker, who plays + booty, Gripe, who bets, and the Vincent, who is cheated. The gain is + called termage. + </p> + <p> + Vowel. To give an I. O. U. in payment. + </p> + <p> + Up-hills. False dice which run high. + </p> + <p> + SPECIMEN OF A QUASI GAMING HOUSE CIRCULAR. + </p> + <p> + 'SIR,—I hope you will join with the rest of the parishioners in + recommending what friends you can to my shops. They shall have good + candles and fair play. Sir, we are a not gang of swindlers, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Like other Gaming Houses, + We are men of character. + Our Party is, + Tom Carlos—alias Pistol, + Ned Mogg,—from Charing Cross, + Union Clarke, —————— + + {The best in the world at + A Frenchman,{ + {sleight of hand. + My poor Brother, + and + Melting Billy, + Your humble Servant. + To the Church-Wardens, Overseers, and each + respectable inhabitant in the Parish.' + + A card was enclosed, as follows:— + '**** + Gaming House Keeper, + and **** **** to + The Honourable House of Commons + No. 7 and 8 **** St, St James's.' +</pre> + <p> + This circular was sent to Stockdale, the publisher, in 1820, who published + it with the names in asterisks suppressed. It was evidently intended to + expose some doings in high places. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. THE DOCTRINE OF PROBABILITIES APPLIED TO GAMBLING. + </h2> + <p> + A distinction must be made between games of skill and games of chance. The + former require application, attention, and a certain degree of ability to + insure success in them; while the latter are devoid of all that is + rational, and are equally within the reach of the highest and lowest + capacity. To be successful in throwing the dice is one of the most fickle + achievements of fickle fortune; and therefore the principal game played + with them is very properly and emphatically called 'Hazard.' It requires, + indeed, some exertion of the mental powers, of memory, at least, and a + turn for such diversions, to play well many games at cards. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, it is often found that those who do so give no further + proofs of superior memory and judgment, whilst persons of superior memory + and judgment not unfrequently fail egregiously at the card-table. + </p> + <p> + The gamester of skill, in games of skill, may at first sight seem to have + more advantage than the gamester of chance, in games of chance; and while + cards are played merely as an amusement, there is no doubt that a + recreation is more rational when it requires some degree of skill than + one, like dice, totally devoid of all meaning whatever. But when the + pleasure becomes a business, and a matter of mere gain, there is more + innocence, perhaps, in a perfect equality of antagonists—which games + of chance, fairly played, always secure—than where one party is + likely to be an overmatch for the other by his superior knowledge or + ability. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, even games of chance may be artfully managed; and the most + apparently casual throw of the dice be made subservient to the purposes of + chicanery and fraud, as will be shown in the sequel. + </p> + <p> + In the matter of skill and chance the nature of cards is mixed,—most + games having in them both elements of interest,—since the success of + the player must depend as much on the chance of the 'deal' as on his skill + in playing the game. But even the chance of the deal is liable to be + perverted by all the tricks of shuffling and cutting—not to mention + how the honourable player may be deceived in a thousand ways by the craft + of the sharper, during the playing, of the cards themselves; consequently + professed gamblers of all denominations, whether their games be of + apparent skill or mere chance, may be confounded together or considered in + the same category, as being equally meritorious and equally infamous. + </p> + <p> + Under the name of the Doctrine of Chances or Probabilities, a very learned + science,—much in vogue when lotteries were prevalent,—has been + applied to gambling purposes; and in spite of the obvious abstruseness of + the science, it is not impossible to give the general reader an idea of + its processes and conclusions. + </p> + <p> + The probability of an event is greater or less according to the number of + chances by which it may happen, compared with the whole number of chances + by which it may either happen or fail. Wherefore, if we constitute a + fraction whereof the numerator be the number of chances whereby an event + may happen, and the denominator the number of all the chances whereby it + may either happen or fail, that fraction will be a proper designation of + the probability of happening. Thus, if an event has 3 chances to happen, + and 2 to fail, then the fraction 3/5 will fairly represent the probability + of its happening, and may be taken to be the measure of it. + </p> + <p> + The same may be said of the probability of failing, which will likewise be + measured by a fraction whose numerator is the number of chances whereby it + may fail, and the denominator the whole number of chances both for its + happening and failing; thus the probability of the failing of that event + which has 2 chances to fail and 3 to happen will be measured by the + fraction 2/5. + </p> + <p> + The fractions which represent the probabilities of happening and failing, + being added together, their sum will always be equal to unity, since the + sum of their numerators will be equal to their common denominator. Now, it + being a certainty that an event will either happen or fail, it follows + that certainty, which may be conceived under the notion of an infinitely + great degree of probability, is fitly represented by unity. + </p> + <p> + These things will be easily apprehended if it be considered that the word + probability includes a double idea; first, of the number of chances + whereby an event may happen; secondly, of the number of chances whereby it + may either happen or fail. If I say that I have three chances to win any + sum of money, it is impossible from the bare assertion to judge whether I + am likely to obtain it; but if I add that the number of chances either to + obtain it or miss it, is five in all, from this will ensue a comparison + between the chances that are for and against me, whereby a true judgment + will be formed of my probability of success; whence it necessarily follows + that it is the comparative magnitude of the number of chances to happen, + in respect of the whole number of chances either to happen or to fail, + which is the true measure of probability. + </p> + <p> + To find the probability of throwing an ace in two throws with a single + die. The probability of throwing an ace the first time is 1/6; whereof 1/ + is the first part of the probability required. If the ace be missed the + first time, still it may be thrown on the second; but the probability of + missing it the first time is 5/6, and the probability of throwing it the + second time is 1/6; therefore the probability of missing it the first time + and throwing it the second, is 5/6 X 1/6 = 5/36 and this is the second + part of the probability required, and therefore the probability required + is in all 1/6 + 5/36 = 11/36. + </p> + <p> + To this case is analogous a question commonly proposed about throwing with + two dice either six or seven in two throws, which will be easily solved, + provided it be known that seven has 6 chances to come up, and six 5 + chances, and that the whole number of chances in two dice is 36; for the + number of chances for throwing six or seven 11, it follows that the + probability of throwing either chance the first time is 11/36, but if both + are missed the first time, still either may be thrown the second time; but + the probability of missing both the first time is 25/36, and the + probability of throwing either of them on the second is 11/36; therefore + the probability of missing both of them the first time, and throwing + either of them the second time, is 25/36 X 11/36 = 275/1296, and therefore + the probability required is 11/36 + 275/1296 = 671/1296, and the + probability of the contrary is 625/1296. + </p> + <p> + Among the many mistakes that are committed about chances, one of the most + common and least suspected was that which related to lotteries. Thus, + supposing a lottery wherein the proportion of the blanks to the prizes was + as five to one, it was very natural to conclude that, therefore, five + tickets were requisite for the chance of a prize; and yet it is + demonstrable that four tickets were more than sufficient for that purpose. + In like manner, supposing a lottery in which the proportion of the blanks + to the prize is as thirty-nine to one (as was the lottery of 1710), it may + be proved that in twenty-eight tickets a prize is as likely to be taken as + not, which, though it may contradict the common notions, is nevertheless + grounded upon infallible demonstrations. + </p> + <p> + When the Play of the Royal Oak was in use, some persons who lost + considerably by it, had their losses chiefly occasioned by an argument of + which they could not perceive the fallacy. The odds against any particular + point of the ball were one and thirty to one, which entitled the + adventurers, in case they were winners, to have thirty-two stakes + returned, including their own; instead of which, as they had but + twenty-eight, it was very plain that, on the single account of the + disadvantage of the play, they lost one-eighth part of all the money + played for. But the master of the ball maintained that they had no reason + to complain, since he would undertake that any particular point of the + ball should come up in two and twenty throws; of this he would offer to + lay a wager, and actually laid it when required. The seeming contradiction + between the odds of one and thirty to one, and twenty-two throws for any + chance to come up, so perplexed the adventurers that they began to think + the advantage was on their side, and so they went on playing and continued + to lose. + </p> + <p> + The doctrine of chances tends to explode the long-standing superstition + that there is in play such a thing as LUCK, good or bad. If by saying that + a man has good luck, nothing more were meant than that he has been + generally a gainer at play, the expression might be allowed as very proper + in a short way of speaking; but if the word 'good luck' be understood to + signify a certain predominant quality, so inherent in a man that he must + win whenever he plays, or at least win oftener than lose, it may be denied + that there is any such thing in nature. The asserters of luck maintain + that sometimes they have been very lucky, and at other times they have had + a prodigious run of bad luck against them, which whilst it continued + obliged them to be very cautious in engaging with the fortunate. They + asked how they could lose fifteen games running if bad luck had not + prevailed strangely against them. But it is quite certain that although + the odds against losing so many times together be very great, namely, + 32,767 to 1,—yet the POSSIBILITY of it is not destroyed by the + greatness of the odds, there being ONE chance in 32,768 that it may so + happen; therefore it follows that the succession of lost games was still + possible, without the intervention of bad luck. The accident of losing + fifteen games is no more to be imputed to bad luck than the winning, with + one single ticket, the highest prize in a lottery of 32,768 tickets is to + be imputed to good luck, since the chances in both cases are perfectly + equal. But if it be said that luck has been concerned in the latter case, + the answer will be easy; for let us suppose luck not existing, or at least + let us suppose its influence to be suspended,—yet the highest prize + must fall into some hand or other, not as luck (for, by the hypothesis, + that has been laid aside), but from the mere necessity of its falling + somewhere. + </p> + <p> + Among the many curious results of these inquiries according to the + doctrine of chances, is the prodigious advantage which the repetition of + odds will amount to. Thus, 'supposing I play with an adversary who allows + me the odds of 43 to 40, and agrees with me to play till 100 stakes are + won or lost on either side, on condition that I give him an equivalent for + the gain I am entitled to by the advantage of my odds;—the question + is, what I am to give him, supposing we play at a guinea a stake? The + answer is 99 guineas and above 18 shillings,(52) which will seem almost + incredible, considering the smallness of the odds—43 to 40. Now let + the odds be in any proportion, and let the number of stakes played for be + never so great, yet one general conclusion will include all the possible + cases, and the application of it to numbers may be worked out in less than + a minute's time.'(53) + </p> + <p> + (52) The guinea was worth 21s. 6d. when the work quoted was written. + </p> + <p> + (53) De Moivre, Doctrine of Chances. + </p> + <p> + The possible combinations of cards in a hand as dealt out by chance are + truly wonderful. It has been established by calculation that a player at + Whist may hold above 635 thousand millions of various hands! So that, + continually varied, at 50 deals per evening, for 313 evenings, or 15,650 + hands per annum, he might be above 40 millions of years before he would + have the same hand again! + </p> + <p> + The chance is equal, in dealing cards, that every hand will have seven + trumps in two deals, or seven trumps between two partners, and also four + court cards in every deal. It is also certain on an average of hands, that + nothing can be more superstitious and absurd than the prevailing notions + about luck or ill-luck. Four persons, constantly playing at Whist during a + long voyage, were frequently winners and losers to a large amount, but as + frequently at 'quits;' and at the end of the voyage, after the last game, + one of them was minus only one franc! + </p> + <p> + The chance of having a particular card out of 13 is 13/52, or 1 to 4, and + the chance of holding any two cards is 1/4 of 1/4 or 1/16. The chances of + a game are generally inversely as the number got by each, or as the number + to be got to complete each game. + </p> + <p> + The chances against holding seven trumps are 160 to 1; against six, it is + 26 to 1; against five, 6 to 1; and against four nearly 2 to 1. It is 8 to + 1 against holding any two particular cards. + </p> + <p> + Similar calculations have been made respecting the probabilities with + dice. There are 36 chances upon two dice. + </p> + <p> + It is an even chance that you throw 8. It is 35 to 1 against throwing any + particular doublets, and 6 to 1 against any doublets at all. It is 17 to 1 + against throwing any two desired numbers. It is 4 to 9 against throwing a + single number with either of the dice, so as to hit a blot and enter. + Against hitting with the amount of two dice, the chances against 7, 8, and + 9 are 5 to 1; against 10 are 11 to 1; against 11 are 17 to 1; and against + sixes, 35 to 1. + </p> + <p> + The probabilities of throwing required totals with two dice, depend on the + number of ways in which the totals can be made up by the dice;—2, 3, + 11, or 12 can only be made up one way each, and therefore the chance is + but 1/36;—4, 5, 9, 10 may be made up two ways, or 1/8;—6, 7, 8 + three ways, or 1/12. The chance of doublets is 1/36, the chance of + PARTICULAR doublets 1/216. + </p> + <p> + The method was largely applied to lotteries, cock-fighting, and + horse-racing. It may be asked how it is possible to calculate the odds in + horse-racing, when perhaps the jockeys in a great measure know before they + start which is to win? + </p> + <p> + In answer to this a question may be proposed:—Suppose I toss up a + half-penny, and you are to guess whether it will be head or tail—must + it not be allowed that you have an equal chance to win as to lose? Or, if + I hide a half-penny under a hat, and I know what it is, have you not as + good a chance to guess right, as if it were tossed up? My KNOWING IT TO BE + HEAD can be no hindrance to you, as long as you have liberty of choosing + either head or tail. In spite of this reasoning, there are people who + build so much upon their own opinion, that should their favourite horse + happen to be beaten, they will have it to be owing to some fraud. + </p> + <p> + The following fact is mentioned as a 'paradox.' + </p> + <p> + It happened at Malden, in Essex, in the year 1738, that three horses (and + no more than three) started for a L10 plate, and they were all three + distanced the first heat, according to the common rules in horse-racing, + without any quibble or equivocation; and the following was the solution:—The + first horse ran on the inside of the post; the second wanted weight; and + the third fell and broke a fore-leg.(54) + </p> + <p> + (54) Cheany's Horse-racing Book. + </p> + <p> + In horse-racing the expectation of an event is considered as the present + value, or worth, of whatsoever sum or thing is depending on the happening + of that event. Therefore if the expectation on an event be divided by the + value of the thing expected, on the happening of that event, the quotient + will be the probability of happening. + </p> + <p> + Example I. Suppose two horses, A and B, to start for L50, and there are + even bets on both sides; it is evident that the present value or worth of + each of their expectations will be L25, and the probabilities 25/50 or + 1/2. For, if they had agreed to divide the prize between them, according + as the bets should be at the time of their starting, they would each of + them be entitled to L25; but if A had been thought so much superior to B + that the bets had been 3 to 2 in his favour, then the real value of A's + expectation would have been L30, and that of B's only L20, and their + several probabilities 30/50 and 20/50. + </p> + <p> + Example II. Let us suppose three horses to start for a sweepstake, namely, + A, B, and C, and that the odds are 8 to 6 A against B, and 6 to 4 B + against C—what are the odds—A against C, and the field against + A? Answer:—2 to 1 A against C, and 10 to 8, or 5 to 4 the field + against A. For + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + A's expectation is 8 + B's expectation is 6 + C's expectation is 4 + —— + 18 +</pre> + <p> + But if the bets had been 7 to 4 A against B; and even money B against C, + then the odds would have been 8 to 7 the field against A, as shown in the + following scheme:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 7 A + 4 B + 4 C + —— + 15 +</pre> + <p> + But as this is the basis upon which all the rest depends, another example + or two may be required to make it as plain as possible. + </p> + <p> + Example III. Suppose the same three as before, and the common bets 7 to 4 + A against B; 21 to 20 (or 'gold to silver') B against C; we must state it + thus:—7 guineas to 4 A against B; and 4 guineas to L4, B against C; + which being reduced into shillings, the scheme will stand as follows:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +147 A's expectation. 81 B's expectation. + 80 C's expectation.——311 +</pre> + <p> + By which it will be 164 to 147 the field against A, (something more than + 39 to 35). Now, if we compare this with the last example, we may conclude + it to be right; for if it had been 40 to 35, then it would have been 8 to + 7, exactly as in the last example. But, as some persons may be at a loss + to know why the numbers 39 and 35 are selected, it is requisite to show + the same by means of the Sliding Rule. Set 164 upon the line A to 147 upon + the slider B, and then look along till you see two whole numbers which + stand exactly one against the other (or as near as you can come), which, + in this case, you find to be 39 on A, standing against 35 on the slider B + (very nearly). But as 164/311 and 147/311 are in the lowest terms, there + are no less numbers, in the same proportion, as 164 to 147,—39 and + 35 being the nearest, but not quite exact. + </p> + <p> + Example IV. There are four horses to start for a sweepstake, namely, A, B, + C, D, and they are supposed to be as equally matched as possible. Now, Mr + Sly has laid 10 guineas A against C, and also 10 guineas A against D. + Likewise Mr Rider has laid 10 guineas A against C, and also 10 guineas B + against D. After which Mr Dice laid Mr Sly 10 guineas to 4 that he will + not win both his bets. Secondly, he laid Mr Rider 10 guineas to 4 that he + will not win both his bets. + </p> + <p> + Now, we wish to know what Mr Dice's advantage or disadvantage is, in + laying these two last-mentioned wagers. + </p> + <p> + First, the probability of Mr Sly's winning both his bets is 1/3 of 14 + guineas; and Mr Dice's expectation is 2/3 of 14 guineas, or L9 16s., which + being deducted from his own stake (10 guineas), there remains 14s., which + is his disadvantage in that bet. + </p> + <p> + Secondly, Mr Rider's expectation of winning his two bets is 1/4, and, + therefore, Mr Dice's expectation of the 14 guineas, is 3/4, or L11 0s. + 6d., from which deduct 10 guineas (his own stake), and there remains 10s. + 6d., his advantage in this bet,—which being deducted from 14s. (his + disadvantage in the other), there remains 3s 6d., his disadvantage in + paying both these bets. + </p> + <p> + These examples may suffice to show the working of the system; regular + tables exist adapted to all cases; and there can be no doubt that those + who have realized large fortunes by horse-racing managed to do so by + uniformly acting on some such principles, as well as by availing + themselves of such 'valuable information' as may be secured, before events + come off, by those who make horse-racing their business. + </p> + <p> + The same system was applied, and with still greater precision, to + Cock-fighting, to Lotteries, Raffles, Backgammon, Cribbage, Put, All + Fours, and Whist, showing all the chances of holding any particular card + or cards. Thus, it is 2 to 1 that your partner has not one certain card; + 17 to 2 that he has not two certain cards; 31 to 26 that he has not one of + them only; and 32 to 25 (or 5 to 4) that he has one or both—that is, + when two cards are in question. It is 31 to 1 that he has three certain + cards; 7 to 2 that he has not two; 7 to 6 that he has not one; 13 to 6 + that he has either one or two; 5 to 2 that he has one, two, or three + cards; that is, when three cards are in question. + </p> + <p> + With regard to the dealer and his partner, it is 57,798 to 7176 (better + than 8 to 1) that they are not four by honours; it is 32,527 to 32,448 (or + about an even bet) that they are not two by honours; it is 36,924 to + 25,350 (or 11 to 7 nearly) that the honours count; it is 42,237 to 22,737 + (or 15 to 8 nearly) that the dealer is nothing by honours.(55) + </p> + <p> + (55) Proctor, The Sportsman's Sure Guide. Lond. A.D. 1733. + </p> + <p> + Such is a general sketch of the large subject included under the term of + the calculation of probabilities, which comprises not only the chances of + games of hazard, insurances, lotteries, &c., but also the + determination of future events from observations made relative to events + of the same nature. This subject of inquiry dates only from the 17th + century, and occupied the minds of Pascal, Huygens, Fermot, Bernouilli, + Laplace, Fourier, Lacroix, Poisson, De Moivre; and in more modern times, + Cournot, Quetelet, and Professor De Morgan. + </p> + <p> + In the matter of betting, or in estimating the 'odds' in betting, of + course an acquaintance with the method must be of some service, and there + can be no doubt that professional gamesters endeavoured to master the + subject. + </p> + <p> + M. Robert-Houdin, in his amusing work, Les Tricheries des Grecs devoilees, + has propounded some gaming axioms which are at least curious and + interesting; they are presented as those of a professional gambler and + cheat. + </p> + <p> + 1. 'Every game of chance presents two kinds of chances which are very + distinct,—namely, those relating to the person interested, that is, + the player; and those inherent in the combinations of the game.' + </p> + <p> + In the former there is what must be called, for the want of a better name, + 'good luck' or 'bad luck,' that is, some mysterious cause which at times + gives the play a 'run' of good or bad luck; in the latter there is the + entire doctrine of 'probabilities' aforesaid, which, according to M. + Houdin's gaming hero, may be completely discarded for the following axiom:— + </p> + <p> + 2. 'If chance can bring into the game all possible combinations, there + are, nevertheless, certain limits at which it seems to stop. Such, for + instance, as a certain number turning up ten times in succession at + Roulette. This is possible, but it has never happened.' + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless a most remarkable fact is on record. In 1813, a Mr Ogden + betted 1000 guineas to ONE guinea, that calling seven as the main, the + caster would not throw that number ten times successively. Wonderful to + relate! the caster threw seven nine times following. Thereupon Mr Ogden + offered him 470 guineas to be off the bet—which he refused. The + caster took the box again and threw nine,—and so Mr Ogden won his + guinea!(56) In this case there seems to have been no suspicion whatever of + unfair dice being used. + </p> + <p> + (56) Seymour Harcourt, The Gaming Calendar. + </p> + <p> + 3. 'In a game of chance, the oftener the same combination has occurred in + succession, the nearer we are to the certainty that it will not recur at + the next cast or turn up. This is the most elementary of the theories on + probabilities; it is termed the MATURITY OF THE CHANCES.' + </p> + <p> + 'Hence,' according to this great authority, 'a player must come to the + table not only "in luck," but he must not risk his money excepting at the + instant prescribed by the rules of the maturity of the chances.' + </p> + <p> + Founded on this theory we have the following precepts for gamesters:— + </p> + <p> + 1. 'For gaming, prefer Roulette, because it presents several ways of + staking your money(57)—which permits the study of several. + </p> + <p> + (57) 'Pair, impair, passe, manque, and the 38 numbers of the Roulette, + besides the different combinations of POSITION' and 'maturities' together. + </p> + <p> + 2. 'A player should approach the gaming table perfectly calm and cool—just + as a merchant or tradesman in treaty about any affair. + </p> + <p> + If he gets into a passion, it is all over with prudence, all over with + good luck—for the demon of bad luck invariably pursues a passionate + player. + </p> + <p> + 3. 'Every man who finds a pleasure in playing runs the risk of losing. + </p> + <p> + 4. 'A prudent player, before undertaking anything, should put himself to + the test to discover if he is "in vein"—in luck. In all doubt, you + should abstain.' + </p> + <p> + I remember a curious incident in my childhood, which seems much to the + point of this axiom. A magnificent gold watch and chain were given towards + the building of a church, and my mother took three chances, which were at + a very high figure, the watch and chain being valued at more than L100. + One of these chances was entered in my name, one in my brother's, and the + third in my mother's. I had to throw for her as well as myself. My brother + threw an insignificant figure; for myself I did the same; but, oddly + enough, I refused to throw for my mother on finding that I had lost my + chance, saying that I should wait a little longer—rather a curious + piece of prudence for a child of thirteen. The raffle was with three dice; + the majority of the chances had been thrown, and 34 was the highest. After + declining to throw I went on throwing the dice for amusement, and was + surprised to find that every throw was better than the one I had in the + raffle. I thereupon said—'Now I'll throw for mamma.' I threw + thirty-six, which won the watch! My mother had been a large subscriber to + the building of the church, and the priest said that my winning the watch + for her was quite PROVIDENTIAL. According to M. Houdin's authority, + however, it seems that I only got into 'vein'—but how I came to + pause and defer throwing the last chance, has always puzzled me respecting + this incident of my childhood, which made too great an impression ever to + be effaced. + </p> + <p> + 5. 'There are persons who are constantly pursued by bad luck. To such I + say—NEVER PLAY. + </p> + <p> + 6. 'Stubborness at play is ruin. + </p> + <p> + 7. 'Remember that Fortune does not like people to be overjoyed at her + favours, and that she prepares bitter deceptions for the imprudent, who + are intoxicated by success.' + </p> + <p> + Such are the chief axioms of a most experienced gamester, and M. Houdin + sums up the whole into the following:— + </p> + <p> + 8. 'Before risking your money at play, you must deeply study your "vein" + and the different probabilities of the game—termed the maturity of + the chances.' + </p> + <p> + M. Robert-Houdin got all this precious information from a gamester named + Raymond. It appears that the first meeting between him and this man was at + a subscription-ball, where the sharper managed to fleece him and others to + a considerable amount, contriving a dexterous escape when detected. Houdin + afterwards fell in with him at Spa, where he found him in the greatest + poverty, and lent him a small sum—to practise his grand theories as + just explained—but which he lost—whereupon Houdin advised him + 'to take up a less dangerous occupation.' He then appears to have revealed + to Houdin the entertaining particulars which form the bulk of his book, so + dramatically written. A year afterwards Houdin unexpectedly fell in with + him again; but this time the fellow was transformed into what he called 'a + demi-millionnaire,' having succeeded to a large fortune by the death of + his brother, who died intestate. According to Houdin the following was the + man's declaration at the auspicious meeting:—'I have,' said Raymond, + 'completely renounced gaming. I am rich enough, and care no longer for + fortune. And yet,' he added proudly, 'if I now cared for the thing, how I + could BREAK those bloated banks in their pride, and what a glorious + vengeance I could take of BAD LUCK and its inflexible agents! But my heart + is too full of my happiness to allow the smallest place for the desire of + vengeance.' + </p> + <p> + A very proper speech, unquestionably, and rendered still more edifying by + M. Houdin's assurance that Raymond, at his death three years after, + bequeathed the whole of his fortune to various charitable institutions at + Paris. + </p> + <p> + With regard to the man's gaming theories, however, it may be just as well + to consider the fact, that very many clever people, after contriving fine + systems and schemes for ruining gaming banks, have, as M. Houdin reminds + us, only succeeded in ruining themselves and those who conformed to their + precepts. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Et s'il est un joueur qui vive de son pain, + On en voit tous les jours mille mourir de faim. +</pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'If ONE player there be that can live by his gain, + There are thousands that starve and strive ever in vain!' +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. THE HISTORY OF DICE AND CARDS. + </h2> + <p> + The knights of hazard and devotees of chance, who live in and by the + rattle of the box, little know, or care, perhaps, to whom they are + indebted for the invention of their favourite cube. They will solace + themselves, no doubt, on being told that they are pursuing a diversion of + the highest antiquity, and which has been handed down through all + civilized as well as barbarous nations to our own times. + </p> + <p> + The term 'cube,' which is the figure of a die, comes originally from the + Arabic word 'ca'b,' or 'ca'be,' whence the Greeks derived their cubos, and + cubeia, which is used to signify any solid figure perfectly square every + way—such as the geometrical cube, the die used in play, and the + temple at Mecca, which is of the same figure. The Persic name for 'die' is + 'dad,' and from this word is derived the name of the thing in Spanish, + Portuguese, and Italian, namely, dado. In the old French it is det, in the + plural dets; in modern French de and dez, whence our English name 'die,' + and its plural 'dies,' or 'dice.' + </p> + <p> + Plato tells us that dice and gaming originated with a certain demon, whom + he calls Theuth, which seems very much like the original patronymic of our + Teutonic races, always famous for their gambling propensity. The Greeks + generally, however, ascribed the invention of dice to one of their race, + named Palamedes, a sort of universal genius, who hit upon many other + contrivances, among the rest, weights and measures. But this worthy lived + in the times of the Trojan war, and yet Homer makes no mention of dice—the + astragaloi named by the poet being merely knuckle-bones. Dice, however, + are mentioned by Aristophanes in his comedies, and so it seems that the + invention must be placed between the times of the two poets, that is, + about 2300 years ago. At any rate the cube or die has been in use as an + instrument of play, at least, during that period of time. + </p> + <p> + The great antiquity, therefore, of the die as an instrument of pastime is + unquestionable, and the general reason assigned for its invention was the + amusement and relaxation of the mind from the pressure of difficulties, or + from the fatigues and toils of protracted war. Indeed, one conjecture is, + that gaming was invented by the Lydians when under the pressure of a great + famine; to divert themselves from their sufferings they contrived dice, + balls, tables, &c. This seems, however, rather a bad joke. + </p> + <p> + The afflicted Job asks—'Can a man fill his belly with the east + wind?' And we can imagine that plenty of tobacco to smoke and 'chaw' would + mitigate the pangs of starvation to an army in the field, as has been + seriously suggested; but you might just as well present a soldier with a + stone instead of bread, as invite him to amuse himself with dice, or + anything else, to assuage the pangs of hunger. + </p> + <p> + Be that as it may, time soon matured this instrument of recreation into an + engine of destruction; and the intended palliative of care and labour has + proved the fostering nurse of innumerable evils. This diminutive cube has + usurped a tyranny over mankind for more than two thousand years, and + continues at this day to rule the world with despotic sway—levelling + all distinctions of fortune in an instant by the fiat of its single turn. + </p> + <p> + The use of dice was probably brought into this island by the Romans, if + not before known; it became more frequent in the times of our Saxon + ancestry, and has prevailed with almost unimpaired vigour from those days + to our own. + </p> + <p> + The Astragalos of the Greeks and Talus of the Romans were, as before + stated, nothing but the knuckle-bones of sheep and goats, numbered, and + used for gaming, being tossed up in the air and caught on the back of the + hand. Two persons played together at this game, using four bones, which + they threw up into the air or emptied out of a dice-box (fritillus), + observing the numbers of the opposite sides. The numbers on the four sides + of the four bones admitted of thirty-five different combinations. The + lowest throw of all was four aces; but the value of the throw was not in + all cases the sum of the four numbers turned up. The highest in value was + that called Venus, in which the numbers cast up were all different; the + sum of them being only fourteen. It was by obtaining this throw, hence + called basilicus, that 'the King of the Feast' was appointed by the + Romans. Certain other throws were called by particular names, taken from + the gods, heroes, kings, courtesans, animals; altogether there were + sixty-four such names. Thus, the throw consisting of two aces and two + treys, making eight, was denominated Stesichorus. When the object was + simply to throw the highest number, the game was called pleistobolinda, a + Greek word of that meaning. When a person threw the tali, he often invoked + either a god or his mistress. + </p> + <p> + Dice were also made of ivory, bone, or some close-grained wood, especially + privet ligustris tesseris utilissima, (Plin. H. N.). They were numbered as + at present. + </p> + <p> + Arsacides, King of the Parthians, presented Demetrius Nicator, among other + presents, with golden dice—it is said, in contempt for his frivolous + propensity to play—in exprobationem puerilis levitatis.'(58) + </p> + <p> + (58) Justini Hist., lib. xxxviii. 9. 9. + </p> + <p> + Dice are also mentioned in the New Testament, where occurs the word cubeia + (Eph. iv. 14), ('the only word for "gambling" used in the Bible'), a word + in very common use, among Paul's kith and kin, for 'cube,' 'dice,' + 'dicery,' and it occurs frequently in the Talmud and Midrash. The Mishna + declares unfit either as 'judge or witness,' 'a cubea-player, a usurer, a + pigeon-flier (betting-man), a vendor of illegal (seventh-year) produce, + and a slave.' A mitigating clause—proposed by one of the weightiest + legal authorities, to the effect that the gambler and his kin should only + be disqualified 'if they have but that one profession'—is distinctly + negatived by the majority, and the rule remains absolute. The classical + word for the gambler or dice-player, cubeutes, appears aramaized in the + same sources into something like kubiustis, as the following curious + instances may show: When the Angel, after having wrestled with Jacob all + night, asks him to let him go, 'for the dawn has risen' (A. V., 'the day + breaketh'), Jacob is made to reply to him, 'Art thou, then, a thief or a + kubiustis, that thou art afraid of the day?' To which the Angel replies, + 'No, I am not; but it is my turn to-day, and for the first time, to sing + the Angelic Hymn of Praise in Heaven: let me go.' In another Tadmudical + passage an early biblical critic is discussing certain arithmetical + difficulties in the Pentateuch. Thus he finds the number of Levites (in + Numbers) to differ, when summed up from the single items, from that given + in the total. Worse than that, he finds that all the gold and silver + contributed to the sanctuary is not accounted for, and, clinching his + argument, he cries, 'Is, then, your master Moses a thief or a kubiustis? + Or could he not make up his accounts properly?' The critic is then + informed of a certain difference between 'sacred' and other coins; and he + further gets a lesson in the matter of Levites and Firstborn, which + silences him. Again, the Talmud decides that, if a man have bought a slave + who turns out to be a thief or a kubiustis,—which has here been + erroneously explained to mean a 'manstealer,'—he has no redress. He + must keep him, as he bought him, or send him away; for he has bought him + with all his vices. + </p> + <p> + Regarding the translation 'sleight' in the A.V., this seems a correct + enough rendering of the term as far as the SENSE of the passage goes, and + comes very near the many ancient translations—'nequitia,' + 'versutia,' 'inanis labor,' 'vana et inepta (?) subtilitas,' &c., of + the Fathers. Luther has 'Schalkheit,'—a word the meaning of which at + his time differed considerably from our acceptation of the term. The + Thesaurus takes Paul's cubeia (s.v.) more literally, to mean 'in alea + hominum, i. e., in certis illis casibus quibus jactantur homines.'(59) + </p> + <p> + (59) E. Deutseh in the Athenaeum of Sept. 28, 1867. + </p> + <p> + The ancient tali, marked and thrown as above described, were also used in + DIVINATION, just as dice are at the present day; and doubtless the + interpretations were the same among the ancients—for all + superstitions are handed down from generation to generation with wondrous + fidelity. The procedure is curious enough, termed 'the art of telling + fortunes by dice.' + </p> + <p> + Three dice are taken and well shaken in the box with the left hand, and + then cast out on a board or table on which a circle is previously drawn + with chalk; and the following are the supposed predictions of the throws:— + </p> + <p> + Three, a pleasing surprise; four, a disagreeable one; five, a stranger who + will prove a friend; six, loss of property; seven, undeserved scandal; + eight, merited reproach; nine, a wedding; ten, a christening, at which + some important event will occur; eleven, a death that concerns you; + twelve, a letter speedily; thirteen, tears and sighs; fourteen, beware + that you are not drawn into some trouble or plot by a secret enemy; + fifteen, immediate prosperity and happiness; sixteen, a pleasant journey; + seventeen, you will either be on the water, or have dealings with those + belonging to it, to your advantage; eighteen, a great profit, rise in + life, or some desirable good will happen almost immediately, for the + answers to the dice are said to be fulfilled within nine days. To throw + the same number twice at one trial shows news from abroad, be the number + what it may. If the dice roll over the circle, the number thrown goes for + nothing, but the occurrence shows sharp words impending; and if they fall + on the floor it is blows. In throwing the dice if one remain on the top of + the other, 'it is a present of which you must take care,' namely, 'a + little stranger' at hand. + </p> + <p> + Two singular facts throw light on the kind of dice used some 100 and 150 + years ago. In an old cribbage card-box, curiously ornamented, supposed to + have been made by an amateur in the reign of Queen Anne, and now in my + possession, I found a die with one end fashioned to a point, evidently for + the purpose of spinning—similar to the modern teetotum. With the + same lot at the sale where it was bought, was a pack of cards made of + ivory, about an inch and a half in length and one inch in width—in + other respects exactly like the cards of the period. + </p> + <p> + Again, it is stated that in taking up the floors of the Middle Temple + Hall, about the year 1764, nearly 100 pairs of dice were found, which had + dropped, on different occasions, through the chinks or joints of the + boards. They were very small, at least one-third less that those now in + use. Certainly the benchers of those times did not keep the floor of their + magnificent hall in a very decent condition. + </p> + <p> + A curious fact relating to dice may here be pointed out. Each of the six + sides of a die is so dotted or numbered that the top and bottom of every + die (taken together) make 7; for if the top or uppermost side is 5, the + bottom or opposite side will be 2; and the same holds through every face; + therefore, let the number of dice be what it may, their top and bottom + faces, added together, must be equal to the number of dice multiplied by + 7. In throwing three dice, if 2, 3, and 4 are thrown, making 9, their + corresponding bottom faces will be 5, 4, and 3, making 12, which together + are 21—equal to the three dice multiplied by 7. + </p> + <p> + CARDS. + </p> + <p> + The origin of cards is as doubtful as that of dice. All that we know for + certain is that they were first used in the East. Some think that the + figures at first used on them were of moral import: the Hindoo and Chinese + cards are certainly emblematic in a very high degree; the former + illustrate the ten avatars, or incarnations of the deity Vishnu; and the + so-called 'paper-tickets' of the Chinese typify the stars, the human + virtues, and, indeed, every variety of subject. Sir William Jones was + convinced that the Hindoo game of Chaturaji—that is, 'the Four + Rajahs or Kings'—a species of highly-complicated chess—was the + first germ of that parti-coloured pasteboard, which has been the ruin of + so many modern fortunes. A pack of Hindoostani cards, in the possession of + the Royal Asiatic Society, and presented to Captain Cromline Smith in + 1815, by a high caste Brahman, was declared by the donor to be actually + 1000 years old: 'Nor,' said the Brahman, 'can any of us now play at them, + for they are not like our modern cards at all.' Neither, indeed, do they + bear any remarkable resemblance to our own—the pack consisting of no + less than eight sorts of divers colours, the kings being mounted upon + elephants, and viziers, or second honours, upon horses, tigers, and bulls. + Moreover, there are other marks distinguishing the respective value of the + common cards, which would puzzle our club-quidnuncs not a little—such + as 'a pine-apple in a shallow cup,' and a something like a parasol without + a handle, and with two broken ribs sticking through the top. The Chinese + cards have the advantage over those of Hindoostan by being oblong instead + of circular. + </p> + <p> + It was not before the end of the 14th century that cards became known in + Europe; and it is a curious fact that the French clergy took greatly to + card-playing about that time—their favourite game being the rather + ungenteel 'All Fours,' as now reputed; for they were specially forbidden + that pastime by the Synod of Langres in 1404. + </p> + <p> + The ancient cards of both Spain and France, particularly the + 'court-cards,' exhibit strong marks of the age of chivalry; but here we + may observe that the word is written by some ancient writers, + 'coate-cards,' evidently signifying no more than figures in particular + dresses. The giving pre-eminence or victory to a certain suit, by the name + of 'trump,' which is only a corruption of the word 'triumph,' is a strong + trait of the martial ideas of the inventors of these games. So that, if + the Chinese started the idea, it seems clear that the French and Spanish + improved upon it and gave it a plain significance; and there is no reason + to doubt that cards were actually employed to amuse Charles VI. in his + melancholy and dejection. + </p> + <p> + The four suits of cards are supposed to represent the four estates of a + kingdom:—1. The nobility and gentry; 2. The ecclesiastics or + priesthood; 3. The citizens or commercial men; 4. The peasantry or + Husbandmen. The nobility are represented in the old Spanish cards by the + espada, or sword, corrupted by us into 'spades,'—by the French with + piques, 'pikes or spears.' The ecclesiastical order is pointed out by + copas, or sacramental cups, which are painted in one of the suits of old + Spanish cards, and by coeurs, or 'hearts,' on French cards, as in our own—thereby + signifying choir-men, gens de choeur, or ecclesiastics—from choeur + de l'eglise, 'the choir of the church,' that being esteemed the most + important part or the HEART of the church. + </p> + <p> + The Spaniards depicted their citizens or commercial men under dineros, a + small coin, an emblem very well adapted to the productive classes; the + French by carreaux, squares or lozenges—importing, perhaps, unity of + interest, equality of condition, regularity of manners, and the + indispensable duty of this class of men to deal with one another 'on the + square.' The Spaniards made bastos, or knotty clubs, the emblem of the + 'bold peasantry,' taken probably from the custom that the plebeians were + permitted to challenge or fight each other with sticks and quarter-staves + only, but not with the sword, or any arms carried by a gentleman; while + the French peasantry were pointed out under the ideas of husbandry, + namely, by the trefles, trefoil or clover-grass. So much for the SUITS. + </p> + <p> + With regard to the depicted figures of cards, each nation likewise + followed its own inventions, though grounded in both on those ideas of + chivalry which then strongly prevailed. The Spanish cards were made to + carry the insignia and accoutrements of the King of Spain, the ace of + deneros being emblazoned with the royal arms, supported by an eagle. The + French ornamented their cards with fleurs de lis, their royal emblem. The + Spanish kings, in conformity to the martial spirit of the times when cards + were introduced, were all mounted on horseback, as befitted generals and + commanders-in-chief; but their next in command (among the cards) was el + caballo, the knight-errant on horseback—for the old Spanish cards + had no queens; and the third in order was the soto, or attendant, that is, + the esquire, or armour-bearer of the knight—all which was exactly + conformable to those ideas of chivalry which ruled the age. It is said + that David (king of spades), tormented by a rebellious son, is the emblem + of Charles VII., menaced by his son (Louis XI.), and that Argine (queen of + clubs) is the anagram of Regina, and the emblem of Marie d'Anjou, the wife + of that prince; that Pallas (queen of spades) represents Joan of Arc, the + Maid of Orleans; that Rachel (queen of diamonds) is Agnes Sorel; lastly, + that Judith (queen of hearts) is the Queen Isabeau. The French call the + queens at cards dames. + </p> + <p> + The four knaves (called in French, valets or varlets) are four valiant + captains—Ogier and Lancelot, the companions of Charlemagne, Hector + de Gallard, and Lahire, the generals of Charles VII. The remainder of the + pack equally presents a sort of martial allegory; the heart is bravery; + the spade (espad, 'sword') and the diamond (carreau, that is, a square or + shield) are the arms of war; the club (in French trefle, 'trefoil') is the + emblem of provisions; and the ace (in French as, from the Latin aes, + 'coin') is the emblem of money—the sinews of war. + </p> + <p> + In accordance with this allegorical meaning, the function of the ace is + most significant. It leads captive every other card, queen and king + included—thus indicating the omnipotence of gold or mammon! + </p> + <p> + 'To the mighty god of this nether world—To the spirit that roams + with banner unfurl'd O'er the Earth and the rolling Sea—And hath + conquer'd all to his thraldom Where his eye hath glanced or his footstep + sped—Who hath power alike o'er the living and dead—Mammon!(59) + I sing to thee! + </p> + <p> + (59) Steinmetz Ode to Mammon. + </p> + <p> + Some say that the four kings represent those famous champions of antiquity—David, + Alexander, Julius Caesar, and Charlemagne; and that the four queens, + Argine, Pallas, Esther, and Judith, are the respective symbols of majesty, + wisdom, piety, and fortitude; and there can be no doubt, if you look + attentively on the queens of a pack of cards, you will easily discern the + appropriate expressions of all these attributes in the faces of the + grotesque ladies therein depicted. The valets, or attendants, whom we call + knaves, are not necessarily 'rascals,' but simply servants royal; at first + they were knights, as appears from the names of some of the famous French + knights being formerly painted on the cards. + </p> + <p> + Thus a pack of cards is truly a monument of the olden time—the days + of chivalry and its numberless associations. + </p> + <p> + In addition to the details I have given in the previous chapter respecting + the probability of holding certain cards, there are a few other curious + facts concerning them, which it may be interesting to know. + </p> + <p> + There is a difference in the eyes of two of the knaves—those of + diamonds and hearts, more apparent in the old patterns, suggesting the + inference that they are blind. This has been made the basis of a card + trick, as to which two of the four knaves presenting themselves would be + selected as servants. Of course the blind ones would be rejected. A bet is + sometimes proposed to the unwary, at Whist, but one of the party will have + in his hand, after the deal, only one of a suit, or none of a suit. The + bet should not be taken, as this result very frequently happens. + </p> + <p> + Lastly, there is an arithmetical puzzle of the most startling effect to be + contrived with a pack of cards, as follows. Let a party make up parcels of + cards, beginning with a number of pips on any card, and then counting up + to twelve with individual cards. In the first part of the trick it must be + understood that the court cards count as ten, all others according to the + pips. Thus, a king put down will require only two cards to make up 12, + whereas the ace will require 11, and so on. Now, when all the parcels are + completed, the performer of the trick requires to know only the number of + parcels thus made, and the remainder, if any, to declare after a momentary + calculation, the exact number of pips on the first cards laid down—to + the astonishment of those not in the secret. In fact, there is no possible + arrangement of the cards, according to this method, which can prevent an + adept from declaring the number of pips required, after being informed of + the number of parcels, and the remainder, if any. This startling + performance will be explained in a subsequent chapter—amusing card + tricks. + </p> + <p> + Cards must soon have made their way among our countrymen, from the great + intercourse that subsisted between England and France about the time of + the first introduction of cards into the latter kingdom. If the din of + arms in the reign of our fifth Henry should seem unfavourable to the + imitation of an enemy's private diversions, it must be remembered that + France was at that period under the dominion of England, that the English + lived much in that country, and consequently joined in the amusements of + the private hour, as well as in the public dangers of the field. + </p> + <p> + Very soon, however, the evil consequences of their introduction became + apparent. One would have thought that in such a tumultuous reign at home + as that of our sixth Henry, there could not have been so much use made of + cards as to have rendered them an object of public apprehension and + governmental solicitude; but a record appears in the beginning of the + reign of Edward IV., after the deposition of the unfortunate Henry, by + which playing cards, as well as dice, tennis-balls, and chessmen, were + forbidden to be imported. + </p> + <p> + If this tended to check their use for a time, the subsequent Spanish + connection with the court of England renewed an acquaintance with cards + and a love for them. The marriage of Prince Arthur with the Infanta + Catherine of Arragon, brought on an intimacy between the two nations, + which probably increased card-playing in England,—it being a + diversion to which the Spaniards were extremely addicted at that period. + </p> + <p> + Cards were certainly much in use, and all ideas concerning them very + familiar to the minds of the English, during the reign of Henry VIII., as + may be inferred from a remarkable sermon of the good bishop Latimer. This + sermon was preached in St Edward's church, Cambridge, on the Sunday before + Christmas day, 1527, and in this discourse he may be said to have 'dealt' + out an exposition of the precepts of Christianity according to the terms + of card-playing. 'Now ye have heard what is meant by this "first card," + and how you ought to "play" with it, I purpose again to "deal" unto you + "another card almost of the same suit," for they be of so nigh affinity + that one cannot be well "played" without the other, &c.' 'It seems,' + says Fuller, 'that he suited his sermon rather to the TIME—being + about Christmas, when cards were much used—than to the text, which + was the Baptist's question to our Lord—"Who art thou?"—taking + thereby occasion to conform his discourse to the "playing at cards," + making the "heart triumph."' + </p> + <p> + This blunt preaching was in those days admirably effectual, but it would + be considered ridiculous in ours—except from the lips of such + original geniuses as Mr Spurgeon, who hit upon this vein and made a + fortune of souls as well as money. He is, however, inimitable, and any + attempt at entering into his domain would probably have the same result as + that which attended an imitation of Latimer by a country minister, + mentioned by Fuller. 'I remember,' he says, 'in my time (about the middle + of the seventeenth century), a country minister preached at St Mary's, + from Rom. xii. 3,—"As God has DEALT to every man the measure of + faith." In a fond imitation of Latimer's sermon he followed up the + metaphor of DEALING,—that men should PLAY ABOVE-BOARD, that is, + avoid all dissembling,—should not POCKET CARDS, but improve their + gifts and graces,—should FOLLOW SUIT, that is, wear the surplice, + &c.,—all which produced nothing but laughter in the audience. + Thus the same actions by several persons at several times are made not the + same actions, yea, differenced from commendable discretion to ridiculous + absurdity. And thus he will make but bad music who hath the instruments + and fiddlesticks, but none of the "resin" of Latimer.' + </p> + <p> + The habit of card-playing must have been much confirmed and extended by + the marriage of Philip of Spain with our Queen Mary, whose numerous and + splendid retinue could not but bring with them that passionate love of + cards which prevailed in the Spanish court. + </p> + <p> + It seems also probable that the cards then used (whatever they might have + been before) were of Spanish form and figure, in compliment to the + imperious Philip; since even to this day the names of two Spanish suits + are retained on English cards, though without any reference to their + present figure. Thus, we call one suit spades, from the Spanish espada, + 'sword,' although we retain no similitude of the sword in the figure,—and + another clubs, in Spanish, bastos, but without regard to the figure also. + </p> + <p> + Old Roger Ascham, the tutor of Queen Elizabeth, gives us a picture of the + gambling arts of his day, as follows:—How will they use these + shiftes when they get a plaine man that cannot skill of them! How they + will go about, if they perceive an honest man have moneye, which list not + playe, to provoke him to playe! They will seek his companye; they will let + him pay noughte, yea, and as I hearde a man once saye that he did, they + will send for him to some house, and spend perchaunce a crowne on him, + and, at last, will one begin to saye: "at, my masters, what shall we do? + Shall every man playe his twelve-pence while an apple roste in the fire, + and then we will drincke and departe?" "Naye" will another saye (as false + as he), "you cannot leave when you begin, and therefore I will not playe: + but if you will gage, that every man as he hath lost his twelve-pence, + shall sit downe, I am contente, for surelye I would Winne no manne's + moneye here, but even as much as woulde pay for my supper." Then speaketh + the thirde to the honeste man that thought not to play:—"What? Will + you play your twelve-pence?" If he excuse him—"Tush! man!" will the + other saye, "sticke not in honeste company for twelve-pence; I will beare + your halfe, and here is my moneye." Nowe all this is to make him to + beginne, for they knowe if he be once in, and be a loser, that he will not + sticke at his twelve-pence, but hopeth ever to get it againe, whiles + perhappes he will lose all. Then every one of them setteth his shiftes + abroache, some with false dyse, some with settling of dyse, some with + having outlandish silver coynes guilded, to put awaye at a time for good + golde. Then, if there come a thing in controversye, must you be judged by + the table, and then farewell the honeste man's parte, for he is borne + downe on every syde.' + </p> + <p> + It is evident from this graphic description of the process, that the + villany of sharpers has been ever the same; for old Roger's account of the + matter in his day exactly tallies with daily experience at the present + time. + </p> + <p> + The love of card-playing was continued through the reign of Elizabeth and + James I.,(60) and in the reign of the latter it had reached so high a + pitch that the audiences used to amuse themselves with cards at the + play-house, while they were waiting for the beginning of the play. The + same practice existed at Florence. If the thing be not done at the present + day, something analogous prevails in our railway carriages throughout the + kingdom. It is said that professed card-sharpers take season-tickets on + all the lines, and that a great DEAL of money is made by the gentry by + duping unwary travellers into a game or by betting. + </p> + <p> + (60) King James, the British Solomon, although he could not 'abide' + tobacco, and denounced it in a furious 'Counterblaste,' could not 'utterly + condemn' play, or, as he calls it, 'fitting house-pastimes.' 'I will not,' + he says, 'agree in forbidding cards, dice, and other like games of + Hazard,' and enters into an argument for his opinion, which is scarcely + worth quoting. See Basilicon Doron—a prodigy of royal fatuity—but + the perfect 'exponent' of the characteristics of the Stuart royal race in + England. + </p> + <p> + There is no reason to suppose that the fondness for this diversion abated, + except during the short 'trump or triumph of the fanatic suit'—in + the hard times of Old Oliver—when undoubtedly cards were styled 'the + devil's books.' But, indeed, by that time they had become an engine of + much fraud and destruction; so that one of the early acts of Charles II.'s + reign inflicted large penalties on those who should use cards for + fraudulent purposes. + </p> + <p> + 'Primero was the fashionable game at the court of England during the Tudor + dynasty. Shakspeare represents Henry VIII. playing at it with the Duke of + Suffolk; and Falstaff says, "I never prospered since I forswore myself at + Primero." In the Earl of Northumberland's letters about the + Gunpowder-plot, it is noticed that Joscelin Percy was playing at this game + on Sunday, when his uncle, the conspirator, called on him at Essex House. + In the Sidney papers, there is an account of a desperate quarrel between + Lord Southampton, the patron of Shakspeare, and one Ambrose Willoughby. + Lord Southampton was then "Squire of the Body" to Queen Elizabeth, and the + quarrel was occasioned by Willoughby persisting to play with Sir Walter + Raleigh and another at Primero, in the Presence Chamber, after the queen + had retired to rest, a course of proceeding which Southampton would not + permit. Primero, originally a Spanish game, is said to have been made + fashionable in England by Philip of Spain, after his marriage with Queen + Mary. + </p> + <p> + Maw succeeded Primero as the fashionable game at the English court, and + was the favourite game of James I., who appears to have played at cards, + just as he played with affairs of state, in an indolent manner; requiring + in both cases some one to hold his cards, if not to prompt him what to + play. Weldon, alluding to the poisoning of Sir Thomas Overbury, in his + Court and Character of King James, says: 'The next that came on the stage + was Sir Thomas Monson, but the night before he was to come to his trial, + the king being at the game of Maw, said, "To-morrow comes Thomas Monson to + his trial." "Yea," said the king's card-holder, "where, if he do not play + his master's prize, your Majesty shall never trust me." This so ran in the + king's mind, that at the next game he said he was sleepy, and would play + out that set the next night. + </p> + <p> + 'It is evident that Maw differed very slightly from Five Cards, the most + popular game in Ireland at the present day. As early as 1674 this game was + popular in Ireland, as we learn from Cotton's Compleat Gamester, which + says: "Five Cards is an Irish game, and is much played in that kingdom for + considerable sums of money, as All-fours is played in Kent, and + Post-and-pair in the west of England." + </p> + <p> + 'Noddy was one of the old English court games. This has been supposed to + have been a children's game, and it was certainly nothing of the kind. Its + nature is thus fully described in a curious satirical poem, entitled Batt + upon Batt, published in 1694. + </p> + <p> + "Show me a man can turn up Noddy still, And deal himself three fives too, + when he will; Conclude with one-and-thirty, and a pair, Never fail ten in + Stock, and yet play fair, If Batt be not that wight, I lose my aim." + </p> + <p> + 'From these lines, there can be no doubt that the ancient Noddy was the + modern cribbage—the Nod of to-day, rejoicing in the name of Noddy, + and the modern Crib, being termed the Stock. + </p> + <p> + 'Ombre was most probably introduced into this country by Catherine of + Portugal, the queen of Charles II.; Waller, the court poet, has a poem on + a card torn at Ombre by the queen. This royal lady also introduced to the + English court the reprehensible practice of playing cards on Sunday. + Pepys, in 1667, writes: "This evening, going to the queen's side to see + the ladies, I did find the queen, the Duchess of York, and another at + cards, with the room full of ladies and great men; which I was amazed at + to see on a Sunday, having not believed, but contrarily flatly denied the + same, a little while since, to my cousin."(61) + </p> + <p> + (61) Hombre, or rather El Hombre, or 'The Man,' was so named as requiring + thought and reflection, which are qualities peculiar to man; or rather, + alluding to him who undertakes to play the game against the rest of the + gamesters, emphatically called The Man. It requires very great application + to play it well: and let a man be ever so expert, he will be apt to fall + into mistakes if he thinks of anything else, or is disturbed by the + conversation of those that look on. It is a game of three, with 40 cards, + that is, rejecting the eights, nines, and tens of all the suits. + </p> + <p> + 'In a passage from Evelyn's Memoirs, the writer impressively describes + another Sunday-evening scene at Whitehall, a few days before the death of + Charles II., in which a profligate assemblage of courtiers is represented + as deeply engaged in the game of Basset. This was an Italian game, brought + by Cardinal Mazarin to France; Louis XIV. is said to have lost large sums + at it; and it was most likely brought to England by some of the French + ladies of the court. It did not stand its ground, however, in this + country; Ombre continuing the fashionable game in England, down till after + the expiration of the first quarter of the last century. + </p> + <p> + 'Quadrille succeeded Ombre, but for a curious reason did not reign so long + as its predecessor. From the peculiar nature of Quadrille, an unfair + confederacy might be readily established, by any two persons, by which the + other players could be cheated. + </p> + <p> + 'While the preceding games were in vogue the magnificent temple of Whist, + destined to outshine and overshadow them, was in course of erection. + </p> + <p> + "Let India vaunt her children's vast address, Who first contrived the + warlike sport of Chess; Let nice Piquette the boast of France remain, And + studious Ombre be the pride of Spain; Invention's praise shall England + yield to none, When she can call delightful Whist her own." + </p> + <p> + 'All great inventions and discoveries are works of time, and Whist is no + exception to the rule; it did not come into the world perfect at all + points, as Minerva emerged from the head of Jupiter. Nor were its + wonderful merits early recognized. Under the vulgar appellations of Whisk + and Swobbers, it long lingered in the servants'-hall ere it could ascend + to the drawing-room. At length, some gentlemen, who met at the Crown + coffee-house, in Bedford Row, studied the game, gave it rules, established + its principles, and then Edward Hoyle, in 1743, blazoned forth its fame to + all the world. + </p> + <p> + 'Many attempts have been made, at various times, to turn playing-cards to + a very different use from that for which they were originally intended. + Thus, in 1518, a learned Franciscan friar, named Murner, published a + Logica Memorativa, a mode of teaching logic, by a pack of cards; and, + subsequently, he attempted to teach a summary of civil law in the same + manner. In 1656, an Englishman, named Jackson, published a work, entitled + the Scholar's Sciential Cards, in which he proposed to teach reading, + spelling, grammar, writing, and arithmetic, with various arts and + sciences, by playing-cards; premising that the learner was well grounded + in all the games played at the period. And later still, about the close of + the seventeenth century, there was published the Genteel Housekeeper's + Pastime; or the Mode of Carving at Table represented in a Pack of + Playing-Cards, by which any one of ordinary Capacity may learn how to + Carve, in Mode, all the most usual Dishes of Flesh, Fish, Fowl, and Baked + Meats, with the several Sauces and Garnishes proper to Every Dish of Meat. + In this system, flesh was represented by hearts, fish by clubs, fowl by + diamonds, and baked-meat by spades. The king of hearts ruled a noble + sirloin of roast-beef; the monarch of clubs presided over a pickled + herring; and the king of diamonds reared his battle-axe over a turkey; + while his brother of spades smiled benignantly on a well-baked + venison-pasty. + </p> + <p> + 'The kind of advertisements, now called circulars, were often, formerly, + printed on the backs of playing-cards. Visiting-cards, too, were + improvised, by writing the name on the back of playing-cards. About twenty + years ago, when a house in Dean Street, Soho, was under repair, several + visiting-cards of this description were found behind a marble + chimney-piece, one of them bearing the name of Isaac Newton. Cards of + invitation were written in a similar manner. In the fourth picture, in + Hogarth's series of "Marriage a-la-Mode," several are seen lying on the + floor, upon one of which is inscribed: "Count Basset begs to no how Lade + Squander sleapt last nite." Hogarth, when he painted this inscription, was + most probably thinking of Mrs Centlivre's play, The Basset Table, which a + critic describes as containing a great deal of plot and business, without + much sentiment or delicacy. + </p> + <p> + 'A curious and undoubtedly authentic historical anecdote is told of a pack + of cards. Towards the end of the persecuting reign of Queen Mary, a + commission was granted to a Dr Cole to go over to Ireland, and commence a + fiery crusade against the Protestants of that country. On coming to + Chester, on his way, the doctor was waited on by the mayor, to whom he + showed his commission, exclaiming, with premature triumph, "Here is what + shall lash the heretics of Ireland." Mrs Edmonds, the landlady of the inn, + having a brother in Dublin, was much disturbed by overhearing these words; + so, when the doctor accompanied the mayor downstairs, she hastened into + his room, opened his box, took out the commission, and put a pack of cards + in its place. When the doctor returned to his apartment, he put the box + into his portmanteau without suspicion, and the next morning sailed for + Dublin. On his arrival he waited on the lord-lieutenant and privy council, + to whom he made a speech on the subject of his mission, and then presented + the box to his Lordship; but on opening it, there appeared only a pack of + cards, with the knave of clubs uppermost. The doctor was petrified, and + assured the council that he had had a commission, but what was become of + it he could not tell. The lord-lieutenant answered, "Let us have another + commission, and, in the mean while, we can shuffle the cards." Before the + doctor could get his commission renewed Queen Mary died, and thus the + persecution was prevented. We are further informed that, when Queen + Elizabeth was made acquainted with the circumstances, she settled a + pension of L40 per annum on Mrs Edmonds, for having saved her Protestant + subjects in Ireland.'(62) + </p> + <p> + (62) The Book of Days, Dec. 28. + </p> + <p> + All the pursuits of life, all the trades and occupations of men, have, in + all times, lent expressions to the languages of nations, and those + resulting from the propensity of GAMING are among those which perpetually + recur in daily conversation, and with the greatest emphasis. Thus we have:—'He + has played his cards well or ill,'—applied to the management of + fortune or one's interest; jacta est alea, 'the die is cast,' as exclaimed + Julius Caesar before crossing the Rubicon; 'he has run his RACE—reached + the GOAL' a turf adage applied to consummate success or disastrous + failure; 'a lucky throw or hit;' 'within an ACE,' meaning one point of + gaining a thing; 'he HAZARDS everything;' 'chances are for and against;' + 'he was PIQUED,' from the game of piquet, meaning, angry at losing + something; 'left in the lurch,' from the French game l'Ourche, wherein on + certain points happening the stake is to be paid double, and meaning, + 'under circumstances unexpected and peculiarly unfavourable;' 'to save + your bacon or gamon,' from the game Back-gammon(63) a blot is hit,' from + the same; 'checked in his career,' that is, stopped in his designs from + the game of chess. + </p> + <p> + (63) The etymology of the word Back-gamon has been disputed. Hyde seems to + have settled it. A certain portion of the hog is called in Italian + gambone, whence our English word gambon or gammon. Confounding things that + differ, many think that 'gamon' in the game has the same meaning, and + therefore they say—'he saved his gamon or bacon,' which is absurd, + although it is a proverbial phrase of sufficient emphasis. The word + Backgamon seems to be derived from the very nature of the game itself, + namely, back-game-on, that is, when one of your pieces is taken, you must + go back—begin again—and then game on—'Back-game-on'. + </p> + <p> + The fabrication of cards is a most important manufacture of France; and + Paris and Nancy are the two places where most cards are made. The annual + consumption of cards in France amounts to 1,500,000 francs, or L62,500; + but France also supplies foreigners with the article, especially the + Spanish, American, Portuguese, and English colonies, to the value of + 1,000,000 francs, or L41,666. The government derives from this branch of + French industry not much less than L25,000 annual revenue, that is, from + 20 to 25 per cent. of the product. The duty on cards is secured and + enforced by severe penalties. + </p> + <p> + English cards are about a third larger than the French. The double-headed + cards are an English invention, and they are being adopted by the French. + Their advantage is obvious, in securing the secrecy of the hand, for by + observing a party in arranging his cards after the deal, the act of + turning up a card plainly shows that it must be at least a face card, and + the oftener this is done the stronger the hand, in general. In Germany, a + fourth face-card is sometimes added to the pack, called the Knight, or + Chevalier. The Italians have also in use long cards, called tarots, which, + however, must not be confounded with the French cards called tarotees, + with odd figures on them, and used by fortune-tellers. + </p> + <p> + The method of making playing-cards seems to have given the first hint to + the invention of printing, as appears from the first specimens of printing + at Haerlem, and those in the Bodleian Library. + </p> + <p> + 'The manufacture of playing-cards comprises many interesting processes. + The cardboard employed for this purpose is formed of several thicknesses + of paper pasted together; there are usually four such thicknesses; and the + paper is so selected as to take paste, paint, and polish equally well. The + sheets of paper are pasted with a brush, and are united by successive + processes of cold-drying, hot-drying, and hydraulic pressure. Each sheet + is large enough for forty cards. The outer surfaces of the outer sheets + are prepared with a kind of flinty coating, which gives sharpness to the + outline of the various coloured devices. Most packs of cards are now made + with coloured backs. The ground-tint is laid on with a brush, and consists + of dis-temper colour, or pigments mixed with warm melted size. The device + impressed on this ground-tint is often very beautiful. Messrs De la Rue, + the leading firm in the manufacture, employ tasteful artists, and invest a + large amount of capital in the introduction of new patterns. On cards sold + at moderate prices, the colours at the back are generally two—one + for the ground, and one for the device; but some of the choicer specimens + display several colours; and many of the designs are due to the pencil of + Mr Owen Jones. The printing of the design is done on the sheets of paper, + before the pasting to form cardboard. The pips or spots on the faces of + playing-cards are now spades, clubs, hearts, and diamonds; but at + different times, and in different countries, there have been leaves, + acorns, bells, cups, swords, fruit, heads, parasols, and other objects + similarly represented. In English cards the colours are red and black; + Messrs De la Rue once introduced red, black, green, and blue for the four + suits; but the novelty was not encouraged by card-players. The same makers + have also endeavoured to supersede the clumsy devices of kings, queens, + and knaves, by something more artistic; but this, too, failed + commercially; for the old patterns, like the old willow-pattern + dinner-plates, are still preferred—simply because the users have + become accustomed to them. Until within the last few years the printing of + cards was generally done by stencilling, the colour being applied through + perforated devices in a stencil-plate. The colour employed for this + purpose is mixed up with a kind of paste. When there is a device at the + back, the outline of the device is printed from an engraved wood-block, + and the rest filled in by stencilling. The stencilling of the front and + back can be done either before or after the pasting of the sheets into + cardboard. One great improvement in the manufacture has been the + substitution of oil colour for paste or size colour; and another, the + substitution of printing for stencilling. Messrs De la Rue have expended + large sums of money on these novelties; for many experiments had to be + made, to determine how best to employ oil colour so that the spots or pips + may be equal-tinted, the outline clear and sharp, the pigment well + adherent to the surface, and the drying such as to admit of polishing + without stickiness. The plates for printing are engraved on copper or + brass, or are produced by electrotype, or are built up with small pieces + of metal or interlaced wire. The printing is done in the usual way of + colour-printing, with as many plates as there are colours (usually five), + and one for the outlines; it is executed on the sheets of paper, before + being pasted into cardboard. When the printing, drying, and pasting are + all completed, a careful polish is effected by means of brush-wheels, + pasteboard wheels, heated plates, and heated rollers; in such a way that + the polish on the back may differ from that on the face—since it is + found that too equally polished surfaces do not slide quite so readily + over each other. Formerly, every pack of cards made in England for home + use paid a duty of one shilling, which duty was levied on the ace of + spades. + </p> + <p> + The maker engraved a plate for twenty aces of spades; the printing was + done by the government at Somerset House, and L1 was paid by the maker for + every sheet of aces so printed. The law is now altered. Card sellers pay + an annual license of 2s. 6d., and to each pack of cards is affixed a + three-pence stamp, across which the seller must write or stamp his name, + under a penalty of L5 for the omission. + </p> + <p> + The cardboard, when all the printing is finished, is cut up into cards; + every card is minutely examined, and placed among the 'Moguls,' 'Harrys,' + or 'Highlanders,' as they are technically called, according to the degree + in which they may be faultless or slightly specked; and the cards are + finally made up into packs.'(64) + </p> + <p> + (64) Chambers's Cyclopaedia. + </p> + <p> + Machinery has been called into requisition in card-playing. In 1815 a case + was tried in which part of the debt claimed was for an instrument to cut + cards so as to give an unfair advantage to the person using it. The + alleged debtor had been most fortunate in play, winning at one time + L11,000 from an officer in India. For an exactly opposite reason another + machine was used in 1818 by the Bennet Street Club. It consisted of a box + curiously constructed for dealing cards, and was invented by an American + officer. + </p> + <p> + Another curious fact relating to cards is the duty derived from them. In + the year 1775 the number of packs stamped was 167,000, amounting to + between L3000 and L4000 duty. Lord North put on another sixpence. Of + course, a vast number of packs were smuggled in, paying no duty, as in the + case of tobacco, in all times since its fiscal regulations. In the time of + Pitt, 1789, L9000 were to be raised by an additional duty of sixpence on + cards and dice, consequently there must have been no less than 360,000 + packs of cards and pairs of dice stamped in the year 1788, to justify the + calculation—a proof that gaming in England was not on the decline. + In the year 1790, the duty on cards was two shillings per pack, and on + dice thirteen shillings per pair. + </p> + <p> + This duty on cards went on increasing its annual addition to the revenue, + so that about the year 1820 the monthly payments of Mr Hunt alone, the + card-maker of Picadilly, for the stamp-duty on cards, varied from L800 to + L1000, that is, from L9600 to L12,000 per annum. In 1833 the stamp-duty on + cards was 6d., and it yielded L15,922, showing a consumption of 640,000 + packs per annum. Much of this, however, was sheer waste, on account of the + rule of gamesters requiring a fresh pack at every game. + </p> + <p> + In the Harleian Miscellany(65) will be found a satirical poem entitled + 'The Royal Gamesters; or, the Odd Cards new shuffled for a Conquering + Game,' referring to the political events of the years from 1702 to 1706, + and concluding with the following lines— + </p> + <p> + 'Thus ends the game which Europe has in view, Which, by the stars, may + happen to be true.' + </p> + <p> + (65) Vol. i. p. 177. + </p> + <p> + In vol. iv. of the same work there is another poem of the kind, entitled + 'The State Gamesters; or, the Old Cards new packed and shuffled,' which + characteristically concludes as follows— + </p> + <p> + 'But we this resolution have laid down—Never to play so high as for + a Crown.' + </p> + <p> + Finally, as to allusions to gaming, the reader may remember the famous + sarcasm of the late Earl of Derby (as Lord Stanley) some thirty years ago, + comparing the Government to Thimble-riggers in operation. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. PIQUET, BASSET, FARO, HAZARD, PASSE-DIX, PUT, CROSS AND PILE, + </h2> + <p> + THIMBLE-RIG. PIQUET + </p> + <p> + Piquet is said to have derived its name from that of its inventor, who + contrived it to amuse Charles VI. of France. The game was played with + thirty two cards, that is, discarding out of the pack all the deuces, + treys, fours, fives, and sixes. Regular piquet-packs were sold. In + reckoning up the points, every card counted for its value, as ten for ten, + nine for nine, and so on down to seven, which was, of course, the lowest; + but the ace reckoned for eleven. All court cards reckoned for ten. As in + other games, the ace won the king, the king the queen, and so on, to the + knave, which won the ten. The cards were dealt at option by fours, threes, + or twos, to the number of twelve, which was the hand—'discarding' + being allowed; but both the dealer and he that led were OBLIGED to discard + at least one card, let their game be ever so good. When the cards were + played out, each counted his tricks; and he that had most reckoned 10 for + winning the cards; if the tricks were equal, neither reckoned at all. He + who, without playing (that is, according to the various terms of the + game), could reckon up 30 in hand, when his antagonist reckoned nothing, + scored 90 for them; this was called a repic; and all above 30 counted so + many,—32 counting 92, and so on. He who could make up 30, part in + hand and part by play, before the other made anything, scored 60; this was + called a pic. + </p> + <p> + The game was also played as pool precisely according to the rules briefly + sketched as above, the penalty for losing being a guinea to the pool. + </p> + <p> + Piquet required much practice to play it well. It became so great a + favourite that, by the middle of the 18th century, the meanest people were + well acquainted with it, and 'let into all the tricks and secrets of it, + in order to render them complete sharpers.' Such are the words of an old + author, who adds that the game was liable to great imposition, and he + explains the methods in use. Short cards were used for cutting, as in + Whist, at the time. Of these cards there were two sorts, one longer than + the rest; and the advantage gained by them was as the adversary managed + it, by cutting the longer or broader, as best suited his purpose, or + imposing on the dealer, when it was his turn, to cut those which made most + against him. The aces, kings, queens, and knaves were marked with dots at + the corners, and in the very old book from which I am quoting precise + directions are given how this marking can be effected in such a manner 'as + not to be discovered by your ADVERSARY, and at the same time appear plain + to YOURSELF.' With a fine pointed pen and some clear spring water, players + made dots upon the glazed card at the corners according to the above + method; or they coloured the water with india ink, to make the marks more + conspicuous. The work concludes as follows:—'There are but 32 cards + made use of at Piquet, so that just half of them will be known to you; and + in dealing you may have an opportunity to give yourself those you LIKE + best; and if you cannot conveniently CHANGE the PACK according to your + desire, you will commonly KNOW what YOU are to TAKE IN, which is a + demonstrative advantage to win any one's money.' + </p> + <p> + Evidently they did not 'assume a virtue' in those days, 'if they had it + not.' + </p> + <p> + BASSET. + </p> + <p> + The game of Basset (in French Wassette) was considered one of the most + polite games with cards, and only fit for persons of the highest rank to + play at, on account of the great losses or gains that might accrue on one + side or the other. + </p> + <p> + The sums of money lost in France at this game were so considerable that + the princes of the blood were in danger of being undone; and after many + persons of distinction were ruined the court of France thought fit to + forbid Basset. Then Faro was invented; and both were soon introduced into + England, and after three or four years' play here, they impoverished so + many families, that Parliament enacted a suppression of both games, with + severe penalties. The two games are, therefore, of historical interest, + and deserve an explanation. + </p> + <p> + Basset was a sort of lottery. The dealer who kept the bank at Basset, + having the sole disposal of the first and last card, and other + considerable privileges in dealing the cards, had a much greater prospect + of gaining than those who played. This was a truth so acknowledged in + France that the king, by public edict, ordered that the privilege of a + talliere, or banker at Basset, should only be allowed to the 'chief + cadets,' or sons of noblemen—supposing that whoever kept the bank + must, in a very short time, acquire a considerable fortune. + </p> + <p> + In this game there was: 1. The Talliere, the banker, who laid down a sum + of money to answer every winning card which might turn up. 2. The + Croupiere, the assistant of the former, standing by to supervise the + losing cards,—so that when there were many at play he might not lose + by overlooking anything which might turn up to his profit. 3. The Punter, + or every player. 4. The Fasse, that is, the first card turned up by the + talliere, by which he gained half the value of the money laid upon every + card of THAT SORT by the punters or players. 5. The Couch, which was the + first stake that every punter laid upon each card—every player + having a book of 13 cards before him, upon which he must lay his money, + more or less, according to his fancy. 6. The Paroli: in this, whoever won + the couch, and intended to go on for another advantage, crooked the corner + of his card, letting his money lie, without being paid the value by the + talliere. 7. The Masse, which was, when those who had won the couch, would + venture more money on the SAME card. 8. The Pay, which was when the player + had won the couch, and, being doubtful of making the paroli, left off; for + by going the pay, if the card turned up wrong, he lost nothing, having won + the couch before; but if by this adventure fortune favoured him, he won + double the money he had staked. 9. The Alpieu was when the couch was won + by turning up, or crooking, the corner of the winning card. 10. The + Sept-et-le-va was the first great chance that showed the advantages of the + game, namely, if the player had won the couch, and then made a paroli by + crooking the corner of his card, and going on to a SECOND chance, if his + winning card turned up again it became a sept-et-le-va, which was seven + times as much as he had laid upon his card. 11. Quinze-et-le-va, was + attending the player's humour, who, perhaps, was resolved to follow his + fancy, and still lay his money upon the SAME card, which was done by + crooking the third corner of his card: if this card came up by the dealing + of the talliere, it made him win fifteen times as much money as he staked. + 12. Trent-et-le-va was marked by the lucky player by crooking the end of + the fourth corner of his card, which, coming up, made him win thirty-three + times as much money as he staked. 13. Soissante-et-le-va was the highest + chance that could happen in the game, for it paid sixty-seven times as + much money as was staked. It was seldom won except by some player who + resolved to push his good fortune to the utmost. + </p> + <p> + The players sat round a table, the talliere in the midst of them, with the + bank of gold before him, and the punters or players each having a book of + 13 cards, laying down one, two, three, or more, as they pleased, with + money upon them, as stakes; then the talliere took the pack in his hand + and turned them up—the bottom card appearing being called the fasse; + he then paid half the value of the stakes laid down by the punters upon + any card of THAT SORT. + </p> + <p> + After the fasse was turned up, and the talliere and croupiere had looked + round the cards on the table, and taken advantage of the money laid on + them, the former proceeded with his deal; and the next card appearing, + whether the king, queen, ace, or whatever it might be, won for the player, + the latter might receive it, or making paroli, as before said, go on to + sept-et-le-va. The card after that won for the talliere, who took money + from each player's card of that sort, and brought it into his bank—obviously + a prodigious advantage in the talliere over the players. + </p> + <p> + The talliere, if the winning card was a king, and the next after it was a + ten, said (showing the cards all round), 'King wins, ten loses,' paying + the money to such cards as are of the winning sort, and taking the money + from those who lost, added it to his bank. This done, he went on with the + deal, it might be after this fashion—'Ace wins, five loses;' 'Knave + wins, seven loses;' and so on, every other card alternately winning and + losing, till all the pack was dealt but the last card. + </p> + <p> + The LAST card turned up was, by the rules of the game, for the advantage + of the talliere; although a player might have one of the same sort, still + it was allowed to him as one of the dues of his office, and he paid + nothing on it. + </p> + <p> + The bold player who was lucky and adventurous, and could push on his couch + with a considerable stake to sept-et-le-va, quinze-et-le-va, + trente-et-le-va, &c., must in a wonderful manner have multiplied his + couch, or first stake; but this was seldom done; and the loss of the + players, by the very nature of the game, invariably exceeded that of the + bank; in fact, this game was altogether in favour of the bank; and yet it + is evident that—in spite of this obvious conviction—the game + must have been one of the most tempting and fascinating that was ever + invented. + </p> + <p> + Our English adventurers made this game very different to what it was in + France, for there, by royal edict, the public at large were not allowed to + play at more than a franc or ten-penny bank,—and the losses or gains + could not bring desolation to a family; but in England our punters could + do as they liked—staking from one guinea to one hundred guineas and + more, upon a card, 'as was often seen at court,' says the old author, my + informant. When the couch was alpieued, parolied, to sept-et-le-va, + quinze-et-le-va, trente-et-le-va, &c., the punter's gains were + prodigious, miraculous; and if fortune befriended him so as to bring his + stake to soissante-et-le-va, he was very likely to break the bank, by + gaining a sum which no talliere could pay after such tremendous + multiplication. But this rarely happened. The general advantage was with + the bank—as must be quite evident from the explanation of the game—besides + the standing rule that no two cards of the same sort turning up could win + for the players; the second always won for the bank. In addition to this + there were other 'privileges' which operated vastly in favour of the + banker. + </p> + <p> + However, it was 'of so bewitching a nature,' says our old writer, 'by + reason of the several multiplications and advantages which it seemingly + offered to the unwary punter, that a great many like it so well that they + would play at small game rather than give out; and rather than not play at + all would punt at six-penny, three-penny, nay, a twopenny bank,—so + much did the hope of winning the quinze-et-le-va and the trente-et-le-va + intoxicate them.' + </p> + <p> + Of course there were frauds practised at Basset by the talliere, or + banker, in addition to his prescriptive advantages. The cards might be + dealt so as not to allow the punter any winning throughout the pack; and + it was in the power of the dealer to let the punter have as many winnings + as he thought convenient, and no more! + </p> + <p> + It is said that Basset was invented by a noble Venetian, who was punished + with exile for the contrivance. The game was prohibited by Louis XIV., in + 1691, and soon after fell into oblivion in France, although flourishing in + England. It was also called Barbacole and Hocca. + </p> + <p> + FARO, OR PHARAOH. + </p> + <p> + Although both Basset and Faro were forbidden in France, on severe + penalties, yet these games still continued in great vogue in England + during the 18th century, especially Faro; for the alleged reasons that it + was easy to learn, that it appeared to be very fair, and, lastly, that it + was a very quiet game. It was, however, the most dangerous game for the + destruction of families ever invented. The Faro bankers seem to have + employed some 'gentlemen' to give a very favourable report of the game to + the town, and so every one took it upon trust without further inquiry. + Faro was the daughter of Basset—both alike notorious frauds, there + being no one, except professed gamblers, who could be said to understand + the secrets of these games. + </p> + <p> + Faro was played with an entire pack of cards, and admitted of an + indeterminate number of players, termed 'punters,' and a 'banker.' Each + player laid his stake on one of the 52 cards. The banker held a similar + pack, from which he drew cards, one for himself, placed on the right, and + the other, called the carte anglaise, or English card, for the players, + placed on the left. The banker won all the money staked on the card on the + right, and had to pay double the sums staked on those on the left. Certain + advantages were reserved to the banker:—if he drew a doublet, that + is, two equal cards, he won half of the stakes upon the card which + equalled the doublet; if he drew for the players the last card of the + pack, he was exempt from doubling the stakes deposited on that card. + </p> + <p> + Suppose a person to put down 20s. upon a card when only eight are in hand; + the last card was a cipher, so there were four places to lose, and only + three to win, the odds against being as 4 to 3. If 10 cards only were in, + then it was 5 to 4 against the player; in the former case it was the + seventh part of the money, whatever it was, L1 or L100; in the latter + case, a ninth. The odds from the beginning of the deal insensibly stole + upon the player at every pull, till from the first supposed 4 per cent. it + became about 15 per cent. + </p> + <p> + At the middle of the 18th century the expenses of a Faro bank, in all its + items of servants, rent, puffs, and other incidental charges of candles, + wine, arrack-punch, suppers, and safeguard money, &c., in Covent + Garden, amounted to L1000 per annum. Throughout this century Faro was the + favourite game. 'Our life here,' writes Gilly Williams to George Selwyn in + 1752, 'would not displease you, for we eat and drink well, and the Earl of + Coventry holds a Pharaoh-bank every night to us, which we have plundered + considerably.' Charles James Fox preferred Faro to any other game. + </p> + <p> + HAZARD. + </p> + <p> + This game was properly so called; for it made a man or undid him in the + twinkling of an eye. + </p> + <p> + It is played with only two dice; 20 persons may be engaged, or as many as + will. The chief things in the game are the Main and the Chance. The chance + is the caster's and the main is the setter's. + </p> + <p> + There can be no main thrown above 9, nor under 5; so that 5, 6, 7, 8, and + 9 are all the mains which are flung at Hazard. Chances and nicks are from + 4 to 10. Thus 4 is a chance to 9, 5 to 8, 6 to 7, 7 to 6, 8 to 5, and 9 + and 10 a chance to 5, 6, 7, and 8; in short, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are + chances to any main, if any of these 'nick' it not. + </p> + <p> + Nicks are either when the chance is the same with the main, as 5 and 5, 6 + and 6, 7 and 7, and so on; or 6 and 12, 7 and 11, 8 and 12, where observe, + that 12 is out to 9, 7, and 5, and 11 is out to 9, 8, 6, and 5. + </p> + <p> + The better to illustrate the game we shall give an example. Let 7 be the + main named. The caster throws 5, and that is his chance; and so he has 5 + to 7. If the caster throws his own chance he wins all the money set to him + by the setter; but if he throws 7, which is the main, he must pay as much + money as is on the table. + </p> + <p> + If, again, 7 be the main, and the caster throws 11, that is a nick, and + sweeps away all the money on the table; but if he throws a chance he must + wait which will come first. + </p> + <p> + The worst chances in the game are 4 to 10, and 7 is considered the best + and easiest main to be thrown. It might be thought that 6 and 8 should + admit of no difference in advantage to 7, but it is just the reverse, + although 6, 7, and 8 have eight equal chances. + </p> + <p> + For 6, or sice, we have quatre-duce, cinque-ace, and two treys; for 8, we + have sice-duce, cinque-trey, and two quatres; but the disadvantage is in + the doublets required—two treys, two quatres; therefore sice-duce is + easier thrown than two quatres, and so, consequently, cinque-ace or + quatre-duce sooner than two treys. + </p> + <p> + 'I saw an old rook (gambler),' says the writer before quoted, 'take up a + young fellow in a tavern upon this very bet. The bargain was made that the + rook should have seven always, and the young gentleman six, and throw + continually. To play they went; the rook won the first day L10, and the + next day the like sum; and so for six days together, in all L60. + Notwithstanding the gentleman, I am confident, had fair dice, and threw + them always himself. And further to confirm what I alleged before, not + only this gamester, but many more have told me that they desired no + greater advantage than this bet of 7 to 6. But it is the opinion of most + that at the first throw the caster hath the worst of it. + </p> + <p> + 'Hazard is certainly the most bewitching game that is played with dice; + for when a man begins to play, he knows not when to leave off; and having + once accustomed himself to it, he hardly ever after minds anything + else.'(66) + </p> + <p> + (66) The Compleat Gamester, by Richard Seymour, Esq. 1739. + </p> + <p> + As this game is of a somewhat complicated character, another account of + it, which appeared in the Pall Mall Gazette for Sept. 3, 1869, may not be + unacceptable. + </p> + <p> + 'The players assemble round a circular table, a space being reserved for + the "groom-porter," who occupies a somewhat elevated position, and whose + duty it is to call the odds and see that the game is played correctly. + Whoever takes the box and dice places in the centre of the table as much + money as he wishes to risk, which is at once covered with an equal amount + either by some individual speculator, or by the contributions of several. + The player (technically called the "caster") then proceeds to call a + "main." There are five mains on the dice, namely, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9; of + these he mentally selects that one which either chance or superstition may + suggest, calls it aloud, shakes the box, and delivers the dice. If he + throws the exact number he called, he "nicks" it and wins; if he throws + any other number (with a few exceptions, which will be mentioned), he + neither wins nor loses. The number, however, which he thus throws becomes + his "chance," and if he can succeed in repeating it before he throws what + was his main, he wins; if not, he loses. In other words, having completely + failed to throw his main in the first instance, he should lose, but does + not in consequence of the equitable interference of his newly-made + acquaintance, which constitutes itself his chance. For example, suppose + the caster "sets"—that is, places on the table—a stake of L10, + and it is covered by an equal amount, and he then calls 7 as his main and + throws 5; the groom-porter at once calls aloud, "5 to 7"—that means, + 5 is the number to win and 7 the number to lose, and the player continues + throwing until the event is determined by the turning up of either the + main or the chance. During this time, however, a most important feature in + the game comes into operation—the laying and taking of the odds + caused by the relative proportions of the main and the chance. These, as + has been said, are calculated with mathematical nicety, are proclaimed by + the groom-porter, and are never varied. In the above instance, as the + caster stands to win with 5 and to lose with 7, the odds are declared to + be 3 to 2 against him, inasmuch as there are three ways of throwing 7, and + only two of throwing 5. As soon as the odds are declared, the caster may + increase his stake by any sum he wishes, and the other players may cover + it by putting down (in this instance) two-thirds of the amount, the masse, + or entire sum, to await the turning up of either main or chance. If a + player "throws out" three times in succession, the box passes to the next + person on his left, who at once takes up the play. He may, however, "throw + in" without interruption, and if he can do so some half-dozen times and + back his luck, the gains will be enormous. + </p> + <p> + 'The choice of a main is quite optional: many prefer 7 because they may + make a coup at once by throwing that number or by throwing 11, which is a + "nick" to 7, but to 7 only. Shrewd players, however, prefer some other + main, with the view of having a more favourable chance to depend upon of + winning both stake and odds. For example, let us reverse what was + mentioned above, and suppose the caster to call 5 and throw 7; he then + will have 7 as his chance to win with odds of 3 to 2 IN HIS FAVOUR. + </p> + <p> + 'Such is the game of English Hazard, at which large fortunes have been won + and lost. It is exceedingly simple, and at times can become painfully + interesting. Cheating is impossible, unless with loaded dice, which have + been used and detected by their splitting in two, but never, perhaps, + unless at some disreputable silver hell. The mode of remunerating the + owner of the rooms was a popular one. The loser never paid, and the winner + only when he succeeded in throwing three mains in succession; and even + then the "box fee," as it was called, was limited to 5s.—a mere + trifle from what he must have gained. In French Hazard a bank is + constituted at a board of green cloth, and the proceedings are carried on + in a more subdued and regular mode than is the case in the rough-and-ready + English game. Every stake that is "set" is covered by the bank, so that + the player runs no risk of losing a large amount, when, if successful, he + may win but a trifling one; but en revanche, the scale of odds is so + altered as to put the double zero of roulette and the "aprez" of Rouge et + Noir to the blush, and to operate most predjudicially to the player. In no + case is an equal rate of odds between main and chance laid by the French + "banquier," as is insisted on by the English groomporter; while again + "direct nicks" alone are recognized by the former. Very extraordinary runs + of luck have occurred at Hazard, one player sometimes throwing five, + seven, and even eleven mains in a single hand. In such cases as these the + peculiar feature in the French game becomes valuable, the bank being + prepared to pay all winnings, while, generally speaking, a hand of six or + seven mains at English Hazard would exhaust all the funds of the players, + and leave the caster in the position of "setting the table" and finding + the stakes totally unnoticed or only partially covered. + </p> + <p> + 'In addition to the fixed rules of English Hazard, there are several + regulations which require to be observed. The round table on which it is + played has a deeply bevelled edge, which is intended to prevent the dice + from landing on the floor, which would be no throw. Again, if either die + after having left the box should strike any object on the table (such as a + man's elbow or stick) except MONEY, it would be called no throw. Again, + each player has the privilege of "calling dice," even when the dice are in + transitu, which, if done, renders the throw void, and causes another set + to be handed to the caster by the groom-porter. Many a lucky coup has + become manque by some captious player exercising this privilege, and many + an angry rencontre has ensued between the officious meddler and the + disappointed caster, who finds that he has nicked his main to no + advantage. Sometimes one die remains in the box after the other has been + landed; then the caster may either throw it quickly, or may tantalize + those interested in the event by gently coaxing it from the bow. If one + die lands on the top of another, it is removed by the groom-porter and + declared a throw. + </p> + <p> + 'Some thirty years ago English Hazard was a favourite game in Ireland, and + Dublin could boast of three or four hells doing a brisk trade. The most + frequented and longest established was called "The Coal Hole," being + situated on the coal quay. Here, at any hour after midnight, a motley + company might be seen, each individual, however, well known to the porter, + who jealously scanned his features before drawing back the noiseless bolts + which secured the door. The professional gambler trying to live by his + winnings, the fashionable swell finishing his round of excitement, the + struggling tradesman hoping to avert impending bankruptcy, the + prize-fighter, and, more conspicuous than any, the keen-eyed usurer with + his roll of notes and sheaf of bill stamps, were to be found there. Many + strange scenes have occurred in this house, some followed by tragic + consequences too painful to relate, others ridiculous and amusing. Here it + was that an angry caster, having lost his last sovereign and his temper, + also placed his black hat in the centre of the table, swore that it was + white, and finding no one disposed to dispute his accuracy, flung himself + from the room, and enabled the next player who had won so largely and + smiled so good-humouredly to take the box in turn. But fortune deserted + him also, and left him penniless, when, glaring savagely round the room, + and striking the table violently, he thundered forth the inquiry, "Where + was the rascal who said his hat was white?" It was here also (although the + venue has been changed by story-mongers) that a well-known frequenter of + the house, a sporting M.P., on one occasion dropped on the 'door or in the + passage a bank-note without discovering his loss till he had reached home. + On the next evening he returned to inquire for it in a forlorn-hope + spirit, when the following conversation took place between him and the + porter:— + </p> + <p> + "M.P. I think, Simpson, I dropped a note here last night—did you see + it? + </p> + <p> + "Porter. Shure, then, mony a note was dropped here beside yours. + </p> + <p> + "M. P. Ah! but I mean out of my pocket. I did not lose it at play. It was + for L20, one of Ball's Bank, and very old." + </p> + <p> + 'Hereupon the porter brought the senator into a corner, fumbled the note + out of his fob, and, placing it in his hands, whispered, "Shure, I know + it's yours, and here it is; but (looking cautiously round) wasn't it lucky + that none of the jintlemin found it?" + </p> + <p> + 'Another establishment much patronized in those days was in Nassau Street, + where early in the evening unlimited Loo, never under "three and three," + sometimes "six and six," might be indulged in, while a little later + Roulette formed the attraction of an adjacent room, and still later at + night all flocked down-stairs to the hot supper and rattling English + Hazard. For one or two seasons St Stephen's Green lent one of its lordly + mansions, formerly the residence of a cruel and witty Lord Chief Justice, + to the votaries of fortune; here everything was done in grand style, with + gilded saloons, obsequious waiters, and champagne suppers. All this has + long since become matter of the past, and it would now puzzle the keenest + detective to find the trace even of a silver hell in the Irish capital. No + one will be hardy enough to defend the vice of gambling, but some have + argued, and not without truth, that if a man will play it is far better + for him to indulge the propensity at Hombourg or Baden, where he cannot + lose more money than he has with him, than to do so in the cozy club-room + of a private "salon," where indulgent friends may tempt him to become + bankrupt not only in fortune but in reputation.' + </p> + <p> + Passing over other less important games, called Biribi, and Kraps (played + with dice), we come to Passe-Dix, which seems to demand some notice. + </p> + <p> + PASSE-DIX. + </p> + <p> + This game, considered the most ancient of all games of chance, is said to + have actually been made use of by the executioners at the crucifixion of + our Saviour, when they 'parted his garments, casting lots,' Matt. xxvii. + 35. + </p> + <p> + It is played with three dice. There is always a banker, and the number of + players is unlimited. Each gamester holds the box by turns, and the other + players follow his chance; every time he throws a point UNDER ten he, as + well as the other players, loses the entire stakes, which go to the + banker. Every time he throws a point ABOVE ten (or PASSES TEN—whence + the name of the game), the banker must double the player's stakes and the + stakes of all those who have risked their money on the same chance. When + the game is played by many together, each gamester is banker in his turn. + </p> + <p> + PUT. + </p> + <p> + This was and doubtless still is the special card-game of our London + sharpers. Many of these are men who have run through a fortune in the + early part of their lives, by associating with gamblers and sharpers, set + up for themselves, set honour and conscience at defiance, become + blacklegs, and are scouted out of even the gambler's company; and, as a + last resource, are obliged to resort to low pot-houses, robbing the + poorest and most ignorant of society. + </p> + <p> + Behind the dupe there stood a confederate sharper, looking over the + novice's hand, and telling his opponent, by his fingers, what cards he + holds—hence he was said to work the telegraph, of which more in the + sequel. Another confederate plied the novice with drink. + </p> + <p> + 'The game of Put is played with an entire pack of cards, generally by two, + and sometimes by four persons. At this game the cards rank differently + from all others; a trey being the best, then a two, then an ace, then the + king, queen, &c. The game consists of five points. The parties cut for + deal, as in Whist. The deal is made by giving three cards, one at a time, + to each player. The non-dealer then examines his cards, and if he thinks + them bad, he is at liberty to PUT them upon the pack, and his adversary + scores one point to his game. This, however, should never be done. Either + party saying—"I put," that is, I play, cannot retract, but must + abide the event of the game, or pay the stakes. + </p> + <p> + 'The THREE being the best card, if the sharper can make certain of having + a three every time his opponent deals, he must have considerably the best + of the game; and this is effected as follows:—the sharper places a + three underneath an old gentleman (a card somewhat larger and thicker than + the rest of the pack), and it does not signify how much his opponent + shuffles the pack, it is about five to one that he does not disturb the + OLD GENTLEMAN or the three. The sharper then cuts the cards, which he does + by feeling for the old gentleman; the three being then the top card, it is + dealt to the sharper by his opponent. That is one way of securing a three, + and this alone is quite sufficient to make a certainty of winning.'(67) + </p> + <p> + (67) Doings in London. + </p> + <p> + CROSS AND PILE. + </p> + <p> + Cross and Pile, so called because anciently English coins were stamped on + one side with a cross, now bears the names, Head and Tail, and is a + pastime well known among the lowest and most vulgar classes of the + community, and to whom it is now confined; formerly, however, it held a + higher rank and was introduced at Court. Edward II. was partial to this + and other frivolous diversions, and spent much of his time in the pursuit + of them. In one of his wardrobe 'rolls,' or accounts, we find the + following entries—'Item, paid to Henry, the king's barber, for money + which he lent to the king to play at Cross and Pile, five shillings. Item, + paid to Pires Bernard, usher of the king's chamber, money which he lent + the king, and which he lost at Cross and Pile; to Monsieur Robert + Wartewille, eight-pence.' + </p> + <p> + A half-penny is now generally used in playing this game; but any other + coin with a head impressed will answer the purpose. One person tosses the + half-penny up and the other cries at pleasure HEAD or TAIL, and loses + according to the result. + </p> + <p> + Cross and Pile is evidently derived from the Greek pastime called Ostra + Kinda, played by the boys of ancient Greece. Having procured a shell, they + smeared it over with pitch on one side and left the other side white. A + boy tossed up this shell, and his antagonist called white or black,(68) as + he thought proper, and his success was determined by the white or black + part of the shell being uppermost. + </p> + <p> + (68) In the Greek, nux kai hmera, that is, 'night and day.' + </p> + <p> + It is the favourite game of the boys of London and the vicinity, now, + however, considerably, if not entirely, discontinued through the vigilance + of the police and the severity of the magistrates. Not long ago, however, + I witnessed a sad and striking scene of it at Twickenham. It was on a + Sunday morning. Several boys surrounded two players, one of the latter + being about 14 years of age, well dressed, and the other of about 10 + years, all in tatters and shoeless. The younger urchin had a long run of + good luck, whereat his antagonist exhibited much annoyance, swearing + intemperately. At length, however, his luck changed in turn, and he went + on winning until the former refused to play any longer, saying—'There, + you've got back all I won from you.' The bigger boy became enraged at this + refusal to continue the play, and seemed inclined to resort to fisticuff, + but I interposed and put a stop to the affray. I then questioned the elder + boy, and gathered from him that he played as often as he could, sometimes + winning or losing from eight to ten shillings. 'And do you generally win? + was my next question.' 'No, sir,' he replied, 'I oftener lose.' I + shuddered to conjecture what would be the future of this boy. The word of + warning I gave him was received with a shrug of the shoulder, and he + walked off with the greatest unconcern. + </p> + <p> + THIMBLE-RIG. + </p> + <p> + All races, fairs, and other such conglomerations of those whom Heaven had + blessed with more money than wit, used to be frequented by minor members + of 'The Fancy,' who are technically called flat-catchers, and who picked + up a very pretty living by a quick hand, a rattling tongue, a deal board, + three thimbles, and a pepper-corn. The game they played with these three + curious articles is a sort of Lilliputian game at cups and balls; and the + beauty of it lies in dexterously seeming to place the pepper-corn under + one particular thimble, getting a green to bet that it was there, and then + winning his money by showing that it is not. Every operator at this game + was attended by certain of his friends called eggers and bonnetters—the + eggers to 'egg' on the green ones to bet, by betting themselves; and the + bonnetters to 'bonnet' any green one who might happen to win—that is + to say, to knock his hat over his eyes, whilst the operator and the others + bolted with the stakes. + </p> + <p> + Some years ago a curious case was tried, exemplifying the mode of + procedure. A Frenchman, M. Panchaud, was at Ascot Races, and he there saw + the defendant and several other 'gentlemen' betting away, and apparently + winning 'lots of sovereigns,' at one of these same thimble-rigs. 'Try your + luck, gentlemen,' cried the operator; 'I'll bet any gentleman anything, + from half-a-crown to five sovereigns, that he doesn't name the thimble as + covers the corn!' M. Panchaud betted half-a-crown—won it; betted a + sovereign—won it; betted a second sovereign—LOST it. 'Try your + luck, gentlemen!' cried the operator again, shifting his thimbles and + pepper-corn about the board, here and there and everywhere in a moment; + and this done, he offered M. Panchaud a bet of five sovereigns that he + could not 'name the thimble what covered the corn.' 'Bet him! Bet him! Why + don't you bet him?' said the defendant (a landlord), nudging M. Panchaud + on the elbow; and M. Panchaud, convinced in his 'own breast' that he knew + the right thimble, said—'I shall betta you five sovereign if you + will not touch de timbles again till I name.' 'Done!' cried the operator; + and M. Panchaud was DONE—for, laying down his L10 note, it was + caught up by SOMEBODY, the board was upset, the operator and his friends + vanished 'like a flash of lightning,' and M. Panchaud was left full of + amazement, but with empty pockets, with the defendant standing by his + side. 'They are a set of rascals!' said the defendant; 'but don't fret, my + fine fellow! I'll take you to somebody that shall soon get your money + again; and so saying he led him off in a direction thus described in court + by the fleeced Frenchman.—'You tooke me the WRONG way! The thieves + ran one way, and you took me the other, you know, ahah! You know what you + are about—you took me the WRONG WAY—ahah!' + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. COCK-FIGHTING. + </h2> + <p> + Cock-fighting is a practice of high antiquity, like many other detestable + and abominable things that still cling to our social fabric. It was much + in vogue in Greece and the adjacent isles. There was an annual festival at + Athens called 'The Cock-fighting,' instituted by Themistocles at the end + of the Persian war, under the following circumstances. When Themistocles + was leading his army against the Persians, he saw some cocks fighting; he + halted his troops, looked on, and said:—'These animals fight neither + for the gods of their country, nor for the monuments of their ancestors, + nor for glory, nor for freedom, nor for their children, but for the sake + of victory, and in order that one may not yield to the other;' and from + this topic he inspirited the Athenians. After his victorious return, as an + act of gratitude for this accidental occasion of inspiring his troops with + courage, he instituted the above festival, 'in order that what was an + incitement to valour at that time might be perpetuated as an encouragement + to the like bravery hereafter.' One cannot help smiling at these naive + stories of the ancients to account for their mightiest results. Only think + of any modern warrior halting his troops to make use of a cock-fight for + the purpose of inspiriting them to victory! + </p> + <p> + On one occasion during the Peninsular war, when an important point was to + be carried by assault, the officers were required to say something + encouraging to their men, in order to brace them up for the encounter; but + whilst the majority of the former recalled the remembrance of previous + victories, an Irish captain contented himself with exclaiming—'Now, + my lads, you see those fellows up there. Well, if you don't kill THEM, + SHURE they'll kill YOU. That's all!' Struck with the comic originality of + this address, the men rushed forward with a laugh and a shout, carrying + all before them. + </p> + <p> + Among the ancient Greeks the cock was sacred to Apollo, Mercury, and + aesculapius, on account of his vigilance, inferred from his early rising—the + natural consequence of his 'early to bed'—and also to Mars, on + account of his magnanimous and daring spirit. + </p> + <p> + It seems, then, that at first cock-fighting was partly a religious, and + partly a political, institution at Athens; and was there continued—according + to the above legend—for the purpose of cherishing the seeds of + valour in the minds of youth; but that it was afterwards abused and + perverted, both there and in other parts of Greece, by being made a common + pastime, and applied to the purpose of gambling just as it was (and is + still secretly) practised in England. An Attic law ran as follows—'Let + cocks fight publicly in the theatre one day in the year.'(69) + </p> + <p> + (69) Pegge, in Archoeologia, quoting aelian, Columella, &c. + </p> + <p> + As to cock-fighting at Rome, Pegge, in the same work, gives his opinion, + that it was not customary there till very late; but that quails were more + pitted against each other for gambling purposes than cocks. This opinion + seems confirmed by the thankfulness expressed by the good Antoninus—'that + he had imbibed such dispositions from his preceptor, as had prevented him + from breeding quails for the fight.' + </p> + <p> + 'One cannot but regret,' wrote Pegge in 1775, 'that a creature so useful + and so noble as the cock should be so enormously abused by us. It is true + the massacre of Shrove Tuesday seems in a declining way, and in a few + years, it is to be hoped, will be totally disused; but the cock-pit still + continues a reproach to the humanity of Englishmen. It is unknown to me + when the pitched battle first entered England; but it was probably brought + hither by the Romans. The bird was here before Caesar's arrival; but no + notice of his fighting has occurred to me earlier than the time of William + Fitz-Stephen, who wrote the Life of Archbishop Becket, some time in the + reign of Henry II. William describes the cocking as the sport of + school-boys on Shrove Tuesday. "Every year, on the day which is called + Carnelevaria (Carnival)—to begin with the sports of the London boys,—for + we have all been boys—all the boys are wont to carry to their + schoolmaster their fighting-cocks, and the whole of the forenoon is made a + holiday for the boys to see the fights of their cocks in their + schoolrooms." The theatre, it seems, was their school, and the master was + the controller and director of the sport. From this time at least the + diversion, however absurd, and even impious, was continued among us.' + </p> + <p> + 'Although disapproved of by many, and prohibited by law, cock-fighting + continued in vogue, patronized even by royalty, and commonly called "the + royal diversion." St James's Park, which, in the time of Henry VIII., + belonged to the Abbot of Westminster, was bought by that monarch and + converted into a park, a tennis court, and a cockpit, which was situated + where Downing Street now is. The park was approached by two noble gates, + and until the year 1708 the Cock-pit Gate, which opened into the court + where Queen Anne lived, was standing. It was surmounted with lofty towers + and battlements, and had a portcullis, and many rich decorations. + Westminster Gate, the other entrance, was designed by Hans Holbein, and + some foreign architect doubtless erected the Cockpit Gate. The scene of + the cruel diversion of cock-fighting was, however, obliterated before + Anne's time, and the palace, which was a large range of apartments and + offices reaching to the river, extended over that space.'(69) + </p> + <p> + (69) Wharton, Queens of Society. + </p> + <p> + Cock-fighting was the favourite amusement of James I., in whose reign + there were cock-pits in St James's Park, Drury Lane, Tufton Street, Shoe + Lane, and Jermyn Street. There was a cock-pit in Whitehall, erected for + the more magnificent exhibition of the sport; and the present room in + Westminster in which her Majesty's Privy Council hold their sittings, is + called the Cock-pit, from its being the site of the veritable arena of + old. + </p> + <p> + Cock-fighting was prohibited by one of Oliver's acts in 1654; but with the + return of Charles and his profligacy, the sport again flourished in + England. Pepys often alludes to it in his 'Diary.' + </p> + <p> + Thus, Dec. 21, 1663, he writes:— + </p> + <p> + 'To Shoe Lane, to see a cocke-fighting at a new pit there, a spot I was + never at in my life; but, Lord! to see the strange variety of people, from + Parliament man, by name Wildes, that was Deputy-Governor of the Tower when + Robinson was Lord Mayor, to the poorest 'prentices, bakers, brewers, + butchers, draymen, and what not; and all these fellows one with another + cursing and betting. I soon had enough of it. It is strange to see how + people of this poor rank, that look as if they had not bread to put in + their mouths, shall bet three or four pounds at a time, and lose it, and + yet bet as much the next battle; so that one of them will lose L10 or L20 + at a meeting.' + </p> + <p> + Again, April 6, 1668:— + </p> + <p> + 'I to the new Cocke-pit by the king's gate, and there saw the manner of + it, and the mixed rabble of people that came thither, and saw two battles + of cockes, wherein is no great sport; but only to consider how these + creatures, without any provocation, do fight and kill one another, and aim + only at one another's heads!' + </p> + <p> + Up to the middle of the 18th century cock-fighting was 'all the rage' in + England. 'Cocking,' says a writer of the time, 'is a sport or pastime so + full of delight and pleasure, that I know not any game in that respect + which is to be preferred before it.' + </p> + <p> + The training of the pugnacious bird had now become a sort of art, and this + is as curious as anything about the old 'royal diversion.' A few extracts + from a treatise on the subject may be interesting as leaves from the book + of manners and customs of the good old times. + </p> + <p> + The most minute details are given as to the selection of fighting-cocks, + the breeding of game cocks, and 'the dieting and ordering a cock for + battle.' Under this last head we read:—'In the morning take him out + of the pen, and let him spar a while with another cock. Sparring is after + this manner. Cover each of your cock's heels with a pair of hots made of + bombasted rolls of leather, so covering the spurs that they cannot bruise + or wound one another, and so setting them down on straw in a room, or + green grass abroad; let them fight a good while, but by no means suffer + them to draw blood of one another. The benefit that accrues hereby is + this: it heateth and chafeth their bodies, and it breaketh the fat and + glut that is within them. Having sparred as much as is sufficient, which + you may know when you see them pant and grow weary, then take them up, + and, taking off their hots, give them a diaphoretic or sweating, after + this manner. You must put them in deep straw-baskets, made for this + purpose, and fill these with straw half way, then put in your cocks + severally, and cover them over with straw to the top; then shut down the + lids, and let them sweat; but don't forget to give them first some white + sugar-candy, chopped rosemary, and butter, mingled and incorporated + together. Let the quantity be about the bigness of a walnut; by so doing + you will cleanse him of his grease, increase his strength, and prolong his + breath. Towards four or five o'clock in the evening take them out of their + stoves, and, having licked their eyes and head with your tongue, and put + them into their pens, and having filled their throats with square-cut + manchet, **** therein, and let them feed whilst the****is hot; for this + will cause their scouring to work, and will wonderfully cleanse both head + and body.' + </p> + <p> + Was ever poor animal subjected to such indignity? The preparation of the + other animal, the jockey, is nothing to it. But, to continue:— + </p> + <p> + 'The second day after his sparring, take your cock into a fair green + close, and, having a dunghill cock in your arms, show it him, and then run + from him, that thereby you may entice him to follow, permitting him to + have now and then a blow, and thus chafe him up and down about half an + hour; when he begins to pant, being well-heated, take him up and carry him + home, and give him this scouring, &c.' + </p> + <p> + This training continued for six weeks, which was considered a sufficient + time for 'ordering a cock for the battle;' and then, after the 'matching,' + came the last preparation of the poor biped for the terrible fight in + which he would certainly be either killed or kill his antagonist, if both + were not doomed to bite the dust. This consisted in the following + disfigurement of the beautiful creature:— + </p> + <p> + 'With a pair of fine cock-shears cut all his mane off close into his neck + from the head to the setting on of the shoulders: secondly, clip off all + the feathers from the tail close to his rump; the redder it appears the + better is the cock in condition: thirdly, take his wings and spread them + forth by the length of the first rising feather, and clip the rest + slope-wise with sharp points, that in his rising he may therewith endanger + the eye of his adversary; fourthly, scrape, smooth, and sharpen his spurs + with a pen-knife; fifthly, and lastly, see that there be no feathers on + the crown of his head for his adversary to take hold of; then, with your + spittle moistening his head all over, turn him into the pit TO MOVE TO HIS + FORTUNE.' + </p> + <p> + I should, perhaps, state that, instead of the natural spurs, long + artificial ones of well-tempered steel were fixed to the cock's heels in + later times, and these were frequently driven into the body of his + antagonist with such vigour that the two cocks were spitted together, and + had to be separated. + </p> + <p> + The dreadful fight having come off, the following was the treatment + prescribed for the fortunate conqueror. + </p> + <p> + 'The battle being ended, immediately search your cock's wounds, as many as + you can find. SUCK the blood out of them; then wash them well with warm + ****, and that will keep them from rankling; after this give him a roll of + your best SCOURING, and so stove him up as hot as you can for that night; + in the morning, if you find his head swelled, you must suck his wounds + again, and bathe them with warm ****; then take the powder of herb Robert, + and put it into a fine bag, and pounce his wounds therewith; after this, + give him a good handful of bread to eat out of warm ****, and so put him + into the stove again, and let him not feel the air till the swelling be + fallen.' + </p> + <p> + A cock sometimes took a long time to recover from his wounds—as, + indeed, may be well supposed from the terrible 'punishment' which he + necessarily received; and so our professor goes on to say:—'If after + you have put out your wounded cock to their walks, and visiting them a + month or two after, you find about their head any swollen bunches, hard + and blackish at one end, you may then conclude that in such bunches there + are unsound cores, which must be opened and crushed out with your thumbs; + and after this, you must suck out the corruption, and filling the holes + full of fresh butter, you need not doubt a cure.' + </p> + <p> + A poetical description of a cock-fight, by Dr R. Wild, written at the + commencement of the last century, will give an idea of the 'diversion.' + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + 'No sooner were the doubtful people set, + The match made up, and all that would had bet, + But straight the skilful judges of the play; + Brought forth their sharp-heel'd warriors, and they + Were both in linnen bags—as if 'twere meet, + Before they died, to have their winding-sheet. + Into the pit they're brought, and being there, + Upon the stage, the Norfolk Chanticleer + Looks stoutly at his ne'er before seen foe, + And like a challenger began to crow, + And clap his wings, as if he would display + His warlike colours, which were black and grey. + + 'Meantime, the wary Wisbich walks and breathes + His active body, and in fury wreathes + His comely crest, and often with a sound, + He whets his angry beak upon the ground. + This done, they meet, not like that coward breed + Of Aesop; these can better fight than feed: + They scorn the dunghill; 'tis their only prize + TO DIG FOR PEARLS WITHIN EACH OTHER'S EYES. + + 'They fought so nimbly that 'twas hard to know, + E'en to the skill'd, whether they fought or no; + If that the blood which dyed the fatal floor + Had not borne witness of 't. Yet fought they more; + As if each wound were but a spur to prick + Their fury forward. Lightning's not more quick, + Or red, than were their eyes: 'twas hard to know + Whether 'twas blood or anger made them so. + I'm sure they had been out had they not stood + More safe by being fenced in with blood. + + Thus they vied blows; but yet (alas!) at length, + Altho' their courage was full tried, their strength + And blood began to ebb. + + Their wings, which lately at each blow they clapp'd + (As if they did applaud themselves), now flapp'd. + And having lost th' advantage of the heel, + Drunk with each other's blood, they only reel. + From either eyes such drops of blood did fall + As if they wept them for their funeral. + And yet they fain would fight; they came so near, + Methought they meant into each other's ear + TO WHISPER WOUNDS; and when they could not rise, + They lay and look'd blows into each other's eyes. + + But now the tragic part! After this fit, + When Norfolk cock had got the best of it, + And Wisbich lay a dying, so that none, + Tho' sober, but might venture Seven to One; + Contracting, like a dying taper, all + His strength, intending with the blow to fall, + He struggles up, and having taken wind, + Ventures a blow, and strikes the other blind! + + 'And now poor Norfolk, having lost his eyes, + Fights only guided by antipathies: + With him, alas! the proverb holds not true— + The blows his eyes ne'er saw his heart most rue. + At length, by chance, he stumbled on his foe, + Not having any power to strike a blow. + He falls upon him with his wounded head, + And makes his conqueror's wings his feather-bed; + Where lying sick, his friends were very chary + Of him, and fetch'd in haste a Pothecary; + But all in vain! His body did so blister + That 'twas incapable of any glyster; + Wherefore, at length, opening his fainting bill, + He call'd a scriv'ner and thus made his Will. + + 'IMPRIMIS—Let it never be forgot, + My body freely I bequeath to th' pot, + Decently to be boil'd. + **** + ITEM: Executors I will have none + But he that on my side laid Seven to One; + And, like a gentleman that he may live, + To him, and to his heirs, my COMB I give, + Together with my brains, that all may know + That oftentimes his brains did use to crow. + **** + To him that 's dull I do my SPURS impart, + And to the coward I bequeath my HEART. + To ladies that are light, it is my will + My FEATHERS shall be given; and for my BILL + I'd give 't a tailor, but it is so short, + That I'm afraid he'll rather curse me for 't: + **** + Lastly, because I feel my life decay, + I yield and give to Wisbich COCK THE DAY!'(70) +</pre> + <p> + (70) The passages left out in the Will, as marked by asterisks, though + witty, are rather too gross for modern eyes. + </p> + <p> + To quote from Pegge once more:—What aggravates the reproach and + disgrace upon us Englishmen, are those species of fighting which are + called—"the battle royal and the Welsh main"—known nowhere in + the world, as I think, but here; neither in China, nor in Persia, nor in + Malacca, nor among the savage tribes of America. These are scenes so + bloody as almost to be too shocking to relate; and yet as many may not be + acquainted with the horrible nature of them, it may be proper, for the + excitement of our aversion and detestation, to describe them in a few + words. + </p> + <p> + 'In the battle royal, an unlimited number of fowls are pitted; and after + they have slaughtered one another, for the diversion (dii boni!) of the + otherwise generous and humane Englishman, the single surviving bird is to + be esteemed the victor, and carries away the prize. The Welsh main + consists, we will suppose, of sixteen pairs of cocks; of these the sixteen + conquerors are pitted a second time; and, lastly, the two conquerors of + these are pitted a fifth time; so that (incredible barbarity!) thirty-one + cocks are sure to be most inhumanly murdered for the sport and pleasure, + the noise and nonsense, nay, I may say the profane cursing and swearing, + of those who have the effrontery to call themselves, with all these bloody + doings, and with all this impiety about them—Christians!' Moreover, + this ungenerous diversion was the bane and destruction of thousands, who + thus dissipated their patrimonial fortunes. That its attractions were + irresistible is evident from the difficulty experienced in suppressing the + practice. Down to a very recent date cock-fighting was carried on in + secret,—the police now and then breaking into the secret pits, + dispersing and chasing a motley crew of noblemen, gentlemen, and 'the scum + of rascaldom.' + </p> + <p> + The practice is very far from having died out; mains are still fought in + various parts of the country; but of course the greatest precautions are + taken to insure secrecy and to prevent the interference of the police. + </p> + <p> + In connection with cock-fighting I remember a horrible incident that + occurred in the West Indies. A gentleman who was passionately fond of the + sport, and prided himself on the victories of his cocks, had the + misfortune to see one of his birds so terribly wounded in the first onset + that, although not killed, it was impossible for it to continue the fight. + His rage at the mishap knew no bounds, and he vented it madly on the poor + creature. He roasted it alive—standing by and hearing its piteous + cries. In the midst of the horrible torture the wretched man became so + excited that a fit of apoplexy supervened, and he positively expired + before the poor bird at the fire! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. THE TURF, HISTORICAL, SOCIAL, MORAL. + </h2> + <p> + It appears that horse-races were customary at public festivals even as + early as the times of the patriarchs. They originated among the eastern + nations, who were the first to discover the physical aptitudes of the + noble animal and the spirited emulation of which he is capable. The + Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, in succession, all indulged in the + excitement; and it is a curious fact that the Romans, like the English + jockeys of the present day, rode in different colours. + </p> + <p> + Horse-racing began very early in England. Fitz-Stephen, who wrote in the + time of Henry VIII., mentions the delight taken by the citizens of London + in the diversion. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth it appears to have + greatly flourished, and to have been carried to such an excess as to have + ruined many of the nobility. + </p> + <p> + The celebrated George, Earl of Cumberland, is said to have wasted more of + his estates than any of his ancestors, and principally by his love of the + turf and the tilt-yard. In the reign of James I., Croydon in the South, + and Garterly in the North, were celebrated courses. Camden also states + that in 1607 there were meetings near York, and the prize was a small + golden bell; hence the origin of the saying 'bearing off the bell.' + </p> + <p> + Lord Herbert of Cherbury denounced the practice. 'The exercise,' says this + gallant philosopher, 'I do not approve of is running of horses—there + being much CHEATING in that kind,—neither do I see why a brave man + should delight in a creature whose chief use is to help him to run away.' + As far as the cheating is concerned, the philosopher may be right, but + most assuredly his views of the horse do no credit to his Lordship's + understanding. + </p> + <p> + It appears that the turf-men of those days went on breeding for shape and + speed alone, without considering 'bottom,' until the reign of Queen Anne; + when a public-spirited nobleman left thirteen plates or purses to be run + for, at such places as the Crown should appoint, upon condition that every + horse should carry twelve stone for the best of three heats—four + miles. By this means a stronger horse was raised, who, if he was not good + enough upon the race-course, made a hunter. + </p> + <p> + The Merry Monarch, Charles II., had given cups or bowls, estimated at one + hundred guineas value, and upon which the names of the winning horses, the + winner, and jockey were usually engraved. William III. added to the + plates, as did Queen Anne; but in 1720 George I. discontinued this royal + encouragement to the sport, apparently through sheer meanness. Since that + period 'King's Plates' and 'Queen's Plates' have been paid in specie. + </p> + <p> + In the reign of Charles I. races were performed in Hyde Park; and until a + very recent period 'the Ring' in the Park was the rendezvous of + gentlemen's servants, for the purpose of betting or making up their + betting books. + </p> + <p> + Newmarket races were established by Charles II., in 1667. Epsom, by Mr + Parkhurst, in 1711. Ascot, by the Duke of Cumberland, uncle to George III. + Doncaster, by Colonel St Leger, in 1778. Goodwood, by the Duke of + Richmond, who died in 1806. + </p> + <p> + The Jockey Club began in the time of George II. Its latest rules, by which + races are regulated, were enacted in 1828. + </p> + <p> + Tattersall's, the 'High Change of Horse-flesh,' was established by Richard + Tattersall, near Hyde Park Corner—hence termed 'The Corner'—in + 1766, for the sale of horses. The lease of the ground having expired, the + new premises at Brompton were erected, and opened for business, in 1803. + </p> + <p> + On the accession of Queen Victoria the Royal stud was sold for L16,476, in + Oct., 1837.(71) + </p> + <p> + (71) Haydon, Book of Dates. + </p> + <p> + Among the distinguished men who have supported the turf in this country + may be mentioned George IV.(72) and William IV.; the late Duke of York; + the Dukes of Richmond, Cleveland, Grafton, Bedford, and Beaufort; + Marquises of Exeter and Westminster; Earls of Glasgow, Stradbrooke, + Wilton, Chesterfield, Eglintoun, Verulam, and Lonsdale; Lords George + Bentinck, Foley, Kinnaird, &c.; and last, though not least, the Right + Honourable Charles James Fox. As to the turf, Fox used always to + animadvert on his losses, and repeatedly observed—that 'his horses + had as much bottom as other people's, but that they were such slow, good + ones that they never went fast enough to tire themselves.' He had, + however, the gratification of experiencing some few exceptions to this + imaginary rule. In April, 1772, he was so lucky at Newmarket as to win + nearly L16,000—the greater part of which he got by betting against + the celebrated Pincher, who lost the match by only half a neck. The odds + at STARTING were two to one on the losing horse. At the spring meeting at + Newmarket, in 1789, Fox is said to have won not less than L50,000; and at + the October meeting, at the same place, the following year, he sold two of + his horses—Seagull and Chanticleer—for 4400 guineas. In the + course of 1788 Fox and the Duke of Bedford won 8000 guineas between them + at the Newmarket spring meeting, and during these races Fox and Lord + Barrymore had a heavy match, which was given as a dead heat, and the bets + were off. + </p> + <p> + (72) For some period previous to 1790, George IV. had patronized + horse-racing and pugilism; but in that year, having attended a prize fight + in which one of the boxers was killed, he ceased to support the ring, + declaring that he would never be present at such a scene of murder again; + and in 1791 he disposed of his stud, on account of some apparently + groundless suspicion being attached to his conduct with regard to a race, + in the event of which he had little or no real interest. + </p> + <p> + On coming into office with Lord North, in 1783, Mr Fox sold his horses, + and erased his name from several of the clubs of which he was a member. It + was not long, however, before he again purchased a stud, and in October he + attended the Newmarket meeting. The king's messenger was obliged to appear + on the course, to seek one of the ministers of England among the sportsmen + on the heath, in order to deliver despatches upon which perhaps the fate + of the country might have depended. The messenger on these occasions had + his badge of office, the greyhound, not liking that the world should know + that the king's adviser was amusing himself at Newmarket, when he should + have been serving him in the metropolis. But Charles Fox preferred the + betting rooms to Downing Street. + </p> + <p> + Again, in the year 1790, his horse Seagull won the Oatlands stakes at + Ascot, of 100 guineas (19 subscribers), beating the Prince of Wales's + Escape, Serpent, and several of the very best horses of that year—to + the great mortification of His Royal Highness, who immediately matched + Magpie against him, to run four days afterwards, two miles, for 500 + guineas. This match, on which immense sums were depending, was won with + ease by Seagull. At this period Lord Foley and Mr Fox were confederates. + In those days the plates averaged from L50 to L100. + </p> + <p> + Lord Foley, who died in 1793, entered upon the turf with a clear estate of + L1800 a year, and L100,000 ready money, which was considerably diminished + by his losses at Newmarket, Ascot, and Epsom. + </p> + <p> + The race-horse of this country excels those of the whole world, not only + for speed, but bottom. There is a great difference, however, between the + present race and that of fifty or sixty years ago; for in those days + four-mile heats were the fashion. The sporting records at the end of the + last century give the following exploits of horses of that and previous + periods. + </p> + <p> + Childers, known by the name of Flying Childers, the property of the Duke + of Devonshire, was looked upon as the fleetest horse that ever was bred. + He was never beaten; the sire of this celebrated horse was an Arabian. + </p> + <p> + Dorimont, belonging to Lord Ossory, won prizes to the amount of L13,360. + </p> + <p> + Eclipse was allowed to be the fastest horse that ever ran in England since + the time of Childers. After winning largely for his owner, he covered, by + subscription, forty mares at 30 guineas each, or 1200 guineas. + </p> + <p> + Highflyer, by King Herod, was the best horse of his day; was never beaten, + nor paid forfeit but once. His winnings amounted to above L9000, although + he only ran as a three, four, and five years old. + </p> + <p> + Matchem stood high both as a racer and as the sire of many of our most + favourite horses. As a stallion he realized for his master more than + L12,000. He died in 1781, at the advanced age of thirty-three. + </p> + <p> + Shark won a cup value 120 guineas, eleven hogsheads of claret, and above + L16,000 in plates, matches, and forfeits.(73) + </p> + <p> + (73) Lord William Lennox, Merrie England. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +Among recent celebrities must be mentioned Lord Stamford, who is said +to have engaged Jemmy Grimshaw, a light-weighted jockey, at a salary of +L1000 a year. + + The most astounding 'event' of late years was that of 1867, when +the horse Hermit—previously represented as being in an unfit condition +even to run, won the race—to the unspeakable ruin of very many, and +inflicting on the late Marquis of Hastings the enormous loss of about +L100,000, which, however, in spite of unseemly rumours and, it is said, +hopes of that nobleman's ruin, was honourably paid, to the day and hour. +</pre> + <p> + But if ruin did not immediately come upon the young marquis, still the + wound was deadly, inflicted as though with the ferocity of a demon. In his + broken health and rapid decay sympathy was not withheld from him; and when + a premature death put an end to his sufferings, and was speedily followed + by the breaking up of his establishment and the dispersion of his + ancestral effects, most men felt that he had, perhaps, atoned for his + errors and indiscretions, whilst all united in considering him another + unfortunate victim added to the long list of those who have sacrificed + their fortune, health, and honour to the Gambling Moloch presiding over + the Turf of England.(74) + </p> + <p> + (74) The 'Odds' or probabilities of horse racing are explained in chapter + VIII., in which the entire 'Doctrine of Chances' is discussed. + </p> + <p> + Such are the leading facts of horse-racing in England. One cannot help + observing that the sturdy strength and muscular exertions of an Olympic + charioteer of old exhibit a striking contrast to the spider-like form and + emaciated figure of a Newmarket jockey. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Qui studet optatam cursu contingere metam, +Multa tulit, fecitque puer, SUDAVAT et alsit. + + 'Who in a race would reach the long'd-for goal, + Must suffer much, do much, in youth, indeed, + Must SWEAT and fag.' +</pre> + <p> + This is literally true respecting the English jockey, whose attenuated + form is accounted for in the following dialogue in an old work entitled + 'Newmarket, or an Essay on the Turf,' 1771. + </p> + <p> + 'Stop, stop, OLD GENTLEMAN! I desire to speak a word to you; pray which is + the way to——.' + </p> + <p> + 'I beg, sir, you will not interrupt me. I am a Newmarket jockey—am + to ride in a few days a match, upon which there is a great deal depending, + and I am now PREPARING.' + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, I see now, you are a YOUNG man, instead of that old one for whom I + mistook you by your wrappings; but pray, explain.' + </p> + <p> + 'Why, your Honour must know that we jockeys, in order to bring ourselves + down to the weight required for the horses we are to ride, sweat under a + load of flannel wrapped about us beneath coats and great coats, and walk + two or three miles in the heat of summer, till we are ready to faint under + our burden.' + </p> + <p> + 'Indeed! Why, you go through a deal!' + </p> + <p> + 'Ah, sir, a great deal indeed! Why, we sometimes lie hours and hours + between two feather-beds—to melt away our extraordinary weight.' + </p> + <p> + 'But will you give me leave to examine your present dress? Hum! Two + flannel waistcoats, a thick cloth coat, a Bath surtout! It is a vast + weight to carry this warm weather. I only hope you won't sink under it.' + </p> + <p> + 'Never fear, sir, I do not doubt but I shall do very well.' + </p> + <p> + The rewards of victory were as plain and simple in the Grecian games as + they were distinguishing and honourable. A garland of palm, or laurel, or + parsley, or pine leaves, served to adorn the brow of the fortunate victor, + whilst his name stood a chance of being transmitted to posterity in the + strains of some lofty Pindar. The rewards of modern days are indeed more + substantial and solid, being paid in weighty gold or its equivalent, no + matter whether obtained by the ruin of others, while the fleet coursers + and their exulting proprietors stand conspicuous in the list of the Racing + Calendar. The ingenious and ironical author of 'Newmarket, or an Essay on + the Turf,' in the year 1771, bestowed the following titles and honours on + the most famous horse of the day—Kelly's Eclipse:—'Duke of + Newmarket, Marquis of Barnet, Earl of Epsom and York, Viscount Canterbury, + Baron Eclipse of Mellay; Lord of Lewes, Salisbury, Ipswich, and + Northampton; Comptroller-General of the race-grounds, and Premier Racer of + All England.' To bear coat of arms—'A Pegasus argent on a field + verd;—the supporters—two Englishmen in ermined robes and ducal + coronets;—the crest—a purse, Or;—the motto—"Volat + ocior Euro." '(75) + </p> + <p> + (75) 'He flies swifter than the east wind.' + </p> + <p> + Again, in the exhibition of those useful and honourable Olympic pastimes + of old, the cause of morality was not overlooked:—there was in them + a happy union of utility, pleasure, and virtue. A spotless life and + unblameable manners, a purity of descent by being born in wedlock through + several generations, and a series of creditable relations, were + indispensable qualifications of a candidate on the Olympic turf. It is + true, there is at least as much attention paid to purity and faultlessness + on the plains of Newmarket; but the application is to the blood and + pedigree of the horse, not of his rider. + </p> + <p> + Nay, it was, and is, notorious that the word 'jockey' has acquired the + meaning of 'to trick,' 'to cheat,' as appears in all our dictionaries and + in common parlance. What is the inference from this but that the winning + of races is no absolute proof of the superiority of the horse—for + whose improvement racing is said to be encouraged; but rather the result + of a secret combination of expedients or arrangements—in a word, + jockeying, that is, cheating, tricking. The only 'moral' character + required in the jockey is the determination to do whatsoever may be agreed + upon or determined by those who are willing and able to give 'a + consideration' for the convenient accommodation. + </p> + <p> + But it is, or was, the associations, the inevitable concomitants, of the + turf and racing that stamp it, not only as something questionable, but as + a bane and infamy to the nation; and if there is one spot more eminently + distinguished for a general rendezvous of fraud and gambling, that place + is Newmarket. + </p> + <p> + The diversions of these plains have proved a decoy to many a noble and + ingenuous mind, caught in the snares laid to entrap youth and + inexperience. Newmarket was a wily labyrinth of loss and gain, a fruitful + field for the display of gambling abilities, the school of the sharping + crew, the academy of the Greeks, the unfathomable gulf that absorbed + princely fortunes. + </p> + <p> + The amusements of the turf were in all other places intermixed with a + variety of social diversions, which were calculated to promote innocent + mirth and gaiety. The breakfastings, the concerts, the plays, the + assemblies, attracted the circle of female beauty, enlivened the scene, + engaged the attention of gentlemen, and thus prevented much of the evil + contagion and destruction of midnight play. But encouragement to the + GAMBLER of high and low degree was the very charter of Newmarket. Every + object that met the eye was encompassed with gambling—from the + aristocratic Rouge et Noir, Roulette, and Hazard, down to Thimble-rig, + Tossing, and Tommy Dodd. Every hour of the day and night was beset with + gambling diversified; in short, gambling must occupy the whole man, or he + was lost to the sport and spirit of the place. The inhumanity of the + cock-pit, the iniquitous vortex of the Hazard table, employed each leisure + moment from the race, and either swallowed up the emoluments of the + victorious field, or sank the jockey still deeper in the gulf of ruin. + </p> + <p> + The common people of England have been stigmatized (and perhaps too + justly) for their love of bloody sports and cruel diversions; + cock-fighting, bull-baiting, boxing, and the crowded attendance on + executions, are but too many proofs of this sanguinary turn. But why the + imputation should lie at the door of the vulgar alone may well be + questioned; for while the star of nobility and dignified distinction was + seen to glitter at a cock-match or on a boxing-stage, or near the 'Ring'—where + its proprietor was liable to be elbowed by their highnesses of grease and + soot, and to be hemmed in by knights of the post and canditates for Tyburn + tree—when this motley group alike were fixed in eager attention, + alike betted on and enjoyed each blood-drawing stroke of the artificial + spur, or blow of the fist well laid in—what distinction was to be + made between peer and plebeian, except in derogation of the former? + </p> + <p> + The race-course at Newmarket always presented a rare assemblage of grooms, + gamblers, and greatness. + </p> + <p> + 'See, side by side, the jockey and Sir John Discuss the important point of + six to one; For, O my Muse! the deep-felt bliss how dear—How great + the pride to gain a jockey's ear!'(76) + </p> + <p> + (76) Wharton's Newmarket. + </p> + <p> + Newmarket fame was an object of ambition sought by the most distinguished + personages. + </p> + <p> + 'Go on, brave youths, till in some future age Whips shall become the + senatorial badge; Till England see her thronging senators Meet all at + Westminster in boots and spurs; See the whole House with mutual phrensy + mad, Her patriots all in leathern breeches clad; Of bets for taxes + learnedly debate, And guide with equal reins a steed or state.'(77) + </p> + <p> + (77) Ibid. + </p> + <p> + And then at the winning-post what motley confusion. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ——————————'A thousand tongues + Jabber harsh jargon from a thousand lungs. + **** + Dire was the din—as when in caverns pent, + Hoarse Boreas storms and Eurus works for vent, + The aeolian brethren heave the labouring earth, + And roar with elemental strife for birth.'(78) +</pre> + <p> + (78) 'The Gamblers.' Horace had said long before—Tanto cum strepitu + ludi spectantur, 'So great a noise attends the games! + </p> + <p> + The frauds and stratagems of wily craft which once passed current at + Newmarket, surpassed everything that can be imagined at the present day. + The intruding light of the morning was execrated by the nightly gamblers. + 'Grant us but to perish in the light,' was the prayer of the warlike Ajax:—'Grant + us black night for ever,' exclaimed the gambler; and his wishes were + consistent with the place and the foul deeds perpetrated therein.(79) + </p> + <p> + (79) The principal gambling-room at Newmarket was called the 'Little + Hell.' + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Sit mihi fas audita loqui—sit numine vestro, + Pandere res alta terra et caligine mersas. +</pre> + <p> + The turf-events of every succeeding year verify the lament of the late + Lord Derby:— + </p> + <p> + 'The secession from the turf of men who have station and character, and + the accession of men who have neither, are signs visible to the dullest + apprehension. The once national sport of horse-racing is being degraded to + a trade in which it is difficult to perceive anything either sportive or + national. The old pretence about the improvement of the breed of horses + has become a delusion, too stale for jesting.' + </p> + <p> + Nothing is more incontestable than the fact that the breed of English + horses has not been really improved, certainly not by racing and its + requirements. It has been truly observed that 'what is called the turf is + merely a name for the worst kind of gambling. The men who engage in it are + as far as possible from any ideal of sporting men. It is a grim joke, in + fact, to speak of "sport" at all in their connection. The turf to them is + but a wider and more vicious sort of tapis vert—the racing but the + rolling of the balls—the horses but animated dice. It is difficult + to name a single honest or manly instinct which is propagated by the turf + as it is, or which does not become debased and vitiated by the + association. From a public recreation the thing has got to be a public + scandal. Every year witnesses a holocaust of great names sacrificed to the + insatiable demon of horse-racing—ancient families ruined, old + historic memories defiled at the shrine of this vulgarest and most vicious + of popular passions.' + </p> + <p> + Among those who have sought to reform the turf is Sir Joseph Hawley, who + last year succeeded in procuring the abolition of two-year-old races + before the 1st of May. He is now endeavouring, to go much further, and has + given notice of a motion for the appointment of a committee of the Jockey + Club to consider the question of the whole condition of the turf. + </p> + <p> + There can be no doubt, that, if Sir Joseph Hawley's propositions, as + announced, be adopted, even in a modified form, they would go to the very + root of the evil, and purify the turf of the worst of the present + scandals. + </p> + <p> + It would require a volume, or perhaps many volumes, to treat of the + subject of the present chapter—the Turf, Historical, Social, Moral; + but I must now leave this topic, of such terrible national interest, to + some other conscientious writer capable of 'doing justice' to the theme, + in all its requirements. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII. FORTUNE-TELLING BY CARDS (FOR LADIES). + </h2> + <p> + It must be admitted that this practice—however absurd in its object + and application—does great credit to human ingenuity. Once admitting + the possibility of such conjuring, it is impossible to deny the propriety + of the reasonings deduced from the turning up, the collocation, or the + juxta-position of the various cards, when the formalities of the peculiar + shuffle and cut required have been duly complied with by the consulter. + </p> + <p> + The cards are first shuffled ad libitum, then cut three different times, + and laid on a table, face upwards, one by one, in the form of a circle, or + more frequently nine in a row. If the conjurer is a man he chooses one of + the kings as his representative; if a woman, she selects one of the + queens. This is on the supposition that persons are consulting for + themselves; otherwise it is the fortune-teller who selects the + representative card. Then the queen of the chosen king, or the king of the + chosen queen, stands for a husband or wife, mistress or lover, of the + party whose fortune is to be told. The knave of the suit represents the + most intimate person of their family. + </p> + <p> + The ninth card every way, that is, counted from the representative, is of + the greatest consequence, and that interval comprises the 'circle' of the + inquirer, for good or for evil. + </p> + <p> + Now, all the cards have had assigned to them arbitrary, but plausible, + characteristics. Thus, the ace of clubs (that suit representing originally + the 'fortunate husbandmen') promises great wealth, much prosperity in + life, and tranquillity of mind—if it turns up within your circle, as + before mentioned. King of clubs announces a man of dark complexion who is + humane, upright, &c., in fact, just the man for a husband. Queen of + clubs is equally propitious as the emblem of a dark lady who would prove a + paragon wife. Knave of clubs, a jolly good friend in every way. Ten of + clubs always flurries the heart of the inquirer—especially if 'hard + up'—for it denotes riches speedily forthcoming from an unexpected + quarter—which is usually the case in such circumstances; but then it + also threatens the loss of some dear friend—which, however, cannot + signify much if you get 'the money.' Seven of clubs promises the most + brilliant fortune, and the most exquisite bliss this world can afford; but + then you are ungallantly warned that you must 'beware of the opposite sex'—which + seems a contradiction in terms—for how call 'the most exquisite + bliss this world can afford' be secured without the aid of 'the opposite + sex'? Five of clubs is the main point of maid-servants, young girls from + the country, governesses, in short, of all the floating womanhood of the + land—for 'it declares that you will shortly be married to a person + who will—MEND your CIRCUMSTANCES.' The trey of clubs is scarcely + less exhilarating, for it promises that you will be married three times, + and each time to a wealthy person. On the whole the suit of clubs is very + lucky, but, very appropriately, the deuce thereof portends some + 'unfortunate opposition to your favourite inclination, which will disturb + you.'(80) + </p> + <p> + (80) According to other authorities, the ace of clubs means a letter; the + nine, danger caused by drunkenness; the eight, danger from covetousness; + the seven, a prison, and danger from the opposite sex; the six, competence + by hard-working industry; the five, a happy but NOT wealthy marriage; the + four, danger of misfortunes caused by inconstancy or capricious temper; + the trey, quarrels. + </p> + <p> + The suit of diamonds is by no means so satisfactory as the gem of a name + would seem to indicate; but perhaps we must remember that this suit + represented originally the COMMERCIAL CLASSES, and that probably this + divination by cards was invented by some proud ARISTOCRAT in those times + when tradesmen did not stand so high as they now do in morality, + uprightness, &c. The ace of diamonds puts you on the qui vive for the + postman; it means a LETTER. It is only to be hoped that it is not one of + those nasty things, yellow outside and blue within—a dun from some + importunate butcher, baker, grocer, or—tailor. The king of diamonds + shows a revengeful, fiery, obstinate fellow of very fair complexion in + your circle; the queen of diamonds is nothing but a gay coquette, of the + same complexion as the king, and not 'over-virtuous'—a very odd + phrase in use for the absence of virtue altogether; the knave of diamonds + is a selfish, impracticable fellow; ten of diamonds is one of the few + exceptions to the evil omens of this suit, it promises a country husband + or a wife with great wealth and many children—the number of the + latter being indicated by the next card to it; it also signifies a purse + of gold—but where? Oh, where? Nine of diamonds indicates simply a + vagabond, full of vexation and disappointment; eight of diamonds shows an + enemy to marriage, who may, however, 'marry late,' and find himself in a + terrible 'fix;' seven of diamonds is worse still, portending all the + horrors of the divorce court and the bankruptcy court—conjugal + profligacy and extravagance; six of diamonds means early marriage and + premature widowhood, and a second marriage, which will probably be worse; + five of diamonds is the next exception to the misery of this suit, it + promises 'good children, who will KEEP YOU FROM GRIEF'—at best, + however, only a makeshift; four of diamonds is as bad as seven of diamonds—portending + the same results; the trey of diamonds threatens all manner of strife, + law-suits, &c., promises a vixen for a wife, to your great domestic + misery; the deuce of diamonds concludes the catalogue of wretchedness with + the assurance that you will fall in love early, that your parents will not + approve of your choice, and if you marry, notwithstanding, that they will + hardly ever forgive you.(81) + </p> + <p> + (81) Otherwise the ace of diamonds means a wedding ring, the king, a fiery + but a placable person, of very fair complexion; the ten, money, success in + honourable business; the eight, a happy prudent marriage, though late in + life; the five, unexpected and most likely good news; the four, a + faithless friend, a betrayed secret. + </p> + <p> + The suit of hearts, as previously explained, represented originally the + ecclesiastical order, the jolly monks, churchmen of all degrees; how far + the indications tally must be left to the ingenious reader to determine. + The ace of hearts means feasting and pleasure; but if attended by spades, + it foretells quarrelling; if by hearts it shows affection and friendship; + if by diamonds, you will hear of some absent friend; if by clubs, of + merry-making: the king of hearts denotes a not VERY fair man, + good-natured, but hot and hasty individual, and very amorous; the queen of + hearts promises a lady of golden locks (not necessarily 'carrots'), + faithful and affectionate; the knave of hearts is a particular friend, and + great attention must be paid to the card that stands next to him, as from + it alone you can judge whether the person it represents will favour your + inclination or not, because he is always the dearest friend or nearest + relation of the consulting party; the ten of hearts shows good nature and + many children, and is a corrective of the bad tidings of the cards that + stand next to it; and if its neighbouring cards are of good import, it + ascertains and confirms their value: nine of hearts promises wealth, + grandeur, and high esteem; if cards that are unfavourable stand near it, + you may expect disappointments; and the reverse, if favourable cards + follow; if these last be at a small distance, expect to retrieve your + losses, whether of peace or goods: eight of hearts signifies drinking and + feasting; seven of hearts shows a fickle and unfaithful person, vicious, + spiteful, malicious; six of hearts promises a generous, open, credulous + disposition, often a dupe; if this card comes before your king or queen + (as the case may be) YOU will be the dupe; if after, you will get the + upper hand: five of hearts portends a wavering, unsteady, unreliable + individual of either sex: four of hearts indicates late marriage from + 'delicacy in making a choice:' trey of hearts is rather a 'poser;' 'it + shows that your own impudence will greatly contribute to your experiencing + the ill-will of others:' deuce of hearts promises extraordinary success + and good fortune, though, perhaps, you may have to wait long for 'the good + time coming.'(82) + </p> + <p> + (82) Or,—the ace of hearts denotes the house of the consulter; the + queen, a lady not VERY fair; seven, many good friends; six, honourable + courtship; five, a present; four, domestic troubles caused by jealousy. + </p> + <p> + The suit of spades originally represented the NOBILITY, and the following + are its significances in fortune-telling. The ace of spades wholly relates + to love-affairs, without specifying whether lawful or unlawful—a + pretty general occupation of the 'nobility,' of course; it also denotes + death when the card is upside down: the king of spades shows a man + ambitious and successful at court, or with some great man who will have it + in his power to advance him—but, let him beware of the reverse! the + queen of spades shows that a person will be corrupted by the rich of both + sexes; if she is handsome great attempts will be made on her virtue: the + knave of spades shows a fellow that requires much rousing, although 'quite + willing to serve you' with his influence and patronage—like many a + member in the case of his importunate constituents: the ten of spades is a + card of caution, counteracting the good effect of the card near you: the + nine of spades is positively the worst card in the whole pack; it portends + dangerous sickness, total loss of fortune, cruel calamities, endless + dissension in your family, and death at last—I hope you may never + see it near you: the eight of spades indicates much opposition from your + FRIENDS, or those you imagine to be such; if this card comes near you, + leave your plan and adopt another: seven of spades shows the loss of a + most valuable, influential friend, whose death will plunge you in very + great distress and poverty: the six of spades announces a mediocrity of + fortune, and great uncertainty in your undertakings: the five of spades is + rather doubtful as to success or a rise in life; but it promises luck in + the choice of your companion for life, although it shows that your own + temper is rather sullen—and so to get a 'fond creature' to take care + of you, with such a temper, is a mighty great blessing, and more than you + deserve: the four of spades shows sickness speedily, and injury of fortune + by friends: the trey of spades shows that you will be fortunate in + marriage, but that your inconstant temper will make you unhappy: the deuce + of spades is the UNDERTAKER, at last; it positively shows a COFFIN, but + who it is for must depend entirely on the cards that are near it.(83) + </p> + <p> + (83) Or,—the ace of spades denotes death, malice, a duel, a general + misfortune; the king, a man of very dark complexion, ambitious, and + unscrupulous; the queen, a very dark-complexioned woman of malicious + disposition, or a widow; the knave, a lawyer, a person to be shunned; the + ten, disgrace, crime, imprisonment, death on the scaffold; the eight, + great danger from imprudence; the six, a child, to the unmarried a card of + caution; the five, great danger from giving way to bad temper; the trey, a + journey by land,—tears; the deuce, a removal. + </p> + <p> + 'The nine of hearts is termed the wish card. After the general fortune has + been told, a separate and different manipulation is performed, to learn if + the pryer into futurity will obtain a particular wish; and from the + position of the wish card in the pack the required answer is deduced. + </p> + <p> + 'The foregoing is merely the alphabet of the art; the letters, as it were, + of the sentences formed by the various combinations of the cards. A + general idea only can be given here of the manner in which those prophetic + sentences are formed. As before stated, if a married woman consults the + cards, the king of her own suit, or complexion, represents her husband; + but with single women, the lover, either in esse or posse, is represented + by his own colour; and all cards, when representing persons, lose their + own normal significations. There are exceptions, however, to these general + rules. A man, no matter what his complexion, if he wear uniform, even if + he be the negro cymbal-player in a regimental band, can be represented by + the king of diamonds:—note, the dress of policemen and volunteers is + not considered as uniform. On the other hand, a widow, even if she be an + albiness, can be represented only by the queen of spades. + </p> + <p> + 'The ace of hearts always denoting the house of the person consulting the + decrees of fate, some general rules are applicable to it. Thus the ace of + clubs signifying a letter, its position, either before or after the ace of + hearts, shows whether the letter is to be sent to or from the house. The + ace of diamonds when close to the ace of hearts foretells a wedding in the + house; but the ace of spades betokens sickness and death. + </p> + <p> + 'The knaves represent the thoughts of their respective kings and queens, + and consequently the thoughts of the persons whom those kings and queens + represent, in accordance with their complexions. + </p> + <p> + For instance, a young lady of a rather but not decidedly dark complexion, + represented by the queen of clubs, when consulting the cards, may be + shocked to find her fair lover (the king of diamonds) flirting with a + wealthy widow (the queen of spades, attended by the ten of diamonds), but + she will be reassured by finding his thoughts (the knave of diamonds) in + combination with a letter (ace of clubs), a wedding ring (ace of + diamonds), and her house (the ace of hearts); clearly signifying that, + though he is actually flirting with the rich widow, he is, nevertheless, + thinking of sending a letter, with an offer of marriage, to the young lady + herself. And look, where are her own thoughts, represented by the knave of + clubs; they are far away with the old lover, that dark man (king of + spades) who, as is plainly shown by his being attended by the nine of + diamonds, is prospering at the Australian diggings or elsewhere. Let us + shuffle the cards once more, and see if the dark man, at the distant + diggings, ever thinks of his old flame, the club-complexioned young lady + in England. No! he does not. Here are his thoughts (the knave of spades), + directed to this fair, but rather gay and coquettish, woman (the queen of + diamonds); they are separated but by a few hearts, one of them, the sixth + (honourable courtship), showing the excellent understanding that exists + between them. Count, now, from the six of hearts to the ninth card from + it, and lo! it is a wedding ring (the ace of diamonds); they will be + married before the expiration of a twelvemonth.' + </p> + <p> + Such is the scheme of fortune-telling by cards, as propounded in the + learned disquisitions of the adepts, and Betty, or Martha, or her mistress + can consult them by themselves according to the established method—without + exposing themselves to the extortionate cunning of the wandering gipsies + or the permanent crone of the city or village. They may just as well + believe what comes out according to their own manipulation as by that of + the heartless cheats in question. Your ordinary fortune-tellers are not + over-particular, being only anxious to tell you exactly what you want to + know. So if a black court card gets in juxta-position with and looking + towards a red court card, the fair consulter's representative, then it is + evident that some 'dark gentleman' is 'after her;' and vice versa; and if + a wife, suspecting her husband's fidelity, consults the cards, the + probability is that her SUSPICIONS will receive 'confirmation strong' from + the fact that 'some dark woman,' that is, a black queen, 'is after her + husband;' or vice versa, if a husband consults the card-woman respecting + the suspicions he may have reason to entertain with regard to his 'weaker + rib' or his 'intended.' + </p> + <p> + It need scarcely be observed that fortune-tellers in any place are 'posted + up' in all information or gossip in the neighbourhood; and therefore they + readily turn their knowledge to account in the answers they give to + anxious inquirers. + </p> + <p> + Apart from this, however, the interpretations are so elaborately + comprehensive that 'something' MUST come true in the revelations; and we + all know that in such matters that something coming to pass will far + outweigh the non-fulfilment of other fatal ordinations. Of course no + professional fortune-teller would inform an old man that some dark or fair + man was 'after' his old woman; but nothing is more probable than the + converse, and much family distraction has frequently resulted from such + perverse revelation of 'the cards.' In like manner your clever + fortune-teller will never promise half-a-dozen children to 'an old lady,' + but she will very probably hold forth that pleasant prospect—if such + it be—to a buxom lass of seventeen or eighteen—especially in + those counties of England where the ladies are remarkable for such profuse + bounty to their husbands. + </p> + <p> + As a general proposition, it matters very little what may be the means of + vaticination or prediction—whether cards, the tea-grounds in the + cup, &c.,—all POSSIBLE events have a degree of probability of + coming to pass, which may vary from 20 to 1 down to a perfect equality of + chance; and the clever fortune-teller, who may be mindful of her + reputation, will take care to regulate her promises or predictions + according to that proposition. + </p> + <p> + Many educated ladies give their attention to the cards, and some have + acquired great proficiency in the art. On board a steamer sailing for New + York, on one occasion a French lady among the saloon-passengers undertook + to amuse the party by telling their fortunes. A Scotch young gentleman, + who was going out to try and get a commission in the Federal army, had his + fortune told. Among the announcements, as interpreted by the lady, was the + rather unpleasant prospect that two constables would be 'after' him! We + all laughed heartily at the odd things that came out for everybody, and + then the thing was forgotten; the steamer reached her destination; and all + the companions of the pleasant voyage separated and went their different + ways. + </p> + <p> + Some months after, I met the young gentleman above alluded to, and among + the various adventures which he had had, he mentioned the following. He + said that shortly after his arrival in New York he presented a ten-dollar + note which he had received, at a drinking-house, that it was declared a + forged note, and that he was given into custody; but that the magistrate, + on being conclusively convinced of his respectability, dismissed the + charge without even taking the trouble to establish the alleged fact that + the note was a forgery. So far so good; but on the following morning, + whilst at breakfast at his hotel, another police-officer pounced upon him, + and led him once more on the same charge to another magistrate, who, + however, dismissed the case like the other.(84) + </p> + <p> + (84) It appears that this is allowable in New York. The explanation of the + perverse prosecution was, that the young gentleman did not 'fee' the + worthy policemen, according to custom in such cases. + </p> + <p> + Thereupon I said—'Why, the French lady's card-prediction on board + came to pass! Don't you remember what she said about two constables being + "after you"?' + </p> + <p> + 'Now I remember it,' he said; 'but I had positively forgotten all about + it. Well, she was right there—but I am sorry to say that nothing + else she PROMISED has come to pass.' + </p> + <p> + Doubtless all other consulters of the cards and of astrologers can say the + same, although all would not wisely conclude that a system must be + erroneous which misleads human hope in the great majority of cases. In + fact, like the predictions in our weather-almanacks, the fortune-teller's + announcements are only right BY CHANCE, and wrong ON PRINCIPLE. + </p> + <p> + FORTUNE-TELLING FORTY YEARS AGO, OR, THE STORY OF MARTHA CARNABY. + </p> + <p> + A certain Martha Carnaby, a tidy but rather 'unsettled' servant girl, some + forty years ago went to an old fortune-teller, to have her fortune told, + and the doings on both sides came out as follows, before the magistrate at + the Bow Street police-court. The fortune-teller was 'had up,' as usual, + 'for obtaining money and other valuables' from the former. + </p> + <p> + Miss Martha Carnaby said that this celebrated old fortune-teller had first + gained her acquaintance by attending at her master's house, before the + family had risen, and urging her to have her fortune told. At length, + after much persuasion, she consented; but the fortune-teller told her that + before the secrets of her future destiny were revealed, she must deposit + in her hands some little token, TO BIND THE CHARM, which the old lady said + she would invoke the same evening—'if I would call at her lodgings, + and also cast my nativity by her cards, and tell me every particular of + the future progress of my life. I accordingly gave her what money I had; + but that, she told me, was not enough to buy the ingredients with which + she was to compose the charm. I at length gave her four silver teaspoons + and two tablespoons, which she put carefully in her pocket; and then asked + me to let her look at my hand, which I showed her. She told me there were + many lines in it which clearly indicated great wealth and happiness; and, + after telling her my name was Martha Carnaby, she took her departure, and + I agreed to meet her at her lodgings the same evening. Agreeably to her + directions, I dressed myself in as fashionable a manner as I could, + because I WAS TO SEE MY SWEETHEART THROUGH A MIRROR, AND HE WAS TO SEE + ME.' + </p> + <p> + The poor deluded creature then stated that she attended punctually at the + hour appointed, at the old lady's sanctum, and seating herself upon an old + chair, beheld with astonishment quite as much as she bargained for. 'I + felt myself,' said poor Martha, 'on entering the room, all of a twitter. + The old woman was seated in her chair of state, and, reaching down from + the mantel-piece a pack of cards, began, after muttering a few words in a + language I could not understand, to lay them very carefully in her lap; + she then foretold that I should get married, but not to the person in our + house, as I expected, but to another young man, whom, if I could afford a + trifle, she would show me through her MATRIMONIAL MIRROR. To this I + consented, and she desired me to shut my eyes and keep my face covered + while she made the necessary preparations; and there she kept me, with my + face hid in her lap, until I was nearly smothered; when suddenly she told + me to turn round, and look through the mirror, which was seen through a + hole in a curtain, and I saw a young man pass quickly before me, staring + me in the face, at which I was much surprised, she assuring me that he + would be my husband. It was then agreed that she was to call on me the + next morning, and return the silver spoons; but, your Worship,' said the + poor girl, 'she never came; and as I was afraid my mistress would soon + want them, I asked the advice of a woman in our neighbourhood, as to what + I had better do, and to whom I related all the circumstances I have told + your Worship; when the woman asked me how I could have been such a fool as + to be duped by that old cheat at the bar,—that she was a notorious + old woman, that she had in her employ some young man, who was always hid + in the room, to overhear the conversation, and to run from out of the + hiding-place before the mirror; and that I ought to be thankful I came + away as well as I did, as many young girls had been ruined through going + to this old creature; that, from her acquaintance with so many servant + girls, she always contrived to get from them such intelligence as enabled + her to answer those questions that might be put to her, as to the + business, name, place of abode, country, and other circumstances of the + party applying, the answering of which always convinced the credulous + creatures who went to her, of her great skill in the art of astrology; and + when she was right in her guessing, she always took care to have it well + published.' + </p> + <p> + Of course, and again, as usual, the magistrate 'hoped it would be a lesson + to Martha, and to all other foolish girls, never to hearken to those + infernal, wicked old wretches, the fortune-tellers—many a girl + having lost her character and virtue by listening to their nonsense;' but + there have been hundreds and thousands of such Marthas since then, and no + doubt there will be very many more in future—in spite of the + ridiculous exposure of such dupes ever and anon, in courts of justice and + in the columns of the daily papers. + </p> + <p> + 'The art of cartomancy, or divination by playing-cards, dates from an + early period of their obscure history. In the museum of Nantes there is a + painting, said to be by Van Eyck, representing Philippe le Bon, Archduke + of Austria, and subsequently King of Spain, consulting a fortune-teller by + cards. This picture cannot be of a later date than the fifteenth century. + Then the art was introduced into England is unknown; probably, however, + the earliest printed notice of it in this country is the following curious + story, extracted from Rowland's Judicial Astrology Condemned:—"Cuffe, + an excellent Grecian, and secretary to the Earl of Essex, was told, twenty + years before his death, that he should come to an untimely end, at which + Cuffe laughed, and in a scornful manner entreated the soothsayer to show + him in what manner he should come to his end, who condescended to him, and + calling for cards, entreated Cuffe to draw out of the pack any three which + pleased him. He did so, and drew three knaves, and laid them on the table + by the wizard's direction, who then told him, if he desired to see the sum + of his bad fortune, to take up those cards. Cuffe, as he was prescribed, + took up the first card, and looking on it, he saw the portraiture of + himself cap-a-pie, having men encompassing him with bills and halberds. + Then he took up the second, and there he saw the judge that sat upon him; + and taking up the last card, he saw Tyburn, the place of his execution, + and the hangman, at which he laughed heartily. But many years after, being + condemned, he remembered and declared this prediction." + </p> + <p> + 'The earliest work on cartomancy was written or compiled by one Francesco + Marcolini, and printed at Venice in 1540.'(85) + </p> + <p> + (85) The Book of Days, Feb. 21. In this work there is a somewhat different + account of cartomancy to that which I have expounded 'on the best + authorities' and from practical experience with the adepts in the art; + but, in a matter of such immense importance to ladies of all degrees, I + have thought proper to give, in foot-notes, the differing interpretations + of the writer in the Book of Days, who professes to speak with some + authority, not however, I think, superior to mine, for I have investigated + the subject to the utmost. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV. AMUSING CARD TRICKS.(86) + </h2> + <p> + (86) These tricks appeared originally in Beeton's Christmas Annual, and + are here reproduced with permission. + </p> + <p> + Although my work is a history of gambling, in all its horrors, and with + all its terrible moral warnings, I gladly conclude it 'happily,' after the + manner of the most pleasing novels and romances,—namely, by a method + of contriving innocent and interesting amusement with cards, without the + 'chance' of encountering the risks, calamities, and disgrace of gambling. + </p> + <p> + I was led to the investigation of this branch of my subject by the + following incident. Being present at a party when a gentleman performed + one of the tricks described, No. 7, the rest of the company and myself + were all much surprised at the result, and urgently requested him to + explain the method of his performance, which, however, he stoutly refused + to do, averring that he would not take L1000 for it. This was so + ridiculously provoking that I offered to bet him L5 that I would discover + the method within 24 hours. To my astonishment he declined the bet, not, + however, without a sort of compliment, admitting that I MIGHT do so. He + was right; for, as Edgar Poe averred, no man can invent a puzzle which + some other man cannot unravel. In effect, I called upon him the following + day, and performed the trick not only according to his method, but also by + another, equally successful. I have reason to believe that most of the + tricks of my selection had not previously appeared in print; at any rate, + I have given to all of them an exposition which may entitle them to some + claim of originality. + </p> + <p> + PRELIMINARY HINTS. + </p> + <p> + I. Shuffling, in the simple and inoffensive sense of the expression, is an + important point in all tricks with cards. For the most part, it is only a + pretence or dexterous management—keeping a card or cards in your + command whilst seeming to shuffle them into the pack. + </p> + <p> + Every performer has his method of such shuffling. Some hold the pack + perpendicularly with the left hand, then with the right take a portion of + the pack—about one half—and make a show of shuffling the two + parts together edgeways, but, in reality, replace them as they were. With + rapidity of execution every eye is thus deceived. + </p> + <p> + If a single card is to be held in command, place it at the bottom of the + pack, which you hold in your left, and then, with your right thumb and + middle finger, raise and throw successively portions of the pack, leaving + the bottom card in contact with the fingers of the left hand. + </p> + <p> + With dexterity, any portion of the pack may be shuffled, leaving the + remainder just as it was, by separating it during the process by inserting + one or more fingers of the left hand between it and the portions shuffled. + </p> + <p> + II. Cutting—not in the sense of bolting at the sight of 'blue,' + though that is of consequence to card-sharpers—is of importance in + all card tricks. In many tricks cutting the cards is only a pretence, as + it is necessary for the success of the trick to replace them as they were; + in technical terms, we must 'blow up the cut.'(87) + </p> + <p> + (87) This is the sauter la coupe referred to in the chapter on the Gaming + Clubs, in the account of the trial of Lord de Ros. See 'Graham's Club.' + </p> + <p> + There are several ways of performing this sleight-of-hand. The cards being + cut, and forming two lots on the table, smartly snatch up the lot which + should be placed on the other, with the left hand. + </p> + <p> + This lot being taken up and the hand being in the position shown in the + figure, snatch up in like manner the other lot, and, by a movement of the + palm of the hand and the tips of the fingers, pass the second lot under + the first. + </p> + <p> + The deception of the trick depends upon its dexterity, and this can only + be acquired by practice. But really it may be dispensed with; for it is a + curious fact that, in every case when the cards are cut, you may actually + replace them just as they were without being observed by the spectators—for + the simple reason that the ruse is not suspected, especially if their + attention is otherwise engaged with your pointed observations. + </p> + <p> + The 'gift of the gab' is in this case, as in many others, a very great + resource. A striking remark or bon mot will easily mystify the spectators, + and attract their attention from what you are DOING. Hence all + prestidigitators are always well stocked with anecdotes and funny + observations; indeed, they talk incessantly: they speak well, too, and + they take care to time the word accurately with the moment when their + fingers act most energetically. + </p> + <p> + III. To slip a card.—To slip a card is to pretend to take the bottom + card of the pack, and in reality to take the card which precedes it. To + perform this feat without detection is a very simple affair, but it + requires practice. + </p> + <p> + The pack of cards being held in the right hand, advance the left hand—palm + upwards—just as if you were seizing the last card with the middle + finger; but, having slightly moistened this finger with the lips, push + back this card, and make it slip under the palm of the right hand, whilst + you seize the preceding card with the thumb and forefinger. + </p> + <p> + In this manner you may successively draw out several cards besides the + last, and only draw the last as the sixth, seventh, &c., which will + serve to effect several interesting tricks to be explained in the sequel. + </p> + <p> + IV. To file the card.—To file the card is, when a card has been + taken from the pack to pretend to place it about the middle of the pack, + whilst, in reality, you place it at the bottom. + </p> + <p> + The pack must be held in the left hand, between the thumb and forefinger, + so that the three other fingers be free. One of the middle cards should + project a little. Then take the card to be filed between the forefinger + and the middle finger of the right hand; advance the right hand from the + left, and whilst the three disengaged fingers of the left hand seize and + place the card under the pack, the thumb and forefinger of the right seize + the projecting card before mentioned, so that it seems to be that card + which you have slipped into the middle of the pack. These movements are + very easy, and, when rapidly performed, the illusion is complete. + </p> + <p> + TRICKS. + </p> + <p> + 1. To tell a card thought of by a party after three deals. + </p> + <p> + Take twenty-one cards of a pack, and deal them out one by one in three + lots, requesting the party to think of a card, and remember in which lot + it is. + </p> + <p> + Having dealt out the cards, ask the party in which lot the card is. + </p> + <p> + Take up the lots successively, and place the lot containing the card in + the MIDDLE. + </p> + <p> + Deal out the cards again, and ask the party to state in which lot the card + is; and proceed as before, placing the lot containing the card in the + middle. + </p> + <p> + Deal out the cards in like manner a third time, proceeding as before. + </p> + <p> + Then deal them out as usual, and the eleventh card will be the one thought + of, infallibly. This is the usual way of showing the card thought of; but, + as the trick may be partly discovered by the counting, it is better to + hold the cards in your hand, and take out the eleventh card, counting to + yourself, of course, from the left hand, but pretending to be considering + the guess. + </p> + <p> + This is apparently a most mysterious trick, although a necessary + consequence of the position of the lot containing the card in the three + deals. + </p> + <p> + 2. The four inseparable kings. + </p> + <p> + Take four kings. Beneath the last place any two cards, which you take care + to conceal. Then show the four kings and replace the six cards under the + pack. + </p> + <p> + Then take a king and place it in the top of the pack, place one of the TWO + OTHER CARDS in the middle, and the other about the same place, and then, + turning up the pack, show that one king is still at the bottom. Then let + the cards be cut, and as three kings were left below, all must necessarily + get together somewhere about the middle of the pack. Of course in placing + the two other cards you pretend to be placing two kings. + </p> + <p> + 3. The barmaid and the three victimizers. + </p> + <p> + For this amusing trick you arrange the cards thus: Holding the pack in + your hands, find all the knaves, place one of them next to your left hand, + and the other three on the table. Then find a queen, which also place on + the table. Then say:— + </p> + <p> + 'Three scamps went into a tavern, and ordered drink. Here they are—the + three knaves. "Who's to pay? I can't," said the first. + </p> + <p> + "I won't," said the second. "I wish she may get it," said the third. "I'll + manage it," said the first, the greatest rogue of the three. "I say, my + pretty girl, haven't you some very old wine in your cellar?" Here's the + barmaid thus addressed by the rogue in question (showing the queen), and + she replied:—"Oh yes, sir, prime old wine." "Let's have a bottle." + (Off went the barmaid. Put the queen in your pocket.) "Now for it, my + lads," said the knave in question; "'mizzle' is the word. Let's be off in + opposite directions, and meet to-night; you know where." Hereupon they + decamped, taking opposite directions, which I will indicate by placing one + on the top of the pack, one at the bottom, and the other in the middle. + </p> + <p> + 'When the poor barmaid returned (taking out the queen from your pocket) + with the wine, great was her astonishment to find the room empty. "Lor!" + she exclaimed, "why, I do declare—did you ever!—Oh! but I'm + not agoing to be sarved so. I'll catch the rogues, all of them—that + I will." And off she went after them, as shown by placing her ON, or at + any rate, AFTER the first. + </p> + <p> + 'Now, to catch the three seemed impossible; but the ladies have always + smiled at impossibilities, and wonders never cease; for, if you have the + goodness to cut these cards, you will find that she HAS caught the three + rogues.' + </p> + <p> + When the cards are cut, proceed in the USUAL WAY after cutting—NOT + as required in the last trick; and taking up the cards, you will find the + queen and three knaves together, which you take out and exhibit to the + astonished audience. + </p> + <p> + Of course, one of these knaves is not one of the three first exhibited, + but the one which you slipped on your left hand at first. There is no + chance of detection, however; simply for the reason before given—nobody + suspects the trick. + </p> + <p> + 4. How to name every card in a pack successively turned up by a second + party, and win every trick at a hand of Whist. + </p> + <p> + This is, perhaps, the most astonishing of all tricks with cards. Although + it may be true that whatever puzzle one man invents, some other man may + unravel, as before observed, I am decidedly of opinion that this trick + defies detection. At the first blush it seems very difficult to learn; but + it is simplicity itself in explanation. + </p> + <p> + Begin by laying out the cards in four rows according to the suits, all of + a suit in a row side by side. + </p> + <p> + The cards must now be arranged for the trick. Take up the six in the top + or bottom row, then the two in the next row, the ten in the third, and the + nine in the fourth, placing them one upon the other in the left hand. Then + begin again with the row from which you took the six, and take up the + three. From the next row take the king. These numbers will be easily + remembered with a little practice, amounting altogether to 30, made up + thus—6 and 2 are 8, 8 and 10 are 18, 18 and 9 are 27, 27 and 3 are + 30—KING. + </p> + <p> + By repeating this addition a few times, it will be fixed in the memory. + </p> + <p> + Proceed by next beginning with the row next to the one from which you took + the last card or the king, and take the eight; from the next row take the + four; from the next the ace; from the next the knave. These cards make up + 13. Therefore say, 8 and 4 are 12 and 1 are 13—knave. + </p> + <p> + From the next row to that whence you took the knave, take the seven; from + the next row take the five; from the next the queen. These cards make up + 12. Thus, 7 and 5 are 12—queen. + </p> + <p> + It thus appears that you have taken up thirteen cards consisting of the + four suits, successively taken and being arranged as follows:—6, 2, + 10, 9, 3, king; 8, 4, 1, knave; 7, 5, queen. + </p> + <p> + Proceed in like manner with the remainder of the cards, beginning with the + row next to that from which you took the queen, and take the six, then + from the next row the two, and so on as before, making up another batch of + 13 cards. + </p> + <p> + Repeat the process for a third batch, and finish with the remainder for + the fourth—always remembering to take the card from the next row in + succession continually; in other words, only one card must be taken from + each row at a time. + </p> + <p> + When the cards are thus arranged, request a party to cut them. This is + only pretence; for you must take care dexterously to replace the cut just + as it was before. Let them be cut again, and replace them as before. Your + ruse will not be detected, simply because nobody suspects the possibility + of the thing. + </p> + <p> + Now take up the pack, and from the BOTTOM take the first four cards; + handing the remainder to a party, sitting before you, saying—'I + shall now call every card in succession from the top of the pack in your + hand.' + </p> + <p> + To do this, two things must be remembered; and there is no difficulty in + it. First, the numbers 6, 2, 10, 9, 3, king, &c., before given; and + next the SUIT of those cards. + </p> + <p> + Now you know the NUMBERS by heart, and the SUIT is shown by the four cards + which you hold in your hand, fan-like, in the usual way. If the first of + the four cards be a club, the first card you call will be the six of + clubs; if the next be a heart, the next card called will be the two of + hearts, and so on throughout the thirteen made up from every row, as + before given, and the suits of each card will be indicated successively by + the suit of each of your four indicator cards, thus, as the case may be, + clubs, hearts, diamonds, spades; clubs, hearts, diamonds, spades, and so + on. + </p> + <p> + After a little private practice, you will readily and rapidly call, as the + case may be, from the four cards in your hand:—the six of clubs, two + of hearts, ten of diamonds, nine of spades, three of clubs, king of + hearts, eight of diamonds, four of spades, ace of clubs, knave of hearts, + seven of diamonds, five of spades, queen of clubs—and so on to the + last card in the pack. + </p> + <p> + In the midst of the astonishment produced by this seemingly prodigious + display of memory, say—'Now, if you like, we will have a hand at + Whist, and I undertake to win every trick if I be allowed to deal.' + </p> + <p> + Let the Whist party be formed, and get the cards cut as usual—only + taking care to REPLACE them, as before enjoined, precisely as they were. + Deal the cards, and the result will be that your thirteen cards will be + ALL TRUMPS. Let the game proceed until your opponents 'give it up' in + utter bewilderment. + </p> + <p> + This splendid trick seems difficult in description, but it is one of the + easiest; and even were it ten times more difficult than it is, the reader + will perhaps admit that it is worth mastering. Once committed to memory + the figures are never forgotten, and a few repetitions, with the cards + before you, will suffice to enable you to retain them. + </p> + <p> + 5. Two persons having each drawn a card and replaced them in the pack, to + guess these cards. + </p> + <p> + Make a set of all the clubs and spades, and another set of hearts and + diamonds. Shuffle well each set, and even let them be shuffled by the + spectators. Then request a person to draw a card from one of the sets, and + another person to draw one from the second set. + </p> + <p> + You now take a set in each hand, presenting them to the two persons, + requesting them to replace the drawn cards. You must pretend to present to + each person the set from which he drew his card, but in reality you + present the red set to the person who drew the black card, and the black + set to the person who drew the red card. + </p> + <p> + Each person having replaced his card, you get each set shuffled. Then you + take them in hand, and by running them over you easily find the red card + amongst the black, and the black card amongst the red. + </p> + <p> + Of course you will have prepared the sets beforehand, and take care to + alter the arrangement as soon as possible after the trick. But you can + prepare the pack in the presence of others without their detecting it. + Distribute the cards by dealing according to the two colours; take them + up, and having placed the red set a little projecting over the black, set + them down, and, pretending to cut them, separate the sets. + </p> + <p> + 6. Twenty cards being arranged upon a table, a person thinks of two, and + you undertake to guess them. + </p> + <p> + Lay out twenty cards of any kind, two by two, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + | c | i | c | o | s | + | d | e | d | i | t | + | t | u | m | u | s | + | n | e | m | o | n | +</pre> + <p> + and request a party to think of two in a line; that is, one of the ten + sets formed by the twenty cards. This done you take up the sets in the + order in which they lie, and place them in rows according to the letters + of the words. You may use a diagram like the preceding, but as the words + are easily retained it had better be dispensed with, distributing the + cards on the table just as though upon the diagram, which will make the + trick more puzzling and extraordinary. Proceed as follows:—Place the + cards two by two on similar letters: thus, place the two cards of the + first set on the two d's in dedit; the two cards of the second set on the + two i's of cicos and dedit; the two of the third set on the two c's, and + so on with the ten sets. + </p> + <p> + All the letters of the words being thus covered, ask the party who has + thought of the cards to tell you in which lines these cards are. If both + are in the first line (cicos), they must be those on the two c's; if they + are both in the second line, they cover the d's in dedit; both in the + third line, they cover the u's in tumus; both in the fourth, they cover + the n's in nemon. + </p> + <p> + If one be in the first line and the other in the second, they cover the + i's in cicos and dedit, and thus of the rest—the two cards thought + of NECESSARILY covering two SIMILAR LETTERS, whilst each of the letters + occurs only TWICE in the diagram. + </p> + <p> + 7. To tell a card thought of without even looking at the cards. + </p> + <p> + Take any number of cards,—say twenty. Pretend to shuffle them with + the faces towards you, and REMEMBER THE FIRST CARD as you close the pack—suppose + the ten of diamonds. Tell the party that the only condition you require is + to be told the ORDER in which the card is dealt out by you; in other + words, he must tell you whether in dealing it comes out first, second, + third, &c. + </p> + <p> + Remembering your first card, you may then turn your back to him, and deal + out the cards one by one, and one upon the top of the other, requesting + him to think of a card and its order as before said. + </p> + <p> + Then take up the cards, and shuffle them repeatedly, by throwing a portion + of them from the bottom to the top, taking care not to mix the cards or + let any drop, and then let the party cut them as often as he pleases. + Then, take the cards in hand. Pretend to examine them mysteriously, but in + reality only look for YOUR card—the first dealt out—the ten of + diamonds for instance. Now, suppose he tells you that the card he thought + of came out FIFTH. Then, for a certainty, it is the fourth card on the + RIGHT of the ten of diamonds, in spite of all YOUR shuffling, and all + regular cutting, for such shuffling and regular cutting cannot alter the + order or sequence of the cards. Always remember to count from your own + card inclusive to the number of the card thought of towards your right + hand. But should your card happen to be so near the right hand or the top + as not to allow sufficient counting, then count as far as it admits to the + RIGHT and then continue at the LEFT. Thus, suppose there are only two + cards above the ten of diamonds, then count two more on the left, making + the fifth. If the card you remember, or your first card, is first, then + count the requisite number on the left, always beginning with YOUR card, + however. + </p> + <p> + The REASON of this trick is simply that by merely cutting the cards, and + shuffling them in the way indicated, you do not alter the SEQUENCE of the + cards. With regard to this sort of SHUFFLING, I may say that it is simply + CUTTING the cards—always preserving their sequence—a most + important fact for card-players, since it may lead to a pretty accurate + conjecture of all the hands after a deal, from the study of the one in + hand, with reference to the tricks turned down after the previous deal, as + already suggested. Hence, in shuffling for whist or other games, the cards + should not be shuffled in this way, but more thoroughly mixed by the + edgewise shuffling of certain players. + </p> + <p> + This is the trick I alluded to at the commencement of the chapter, the + mode of performing which I succeeded in discovering. + </p> + <p> + Of course ANY NUMBER of persons may think of cards, remembering their + order, and the operator will tell them, in like manner. + </p> + <p> + 8. A person having thought of one of fifteen cards presented to him, to + guess the card thought of. + </p> + <p> + Form three ranks of five cards each, and request a party to think of one + of these cards, and tell you in which rank it is. Take up the cards of the + three ranks, taking care to place the cards of the ranks in which is the + card thought of between those of the two other ranks. + </p> + <p> + Make three more ranks as before. Ask the party again in which rank the + card is, and take them up, placing the rank in which the card is between + the two others. Operate in like manner a third time, and the card thought + of will infallibly be the THIRD of the rank named by the party. + </p> + <p> + Observe, however, you must not form each rank with five consecutive cards; + but you must place the cards one by one, placing one successively in each + rank; thus, one at the top on the left of the first rank, one below that + first for the second rank, one below the second for the third rank, then + one in the first, one in the second, one in the third, and so on. + </p> + <p> + This trick, which is very easy, always produces a great effect. It only + requires a little attention, and it can never fail unless you make a + mistake in arranging the cards, which, however, is too simple to admit of + error. + </p> + <p> + 9. Two persons having each drawn a card from a pack, and having replaced + them, to tell these cards after the pack has been shuffled and cut by the + spectators as often as they like. + </p> + <p> + The cards may be easily divided into two numerical parts, even and odd: by + taking a king for four points, a queen for three, a knave for two, and the + other cards for their especial points, we may make up two sets of sixteen + cards each, the even composing one, and the odd the other. These two sets + being before the performer, he takes one, shuffles it well, and lets a + party take a card. He then takes the other, shuffles it, and lets another + party take a card. Then, whilst each party is looking at his card, which + HE IS REQUESTED TO DO, the performer dexterously changes the place of the + two sets, and he requests the parties to replace the cards in the set + whence they took them. It follows that the party who took a card from the + EVEN set places it in the ODD set, and he who took it from the ODD set + places it in the even set. Consequently, all the shuffling and cutting in + the world will be useless, for the performer has only to spread out the + cards of each set to point out the cards drawn. + </p> + <p> + 10. Singular arrangement of sixteen cards. + </p> + <p> + Take the four kings, the four queens, the four knaves, and the four tens + of a pack, and ask if there be any one in the company who can form a + square with them in such a manner that, taken in any direction, from right + to left, from the top to the bottom, by the diagonal—anyhow, in fact—there + will always be in each line a king, queen, knave, and a ten. Everybody + will think the thing easy, but it is certain that no one will succeed in + doing it. When they 'give it up,' take the sixteen cards and arrange them + as shown, when the king, queen, knave, and ten will stand as required. + </p> + <p> + 11. The seven trick. + </p> + <p> + Make up the four sevens of a pack, and take seven other cards, no matter + which, for another lot, and, presenting both lots, you say:—Here are + two lots totally dissimilar; nevertheless, there is one of seven, and I + declare it will be the first touched by any party present. Of course, when + touched, you at once prove your words by exhibiting either the sevens or + the seven cards—taking care to mix the cards into the pack + immediately to prevent detection. + </p> + <p> + 12. Infallible method for guessing any number that a party has thought of. + </p> + <p> + Take the first ten cards of a pack of 52 cards. Set out these ten cards as + shown below, so that the point A should correspond to the ace, and to 1—the + point F to the card representing the 6—and E to the 10. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 2 3 4 + B C D + 1 A————E 5 + 10 K————F 6 + I H G + 9 8 7 +</pre> + <p> + Thus prepared, you request a party to think of a card, and then you tell + him to touch any number he pleases, requesting him to name it aloud. Then, + adding the whole number of the cards to the number touched, you tell him + to count backwards to himself, beginning with the card touched, and giving + to that card the number of the one thought of. By counting in this way, + the party will at length count the entire number on the card thought of, + which you will thus be able to designate with certainty. + </p> + <p> + Example:—Suppose the card thought of is G, marking 7; again, + supposing the one touched to be D, equal to 4; you add to this number the + entire number of cards, which is, in this case, 10, which will make 14. + Then, making the party count this sum, from the number touched, D to C, B, + A, and so on, backwards, so that in commencing to count the number thought + of, 7 on D, the party will continue, saying, 8 on C, 9 on B, 10 on A, 11 + on K, 12 on I, 13 on H, and end with counting 14 on G; and you will thus + discover that the number thought of is 7, which corresponds to G. + </p> + <p> + Of course the party counts TO himself, and only speaks to designate the + point on which he stops, namely, G in this example. + </p> + <p> + This trick may be performed with any number of cards—as few as six, + or as many as fifteen. Then you must always add to the number the total of + the cards used. The trick will be much more interesting and striking if + you turn the cards face downwards, only trusting to your memory to retain + the order of the numbers. + </p> + <p> + Of course, the letters are only used to facilitate the explanation. The + cards really form a sort of circle, beginning at 1 or the ace on the left, + and then continuing with the 2, the 3, the 4, the 5, and so on, to the 10 + below the ace; and, by necessity, the party must end his counting with the + very card he thought of, beginning from the one he happens to point out. + </p> + <p> + 13. The card that cannot be found. + </p> + <p> + Take any number of cards and spread them out fan-like in your hand, faces + fronting the spectators. + </p> + <p> + Ask one of them to select a card. You tell him to take it, and then to + place it at the bottom of the pack. You hold up the pack, so that the + spectators may see that the card is really at the bottom. Suppose this + card is the king of hearts. + </p> + <p> + Then, pretending to take that card, you take the card preceding it, and + place it at a point corresponding to A in the following figure. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + A C + B D +</pre> + <p> + You then take the card drawn, namely, the king of hearts, and place it at + the point corresponding to B in the above figure. Finally, you take any + two other cards, and place them at C and D. + </p> + <p> + Of course, the cards are placed face downwards. + </p> + <p> + After this location of the cards, you tell the party who has chosen the + card that you will change the position of the cards, by pushing + alternately that at the point A to B, and that at D to C, and vice versa; + and you defy him to follow you in these gyrations of the card, and to find + it. + </p> + <p> + Of course, seeing no difficulty in the thing, and believing with everybody + that his card is placed at the point A, he will undertake to follow and + find his card. Then performing what you undertake to do, you rapidly + change the places of the cards, and yet slowly enough to enable the party + to keep in view the card which he thinks his own, and so that you may not + lose sight of the one you placed at B. + </p> + <p> + Having thus arranged the cards for a few moments, you ask the party to + perform his promise by pointing out his card. Feeling sure that he never + lost sight of it, he instantly turns one of the cards and is astonished to + find that it is not his own. Then you say:—'I told you you would not + be able to follow your card in its ramble. But I have done what you + couldn't do: here is your card!' + </p> + <p> + The astonishment of the spectators is increased when you actually show the + card; for, having made them observe in the first instance, that you did + not even look at the drawn card, they are utterly at a loss to discover + the means you employed to find out and produce the card in question. + </p> + <p> + 14. Cards being drawn from a pack, to get them guessed by a person + blindfolded. + </p> + <p> + At all these performances there are always amongst the spectators persons + in league with the prestidigitator. In the present case a woman is the + assistant, with whom he has entered into an arrangement by which each card + is represented by a letter of the alphabet; and the following are the + cards selected for the trick with their representative letters. + </p> + <p> + The performer takes a handkerchief and blindfolds the lady in question, + and places her in the centre of the circle of spectators. Then spreading + out the cards, he requests each of the spectators to draw a card. + </p> + <p> + He requests the first to give him the card he has drawn; he looks at it, + and placing it on the table face downwards, he asks the lady to name the + card, which she does instantly and without hesitation. + </p> + <p> + Of course this appears wonderful to the spectators, and their astonishment + goes on increasing whilst the lady names every card in succession to the + last. + </p> + <p> + It is, however, a very simple affair. Each card represents a letter of the + alphabet, as we see by the figure, and all the performer has to do is to + begin every question with the letter corresponding to the card. + </p> + <p> + Suppose the party has drawn the king of hearts. Its letter is A. + </p> + <p> + The performer exclaims—'Ah! I'm sure you know this!' The A at once + suggests the card in question. Suppose it is the ace of clubs. He says—'Jump + at conclusions if you like, but be sure in hitting this card on the nail.' + J begins the phrase, and represents the card in question. Suppose it is + the ten of spades, he cries out—'Zounds! if you mistake this you are + not so clever a medium as I took you for.' The ace of diamonds—'Quite + easy, my dear sir,' or 'my dear ma'am,' as the case may be. Q represents + the ace of diamonds. The queen of diamonds—'Oh, the beauty!' The ace + of hearts—'Dear me! what is this?' The ace of spades—'You are + always right, name it.' The nine of diamonds—'So! so! well, I'm sure + she knows it.' + </p> + <p> + Doubtless these specimens will suffice to suggest phrases for every other + card. Such phrases may be written out and got by heart—only + twenty-three being required; but this seems useless, for it does not + require much tact at improvisation to hit upon a phrase commencing with + any letter. However, it will be better to take every precaution rather + than run the risk of stopping in the performance, whose success mainly + depends upon the apparently inspired rapidity of the answers. The + performer might conceal in the hollow of his hand a small table exactly + like the figure, to facilitate his questions. As for the medium, he, or + she, must rely entirely on memory. Of course the spectators may be allowed + to see that the medium is completely blindfolded. This modern trick has + always puzzled the keenest spectators + </p> + <p> + 15. The mystery of double sight. + </p> + <p> + All the cards of a pack, or indeed any common object touched by a + spectator, may be named by an assistant in the following way—whilst + in another apartment, or blindfolded. + </p> + <p> + Take 32 cards and arrange them in four lines, one under the other. You + arrange with your assistant to name the first line after the days of the + week; the second will represent the weeks, the third the months, the + fourth the years. The assistant is enjoined to count the days aloud, and + the first card by the left. + </p> + <p> + The following is the entire scheme:— + </p> + <p> + Days 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8* Weeks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Months 1 2 3** 4 5 6 7 8 Years + 1 2 3 4 5 6 7*** 8 + </p> + <p> + The cards being thus arranged, the party who has to guess them retires + from the room. When he is recalled, whether blindfolded or not, he + pretends to count to himself for a considerable time, so as to allow his + associate time to say to him, without affectation or exciting suspicion of + collusion—'I give you,' or 'I give him SO MUCH TIME to guess what is + required; 'for it is in this phrase that the whole secret of the trick is + contained, as I shall proceed to demonstrate. + </p> + <p> + Suppose the card touched be one of those marked with the asterisks * ** + ***; if it be the first, the associate says,; I give him eight days to + guess it.' Then the medium, beginning with the upper line, that of the + days, will at once be able to say that the card touched is the eighth of + the first horizontal line, or the first of the eighth vertical line. + </p> + <p> + If it be the card holding the place of the number marked with two + asterisks ** the associate says 'three months,' and 'seven years' for the + one marked with three asterisks ***. + </p> + <p> + Thus, whatever card is touched, it will be easy to indicate it, by + beginning with the line of days at the top, counting one from the left of + the associate and medium. + </p> + <p> + Such is the simple process; and the following is the conventional + catechism adopted by all theoperators in double sight, with a few + variations adapted to circumstances. + </p> + <p> + With this collection of words and phrases, every existing object can be + guessed, provided care be taken to classify them according to the + following indications. + </p> + <p> + To operate, two persons must establish a perfect understanding between + them. One undertakes the questions, the other the answers, the latter + having his eyes perfectly blindfolded. Both of them must thoroughly know + the following numbers with their correspondences:— + </p> + <p> + 1. Now. 9. Quick. 2. Answer or reply. 10. Say. 3. Name. 20. Tell me. 4. + What is the object, or thing. 30. I request you. 5. Try. 40. Will you. 6. + Again. 50. Will you (to) me. 7. Instantly. 60. Will you (to) us. 8. Which? + </p> + <p> + Example:—Add the question of the simple number to the question of + the decade or ten. Thus, in pronouncing the words 'Say now,' 11—for + say is 10, and now is 1, total 11. This, therefore, forms question 11. + </p> + <p> + Again—'Tell me which number,' 28—for 'tell me' is 20, and + 'which' is 8, total 28. + </p> + <p> + Thirdly:—'I request you instantly,' 37; for 'I request you' is 30, + and 'instantly' is 7, total 37. + </p> + <p> + All the expressions or words that follow are totally independent of the + answer, and are only adapted to embellish or mystify the question as far + as the audience is concerned. For instance: + </p> + <p> + Question 7. Instantly, what I have in my hand? Answer, A watch. + </p> + <p> + Question 9. Quick, the hour? Answer, nine o'clock. + </p> + <p> + Question 30, I request you (2) reply—the minutes. Answer, 32 + minutes, that is 30 and 2, equal to 32. + </p> + <p> + It would be useless to give the entire correspondence invented for this + apparently mysterious revelation, as a few specimens will suffice to show + the principle. + </p> + <p> + Say what I hold? A handkerchief. Say now what I hold? A snuff-box. Say, + reply, what I hold? A pair of spectacles. Say and name what I hold? A box. + Say and try to say what I hold? A hat. Say quickly what I hold? An + umbrella. + </p> + <p> + Tell me, reply, what I hold? A knife. Tell me what I hold? A purse. Tell + me now what I hold? A pipe. Tell me and try to say what I hold? A needle. + Tell me quickly what I hold? A cane. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + +Say what I hold? A handkerchief. +Say now what I hold? A snuff-box. +Say, reply, what I hold? A pair of spectacles. +Say and name what I hold? A box. +Say and try to say what I hold? A hat. +Say quickly what I hold? An umbrella. + +Tell me, reply, what I hold? A knife. +Tell me what I hold? A purse. +Tell me now what I hold? A pipe. +Tell me and try to say what I hold? A needle. +Tell me quickly what I hold? A cane. + +I request you to say what I hold? A portfolio. +I request you to say now what I hold? Paper. +I request you to say, reply, what I hold? A book. +I request you to say quickly what I hold? A coin. + +Will you say, reply, what I hold?--A cigar. +Will you say, name what I hold?--A cane. +Will you say, again, what I hold?--A newspaper. + +Now, what I hold?--A bottle. +Reply, what I hold?--A jug. +Name what I hold?--A glass. +Again, what contains this vessel?--Wine. +Instantly, what this vessel contains?--Beer. +Now the form?--Triangular. +Reply, the form?--Round. +Name the form?--Square. +The form?--Oval. +Try to indicate the form?--Pointed. +Again, indicate the form?--Flat. + +Now, the colour?--White. +Reply, the colour?--Blue. +Name the colour?--Red. +The colour of this object?--Black. +Try to tell the colour?--Green. +Again, the colour?--Yellow. + +Now, the metal?--Gold. +Reply, the metal?--Silver. +The metal of the thing?--Copper. +Again, the metal?--Iron. +Instantly, the metal?--Lead. + +Ah! the figure or hour?--1. +Well?--2. 'Tis good?--3. +'Tis well?--4. +Good?--5. +But?--6. +Let's see?--7. +That's it?--8. +&c. + +Now name the suit of this card?--Clubs. +Reply, the suit of this card?--Hearts. +Name the suit of this card?--Spades. +The suit of this card?--Diamonds. + + +</pre> + <p> + It is obvious, from the preceding specimen, that a conventional catechism + involving every object can be contrived by two persons, and adapted to + every circumstance. The striking performances of the most notorious + mesmeric 'patients' in this line prove the possibility of the achievement. + The 'agent' who receives the questions in writing or in a whisper thus + communicates the answer to the patient, who is laboriously trained in the + entire encyclopaedia of 'common things' and things generally known; but it + MAY happen that the question proposed by the spectator has been omitted in + the scheme. + </p> + <p> + On one occasion, when the famous Prudence was the 'patient,' and was + telling the taste of all manner of liquids from a glass of water, I + proposed 'Blood' to the 'agent.' He shook his head, said he would try; but + it was useless. She said she 'couldn't do it,' and the agent frankly + admitted that it was a failure. + </p> + <p> + Now, if the mesmeric consciousness were really, as pretended, the result + of mental intercommunication between the agent and patient, it is obvious + that the well-known taste of blood could be communicated as well as any + other taste. This experiment suffices to prove that the revelations are + communicated in the matter-of-fact way which I have sufficiently + described. + </p> + <p> + Should it happen that a spectator has discovered the method, the + performers easily turn the tables against him. They have always ready a + conventional list of common things; and the agent undertakes that his + mesmeric patient will indicate them without hearing a word from him, even + in another apartment. The agent then merely touches the object, and the + patient begins with the first name in his list. The patient takes care to + give the agent sufficient time, lest he should name the object next to be + touched before the agent applies his finger, and thus, as it were, call + for it rather than name it when touched, as required by the case. + </p> + <p> + 1. Guessing. + </p> + <p> + Five persons having each thought of a different card, to guess five cards. + </p> + <p> + Take twenty-five cards, show five of them to a party, requesting him to + think of one, then place them one upon the other. Proceed in like manner + with five more to a second party, and so on, five parties in all, placing + the fives on the top of each other. Then, beginning with the top cards, + make five lots, placing one card successively in each lot; and ask the + five parties, one after the other, in which lot their card is. As the + first five cards are the first of each lot, it is evident that the card + thought of by the first party is the first of the lot he points to; that + of the second, is the second of the lot he points to; that of the third, + the third of the third lot; that of the fourth, the fourth of the fourth + lot; that of the fifth, the fifth of the fifth lot. + </p> + <p> + Of course five persons are not necessary. If there be but one person, the + card must be the first of the lot he points to. + </p> + <p> + It would be more artistic, perhaps, if you dispense with seeing the cards, + making the lots up with your eyes turned away from the table. Then request + the parties to observe in which lot their respective card is, and, taking + the lots successively in hand, present to each the card thought of without + looking at it yourself. + </p> + <p> + 17. The Arithmetical Puzzle. + </p> + <p> + This card trick, to which I have alluded in a previous page, cannot fail + to produce astonishment; and it is one of the most difficult to unravel. + </p> + <p> + Hand a pack of cards to a party, requesting him to make up parcels of + cards, in the following manner. He is to count the number of pips on the + first card that turns up, say a five, and then add as many cards as are + required to make up the number 12; in the case here supposed, having a + five before him, he will place seven cards upon it, turning down the + parcel. All the court cards count as 10 pips; consequently, only two cards + will be placed on such to make up 12. The ace counts as only one pip. + </p> + <p> + He will then turn up another, count the pips upon it, adding cards as + before to make up the number 12; and so on, until no more such parcels can + be made, the remainder, if any, to be set aside, all being turned down. + </p> + <p> + During this operation, the performer of the trick may be out of the room, + at any rate, at such a distance that it will be impossible for him to see + the first cards of the parcels which have been turned down; and yet he is + able to announce the number of pips made up by all the first cards laid + down, provided he is only informed of the number of parcels made up and + the number of the remainder, if any. + </p> + <p> + The secret is very simple. It consists merely in multiplying the number of + parcels over four by 13 (or rather vice versa), and adding the remaining + cards, if any, to the product. + </p> + <p> + Thus, there have just been made up seven packets, with five cards over. + Deducting 4 from 7, 3 remain; and I say to myself 13 times 3 (or rather 3 + times 13) are 39, and adding to this the five cards over, I at once + declare the number of pips made up by the first cards turned down to be + 44. + </p> + <p> + There is another way of performing this striking trick. Direct six parcels + of cards to be made up in the manner aforesaid, and then, on being + informed of the number of cards remaining over, add that number to 26, and + the sum will be the number of pips made up by the first cards of the six + parcels. + </p> + <p> + Such are the methods prescribed for performing this trick; but I have + discovered another, which although, perhaps, a little more complicated, + has the desirable advantage of explaining the seeming mystery. + </p> + <p> + Find the number of cards in the parcels, by subtracting the remainder, if + any, from 52. Subtract the number of pip cards therefrom, deduct this last + from the number made up of the number of parcels multiplied by 12, and the + remainder will be the number of pips on the first cards. + </p> + <p> + To demonstrate this take the case just given. There are seven parcels and + five cards over. First, this proves that there are 47 cards in the seven + parcels made up of pips and cards. Secondly, subtract the number of pip + cards—seven from the number of cards in the parcels; then, 7 from + 47, 40 remain (cards). Thirdly, now, as the seven parcels are made up both + of the pip cards and cards, it is evident that we have only to find the + number of cards got at as above, to get the number of pips required. Thus, + there being seven packets, 7 times 12 make 84; take 40, as above found + (the number of cards), and the remainder is 44, the number of pips as + found by the first method explained,—the process being as follows:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 52 - 5 = 47 - 7 = 40. + + Then, 7 X 12 = 84 - 40 = 44. +</pre> + <p> + In general, however, the first method, being the easiest of performance, + should be adopted. The second is in many respects very objectionable. + </p> + <p> + 18. To get a card into a pack firmly held by a party. + </p> + <p> + This trick strikingly shows how easily we may all be deceived by + appearances. + </p> + <p> + Select the five or seven of any suit, say the seven of hearts, and handing + the remainder of the pack to a party, show him the card, with your thumb + on the seventh pip, so as to conceal it, saying:—'Now, hold the pack + as firmly as you can, and keep your eye upon it to see that there is no + trickery, and yet I undertake to get into it this six of hearts.' This + injunction rivets his attention, and doubtless, like other wise people + destined to be deceived, he feels quite sure that nobody can 'take him + in.' In this satisfactory condition for the operation on both sides, you + flourish the card so as just to reach the level of the top of your hat (if + you wear an Alpine scolloped, so much the better), and then, bringing down + the card, rapidly strike it on the pack twice, uttering the words one, + two, at each stroke; but, on the third raising of the card, leave it on + the top of your hat, striking the pack with your hand—with the word + three. Then request the party to look for the six of hearts in the pack, + and he will surely find it, to his amazement. + </p> + <p> + This trick may be performed in a drawing-room, if the operator be seated, + dropping the card behind his back, especially in an easy-chair. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and +Victims, by Andrew Steinmetz + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GAMING TABLE *** + +***** This file should be named 531-h.htm or 531-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/531/ + +Produced by Mike Lough, and David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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