| Show FAMOUS EANOUS GAMBLING GAMBLING HOUSH Shakespeare Club Was Patronized by b I I IMen Men Hen of Reputation George Selwyn in Cincinnati Enquirer The Shakespeare Club at 11 n Wes We V it street during the war was WiS ws one of the most famous as well as a de di delightful delightful t gambling clubs In the north It was managed by Charles Ransom A t good breakfast was wag served at 11 in th ti the 10 morning followed by a n magnificent sup sui supper per peI at 11 II p m rn Both were open to 10 o a fl comers corners who were supposed to t cherish S h han an Implied willingness to take a shy at it i t I the baccarat board or the red and buck blat it K of at the roulette table or linger Unger it I the fascinations of faro Into Here Hertl I have ha e i seen the attorney general of California In a lose at a single sitting Here some sometimes I times strayed Samuel W Y V Melton who w o was John C first assistant a it secretary of war in the confederacy and Im as id I afterward a reconstructed attorney y gen pai general 5 eral oral of South Carolina Mellon Melton was a atall atall tall finely nely built southern gentleman He was as amiable as Charles Lamb just justas as kindly and was always a visitor vl at every Republican national convention conYe Here Charlie Walsh Wal h a successful Wall Wallstreet street broker his hie face race scarred with the Ute smallpox an old friend of Bow Boss Tweed and one of or the most companionable and aDd delightful men who ever ever coppered the theace theace theace ace or played the deuce to win wino was wa wasa w I Ia a constant visitor i visitorS S S SAt I iI At the Shakespeare Club Pierre Lor I came in to supper Champagne was consumed by the case and while white good digestion waited upon appetite badgered Mr Ransom to ta a afaro afaro faro fare combat for a stake Rap Ransom om did not hesitate an instant AH All fight old man he said 1 I will go you for tor that t amount At 13 U cloCk o midnight lie fie got behind b the table Mr give gave ve him burn his check for and Ransom In return handed him a stack of fifty Atty chips at 1000 a chip It was a beautiful night nighta and a d a crowd of handsome gentlemen witnessed the big game on this soft and lovely night The battle lasted till morn morning lug ing crept p silently e In at the front window w At rf one ri time i raJ was s sti ti ahead ah He wanted to double it it Fortune changed His last bet was on the theace theaCe theace ace It lost Shaking himself like a lion he said with a J ant smile Cleric Charlie you are too toe muck moth for forme forme forme me This Is not my m lucky night John JoJIn the th ugliest broker In New Now York was a R visitor at atthe atthe the club and eminently popular His wit Vas Was as gentle genUe as bright And neer carried away a heart beart stain stala on Its blade Hamilton handsome hand me as a picture p ure and anda M a years ago an aft actor of considerable ClOn re to renown DOwn in his vocation had bad his the th e Shakespeare club and there haute hangs u f tale tl Attorney Melton of or South S Care Caro Unit lina wan waa 6 C feet S t in his stocking feet teet and the nerviest gambler It was WS w s ever er mv air for fortune fortune tune to know In the spring of ot TO jl S h b he came up from fram his home It in the Ute south a avery avery avery very sick nick man He H was accompanied 1 by his body servant Sam a black bo boy of whom he be was very yer fond lond Ho fin was suffer sutter suffering ing big with a terrible attack of tory rheumatism He lie stopped at the tM OS OR ORsey sey soy House Home To the attorney general gen r l faro care was al always alas 1 ways as an inspiring game It rt won wae to him the most attractive amuse amusement ment mont He lie said to me mo at the ilsey I Colonel I fee feel as If I could win the stars tara from rota heaven haen hf aven tonight Come with me to the Shakespeare club and we e will see what we e a do Jo Melt Helt It arm was waa so law laio th u he b r t aee ae the or i t Or w c b Ii o U lP iP table t In m Kat tea 1 lUe tW ili hotel to tobe tie e ciu be he told toW me te bow how year y ar before he be h had won U at faro fate in Charleston too while widle one o of the Gary family won woo 10 10 esry went w home with the fruit of his bh game pae but went W back u l o the same me tare bask bank that night J and lost every del dol dolar 11 ar h he be had llad won we But if It I win tonight lie hi said 1 f will get Pt away with it In la tile tb morning marsina at the I noticed Mel XI Melton Melton ton toa taxing two stiff before and I said Colonel i feel fM feela a lack lek of confidence in a man who takes s1 two to wo stiff lUff cocktails so early in the morn lag mj He replied My dear boy there are or little running up sad and a down in my stomach and they dat MOut f stop till they get a couple of drinks In 1 MB em The TIt faithful Sara Saps followed us to the d b After Alter a mild mihl up r In hi which the general did nut nt drink a drop he le sauntered entered up to the faro taro table Ransom Ran om In n tie the chair The soda carl car was in the boss He handed banded Sam a bill and a hi to put it on the ace to win The lImit n of that night had been taken At oft end and the game was fre f that Is 1 with out Omit limit Mr lIr Melton sat down unmoved Ity b S tire the table to await the movement ot or tb the he ace It soon SOOt came out was as laid on 00 the Ui sight right bt of the table not beside the box sad n the dealer placed the l 1 iN 0 worth of chips on 00 the tile 1000 UW 1000 bill bOl Sam Sa came caine for tor ward intending to dive die for f the money mone Wt but but Melton was too quick for him say B m damn dmn It don dont t do any aD thing till un I command you TM Tb negros eyes ye lOoked Mk like saucers and he lie took a back seat In ten minutes more the ace won three u and ad there wu was fM Oti on top of the card eard Melton Molten said Id New Nea you ou e ean U pickup pick up that bet if l the has bas se RO OXe Mo objection said the dealer The attorney general started th the n next morn ing to Saratoga r 1 hope my dear friend Samuel W Mel Kel oIa lou h hJ ow HW sow In la a happy spot pot beyond b the stars because be became a good and con stent and was wan again a can en for tor Carol attorney general or of South G 4 oe ot of the brightest men at tile the Shake II club i ow wa Majo Cramp The ma roa hr for like one of Dickens Ua model was wasS of He had charge tM Ike day geese which run down town tow nom Itom 12 noon at II Dh Ann tree near Dear the old New York Herald building 9 malt maa in New York He said or of himself that be Ja In the coated ersoy eraC S and aDel took 2 W himself 1 to Richmond W ero he be n received the appointment ot nf or r and Del remained in the th commissary commissar com lan department until u til conf confederate nun nuno money b be caine Be no bad and so o that be had hafl ha to take a basket 5 to market to carry his hib hi for tor fluency with which to PAy y for tor his bis chops breakfast and aRCI had hd to carry the th chops chop l back ack bi his bIn pocketbook Then he be said he thought It time to come back to New York 1 and he f found nd W bl his old place at No 11 11 street t 1 waiting for Wm him Nb Ann street where some men pia plated who had bad wives Who 0 approve of their husbands staying out late at night till the blear eyed gambler homeward wended his nis way was a gloomy series saries of rooms 8 where the gas gaa aa was lighted all day Here could be found almost any ny day Cornelius Vanderbilt Va the old oM commodores dore son Ron m a constant and d luckless lucid gambler Richard Tweed brother of Tw Tweed d was WIUS often of found here a quiet gentleman with round shoulders who never played more snore than a gold piece and when lunch was wag over retired to Brooklyn where he be lived Hamilton the Barnstorming mg actor already dy mentioned was tine a desperate gambler of whom Major Crump tells telI an n interesting story During ts the war money was wu mane made de easily Wall Wali street wa wu only y a few w squares aquara away and thousands were thrown with abandon at the u feet teet of the coy and aDd uncertain goddess of chance Crump looking at peace with the Ja world with wi a o cent Havana between h hi his JIM n walked through the tILe not BOt spacious chambers of this faro fare bank with his hands hads complacently beneath his Tuxedo coat We were all aU waiting for tor f breakfast br I said Major win will you ten tell me the story sissy of Hamilton the tile actor when h he scared you yau so BO badly u a th story sees goes Certainly I win will saM gate the major tor for he was the politest man on oa earth and born te to run a 5 faro Zero game me It was during daring Colonel Hamiltons HamPtons va a itlen tieR He H was wax an aa old eld friend of mine min He Ue e was only dangerous when he be had put tot an enemy into his bis mouth to steal away his brains for tor he was the flower of ef courtesy and the soul of honor Colonel Hamilton handed me his nis it cheek check for tor thc th last week of ot his bis engagement It was waa for lor He Ite stood high hIP in ill his profession lon It was only o ly midday but hut the gallant actor had been tarrying where the wine was red He was soon to the good and was correspondingly happy but like many mam impulsive gamblers gambler he soon BOOn got paralysis of ot the tite Q legs and leave the table until unta be he lost every dollar He was mad I saw new the storm in the air as I stood at the window looking at the Rapid Transit an en Ann AM street Colonel Hamilton stepped ue J to me t as te Is the habit bit of some broken gamblers and said rather pompously Major I want you to cash my cheek check che k for t Near me was waa an immense ice chest In my ni most suave ve manner I replied It Is ie not nut the habit of ot faro bankers banken to play r chips against checks check The major was waa nothing if not a trifle trin consequential It hey bey said the enraged colonel as he be pulled out the revolver from the back pocket of ot his pan and began to fire at the lighted hitting every eVry round With a will wild shout the tall and agile Cornelius Vanderbilt with two jumps found the bot tow to of the stairs and aDd was waa making time equal eqI e to the stallion Patchen up Broad way Dick Tweed locked himself In an adjacent closet cloet The dealer got under the tame table t and I jumped into the Wg blE ice chest chestand aa and dosed closed the door Hamilton stood tOOl irate iia but still sUIl In a humorous mood In treat tt of the lee cheat chet and I trembled ike It l a duck cluck retrieving dog as he be comes out ot of a coM cold stream Hamilton stood like a Greek god gOlf holding up his smoking revolver still with one c barrel loaded He exclaimed Major how are you vou now on playing chips against checks In a very small voice I explained examined to Hamilton that I would lend him bbs on hill hie check if be he would put his hia revolver behind Ute the he ice chest He consented T gave him a 1111 bill The game was wan all his 1118 own after browbeating and scaring Us j all In that shameful way In half balf an hoar hour he be had bad won 1 40 paid his check and left 25 in gold for tor damages but tt It barely necessary ary to say y that the lookout on the lower floor never Rever permitted the handsome ban oe actor to enter No lit Ann street again |
