ODDITIES AND WITTICISMS OF GAMBLERS. The gaming table : its votaries and victims, in all times and countries,
especially in England and in France. Vol. 2 | ||
5. ODDITIES AND WITTICISMS OF GAMBLERS.
OSTENTATIOUS GAMESTERS.
CERTAIN grandees and wealthy persons, more through vanity or weakness than generosity, have sacrificed their avidity to ostentation — some by renouncing their winnings, others by purposely losing. The greater number of such eccentrics, however, seem to have allowed themselves to be pillaged merely because they had not the generosity or the courage to give away what was wanted.
The Cardinal d'Este, playing one day with the Cardinal de Medicis, his guest, thought that his magnificence required him to allow the latter to win a stake of 10,000 crowns — `not wishing,' he said, `to make him pay his reckoning or allow him to depart unsatisfied.' Brantôme calls this `greatness;
`Guilty or innocent,' he says, `everybody was well received at the house of this cardinal, who kept an open table at Rome for the French chevaliers. These gentlemen having appropriated a portion of his plate, it was proposed to search them: `No, no!' said the cardinal, `they are poor companions who have only their sword, cloak, and crucifixes; they are brave fellows; the plate will be a great benefit to them, and the loss of it will not make me poorer.'
Vigneul de Marville tells us of certain extravagant abbés, 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 abbés 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
[25] Mélanges d' Hist. et de Lit.
One day when Henry IV. was dining at the Duc de Sully's, the latter, as soon as the cloth was raised, brought in cards and dice, and placed upon the table two purses of 4000 pistoles each, one for the King, the other to lend to the lords of his suite. Thereupon the king exclaimed: — `Great master, come and let me embrace you, for I love you as you deserve: I feel so comfortable here that I shall sup and stay the night.' Evidently Sully was more a courtier than usual on this occasion — as no doubt the whole affair was by the king's order, with which he complied reluctantly; but he made the king play with his own money only. The Duc de Lerme, when entertaining Monsieur the brother of Louis XIII. at his quarters near Maestricht, had the boldness to bring in, at the end of the repast, two bags of 1000 pistoles each, declaring that he gave them up to the players without any condition except to return them when they pleased.[26] [26] Mem. de Jeu M. le Duc d'Orleans.
This Duc de Lerme was at least a great lord,
They tell of a certain lordly gamester who looked upon any money that fell from his hands as lost, and would never stoop to pick it up! This reminds us of the freedman Pallas mentioned by Tacitus, who wrote down what he had to say to his slaves, lest he should degrade his voice to their level — ne vocem consociaret![28] [28] Ann. l. xiii
`AN INSINUATING, ELEGANT GAMESTER.
Osterman, Grand Chancellor of Russia, during the reign of the Empress Anne, obtained information that the court of Versailles had formed a scheme to send an insinuating, elegant gamester,
The chancellor called on the duke to make the necessary communication, but the minister did not choose to be at home. The chancellor, then pretending to be suffering from a severe fit of gout, wrote to his sovereign, stating that he had important matter to reveal, but was unable to move, and the Duke of Biran was consequently ordered to wait on him by the empress. Osterman, affecting great pain, articulated with apparent difficulty these words — `The French are sending a gamester!' Thereupon the duke withdrew in a pet, and represented to the empress that the chancellor was delirious from the gout, and had really nothing to communicate.
The subject had long been forgotten by the duke, when an elegant, easy, dissipated marquis actually arrived. He had extensive credit on a house of the English Factory, and presently insinuated himself into the good graces of the duke, whom he soon eased of all his superfluous cash.
The chancellor became alarmed for the consequences, and resolved to try and play off the
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
Once more the chancellor waited on the duke, and plainly told him that he had been anxious to guard him against the French gamester, purposely sent to fleece him, if he had had the patience to hear him. The duke then became outrageous, and wished to arrest the Frenchman as a cheat; but Osterman coolly said he had punished him in kind; and, producing a large bag, returned the duke's money, bidding him in future not to be so impatient when information was to be communicated by gouty persons.
The clever ensign was allowed to retain the rest of the spoil, with an injunction, however, never to touch a card again, unless he wished to end his days among the exiles of Siberia.
A PENITENT SONNET,
written by the Lord Fitz-Gerald[29] (a great gamester) a little
before his death, which was in the year 1580.
[29] This Lord Fitzgerald was eldest son to the Earl of Kildare, and died at the age of twenty-one.
The duty they do owe
To Him that did bestow the same,
And thousand millions moe.
When they the Main have lost,
Forgetting all the Byes that wear
With God and Holy Ghost.
But truly 'tis not so;
For all their frets and fumes in sin
They moneyless must go.
Than he that wrote this verse,
Who cries Peccavi now, therefore;
His oaths his heart do pierce.
That curse the luckless time
That ever dice mine eyes did see,
Which bred in me this crime.
I will offend no more,
In this most vile and sinful cast,
Which I will still abhor.'[30]
[30] Harl. Miscel.
LOVE AND GAMBLING.
Horace Walpole, writing to Mann, says: — `The event that has made most noise since my
This incident occurred in 1752, and reminds us of the marriage-scene described by Dryden in one of his tales, which was quoted by Lord Lyndhurst on that memorable occasion when he opposed Lord Campbell's Bill for the suppression of indecent publications, and made a speech which was more creditable to his wit than his taste, and perfectly horrifying to Lord Campbell, who inflicted a most damaging verbal castigation on his very sprightly but imprudent opponent.
`MANNERS MAKE THE MAN.
Mr Manners, a relation of the Duke of Rutland, many years ago, lost a considerable sum to a well-known gamester, who set up his carriage
SHARP PRACTICE — NOT BY AN ATTORNEY.
The commanding officer of a Militia regiment having passed an evening with several of his officers, carried one of them, who was much intoxicated, to town with him. How the rest of the night was passed was not known — at least to the young man; but in the morning the colonel slipped into his hand a memorandum of his having lost to him at play £700 — 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 £100 per annum!
A GAMESTER TO THE BACK-BONE.
Archdeacon Bruges mentions a gentleman who was so thorough a gamester, that he left in his will an injunction that his bones should be made into dice, and his skin prepared so as to be a covering for dice-boxes![31] [31] A similar anecdote is related of a Frenchman.
FOOTE'S WITTICISMS.
A blackleg, famous for `cogging a die,' said that there had been great sport at Newmarket. `What!' said Foote, `I suppose you were detected, and kicked out of the Hazard room.'
F — d, the Clerk of the Arraigns, brought off Lookup when indicted for perjury. Foote, afterwards playing with him at Whist, said, `F — d, you can do anything, after bringing of Lookup. I don't wonder you hold thirteen trumps in your hand. The least he could do was to teach you the "long shuffle'' for your services.'
The Rev. Dr Dodd was a very unlucky gamester, and received a guinea to forfeit twenty if he ever played again above a guinea. This, among gamblers, is termed being tied up. When the doctor was executed for forgery a gentleman observed to Foote — `I suppose the doctor is launched into eternity by this time.' `How so?' said Foote, `he was tied up long ago.'
EFFECT OF A SEVERE LOSS AT PLAY.
Lord C — lost one night £33,000 to General Scott. The amiable peer, however, benefited by
PADDY'S DECISION.
Some gamblers duping a country fellow at the game called Put, in a public-house near St Pancras, one of them appealed to an Irishman who was looking on whether he had not three treys in his hand? `You had all that,' said Paddy; `and what's more, I saw you take them all out of your pocket.'
GAMBLING CAUSED BY GRIEF.
The Honourable Jesse Anker, in order to dissipate the gloom occasioned by the loss of his wife, whom he passionately loved, had recourse to gaming, by which, at different times, he lost considerable sums, but not so as to injure his property, which was very large, in any material degree. The remedy did not prove effectual; he shot himself at his lodgings at Bath.
A GAMBLER'S EXCUSE FOR NOT BEING A SECOND IN A DUEL.
A gentleman who had been called out, applied
`MORE FORTUNATE.'
Lord Mark Stair and Lord Stair were at play in a coffee-house, when a stranger overlooked the game, and disturbed them with questions. Lord Mark said — `Let us throw dice to see which of us shall pink this impudent fellow.' Lord Stair won. The other exclaimed — `Ah! Stair, Stair! you have been always more fortunate in life than I.'
CAPTAIN ROCHE.
Captain Roche, alias Tyger, alias Savage Roche, who stuck his gaming companion's hand to the table with a fork for concealing a card under it, happened to be at the Bedford Billiard-table, which was extremely crowded. Roche was knocking the balls about with his cue, and Major Williamson,
On leaving the place, the major expressed his astonishment at his rudeness, and wondered, out of so numerous a company, it was not resented. `Oh, sir,' said Roche, `there was no fear of that; there was not a thief in the room who did not suppose himself one of "the two or three gentlemen'' I mentioned.'
FARO AT ROUTS.
The following advertisement appeared in the Courier newspaper in 1794: —
`As Faro is the most fashionable circular game in the haut ton in exclusion of melancholy Whist, and to prevent a company being cantoned into separate parties, a gentleman of unexceptionable character will, on invitation, do himself the honour to attend the rout of any lady, nobleman, or gentleman, with a Faro Bank and Fund, adequate to the style of play, from 500 to 2000 guineas.
`Address, G. A., by letter, to be left at Mr Harding's, Piccadilly, nearly opposite Bond Street.
`N.B. — This advertisement will not appear again.' PROSPECT OF £5200 PER ANNUM FROM A CAPITAL OF £2000.
The following advertisement appeared in the Morning Chronicle in 1817: —
`Any person who can command Two Thousand Pounds in ready money, may advance it in a speculation which will realize at least £100 per week, and perhaps not require the advance of above one half the money. The personal attendance of the party engaging is requisite; but there will be no occasion for articles of partnership, or any establishment, as the profits may be divided daily.'
OF WHAT TRADE IS A GAMING-HOUSE KEEPER?
At a Westminster election the keeper of a notorious gaming house in St Ann's parish was asked, as usual, what his trade was, when, after a little hesitation, he said, `I am an ivory turner.'
THE GAME PLAYED IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY.
Mrs Law, executrix of George Law, late pro
THE ORIGINAL OF A RECENT PROPOSAL.
Not long since an advertisement appeared, and was noticed by several of the papers, purporting to enable any person to realize a large fortune by a small advance to the advertiser. It will readily be seen that the following is the original of the scheme, put forth in the Morning Chronicle, in 1818: —
`Important Offer. A gentleman of respectability has discovered a method of winning at any game of chance, fairly and honourably, to a certainty, by
GAME AND GAMBLING.
A gentleman celebrated for his quickness at repartee, when informed that a young nobleman of his acquaintance (remarkably fond of a fashionable game) had shot an immense number of red partridges, and also of the black game, which abounded on his estates, replied — `I am not in the least sur-prised; he was at all times, even when in London, devotedly attached to the game of Rouge et Noir.'
CATCHING A TARTAR.
`My skill at billiards,' says a confessing gamester, `gave me a superiority over most I met with. I could also hide my skill very dexterously, which is generally found a work of great difficulty, and judiciously winning or losing, I contrived to make it answer my purpose, — until one day, going to a
The splendid and fascinating game of Billiards seems to have been an English invention; and it became greatly in vogue during the reign of Louis XIV. of France, to whom it was recommended by his physicians as an exercise after meals.
It is said that Chamillard, who played with the king, entirely owed his political fortune to the skill which he displayed in this game. Billiards has not as yet been placed, like skittles and bowls, under the interdict of the police authorities, and it is difficult to see how they could venture upon so tremendous an experiment. The game seems to be more in vogue than ever, and doubtless heavy sums are lost and won at it. Billiard matches have during the last three years become quite one of the winter exhibitions, and particularly this season have the public shown their taste for the game. Perhaps the extraordinary performances of some of the first-class cueists have stirred up the shades of Kentfield's days, his homely game of cannons off list cushions and gently-played strength strokes; or by chance those that favour Marden's style, his losing hazards and forcing half balls, have revived once more, and we yearn with wonder to see the great spot strokes of
As a healthful exercise, and in its tendency to promote the physical development of the body, the game of Billiards is unsurpassed; but it is much to be regretted that it is generally-played in ill-ventilated and crowded rooms, often reeking with the pestilential fumes of tobacco, and not without the adjunct of frequent alcoholic potations. Moreover, there can be no doubt that many modern instances of billiard sharping occur, such as I have just quoted, in which the unwary are unscrupulously `fleeced.' I know of several.
`NOT KNOWING YOUR MAN.'
A certain high military character sat down to play with a Russian prince, who introduced loaded dice. The travelled Englishman lost every bet; for the Russian never missed his seven or eleven, and modestly threw only ten times. The supposed pigeon then took up the box with fair dice; and,
A BLIND GAMESTER.
John Metcalfe, much better known by the nickname of blind Jack of Knaresborough, was a celebrity at Harrowgate during the first quarter of the present century. This extraordinary man had been deprived of his eyesight at so early a period that he retained no idea of either light or vision; but his remaining faculties were so actively employed that few persons in the full enjoyment of sight have surpassed him in the execution of undertakings, which seemed particularly to require the exercise of that faculty. He traversed the neighbourhood without a guide or companion; surveyed tracts of country to plan and lay down roads, where none had ever been before; contracted for the building of bridges, and fulfilled his contracts without the assistance of another person, either as architect or superintendent of the work; became a guide to those who, possessing sight,
Such a man was sure to attract notice in any place or neighbourhood, but particularly at a place of general resort. Besides, he possessed a facetious mode of talking, and on several occasions exercised a practical sort of wit, which was equally certain of gaining patronage. Visitors of the highest rank treated him with kindness, and even familiarity; and as he never forgot himself, or trespassed upon those who thus favoured him, he continued in fashion as long as he lived, and terminated his singular career at more than 80 years of age.
Among his many exploits was the following. Various trials of his skill and activity were proposed by gentlemen who offered to support their opinions with their money. But Metcalfe had
A NOBLE LORD AND A COMMONER, IN 1823.
A young and wealthy commoner, who seemed to vie with the pea-green in the desperate folly of getting rid of a suddenly obtained fortune of £130,000 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
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.
A party of players were assembled to throw for a stake, which was enormous. It was, however, agreed that the lowest throw should win. The players threw until one of them turned up two aces. All but one had thrown, and shouts of applause greeted the lucky caster, when the last who was to throw exclaimed — `Hold! I'll try and beat that.' . . .
Rattling the dice, he turned down the box on the table, and on lifting it up displayed the two dice one upon the top of the other, and both aces! He was therefore declared the winner.[34] [34] Menageana.
A TENDER MOTHER.
A French lady had an only child, a handsome young man, much addicted to gaming. He lost at one sitting £40,000, 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,
The feelings of the mother were so excited at the passages which closely applied to her son's conduct, that she exclaimed aloud, `Ay, there he is — the — the beggar — the scoundrel! Always the same — no change in him!' The delusion so increased at the fifth act, when Beverley lifts his hand to kill the child, that the lady in a most distressing tone cried out — `Wretch that thou art, don't kill the child — I'll take it home with me!'
TWO MASTERS OF THE ART.
A Frenchman who had become notorious for the unerring certainty with which he won from all who ventured to play with him, at length found himself unable to induce persons to sit down to the table with him, there being not the slightest chance of winning against his play. After being thus idle for some time, an Englishman, who had heard of his triumphs, expressed his readiness to enter the lists against him. They sat down, and played for three hours without intermission, and at the end
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.
ODDITIES AND WITTICISMS OF GAMBLERS. The gaming table : its votaries and victims, in all times and countries,
especially in England and in France. Vol. 2 | ||