“_First._--The fact that gamblers, according to your Uncle George’s definition, are found in the clubs and private card parties, all over our city and country; respected as gentlemen, with ‘Honorable’ and high-sounding titles attached to their names. And yet these men are cheating you every time you play with them. A case in point: I read in the _Century_ a few days ago, where a game was being played between Col. Randolph Snaughter and Major-General Brown, a brief extract of which I will give you, in order to show you how even a Major-General could stoop to employ the crookedest kind of aid to gain his ends. As far as my memory serves me, it was in this wise:
“‘The Major-General was a man of smooth and courtly phrase, Who had most charming manners, and winning little ways. The hands he held were wonderful,--beyond all sane belief,-- As Colonel Randolph Snaughter found, to his exceeding grief: For, though he play’d a dashing game, and did not want for pluck, He stood no ‘kinder sorter’ chance against such awful luck. He lost the money in his purse, he lost his watch and chain; And then the cause of Brown’s good luck to Snaughter was made plain, For while he held _three_ aces, the General he held _four_, And could, had he deemed proper, have held as many more.’”
[Illustration: Colonel Snaughter and Major-General Brown playing poker. SEE PAGE 11.]
“I want to impress strongly upon you _the fact_ also, that the game of Draw Poker is an _expensive recreation_. It’s only a question of time, and means at your command, as to the amount of money you will lose. The longer you play, and the more means under your control, the more you will be out of pocket in the end. Like the ‘Outside Public,’ in Wall Street, it is only a question of time. At some other time, my boy, I will talk to you about Wall Street, but not now. With many, the loss of money at Draw Poker is the smallest item. There are those who become _infatuated_, and the result is not only loss of money, but loss of time, character, business, position in society, and often ends in dissipation and crime. Let me warn you, therefore, my boy, of the danger of becoming too much attached to this game. When you find you have neglected to perform some duty, or to keep some business engagement, in order to play; when you find yourself playing into late hours, as you confess you did last night, or when you find you are losing more than you can well afford, with your salary, quit it!! quit it!!! I say, don’t wait for all three of these warnings, but quit it on the first show of either; for you are then on dangerous ground. The charm of the gaming snake is beginning to produce its effect, and your only safety is in throwing off the influence of the charmer. Any delay or procrastination _now is almost sure destruction_. There is no game of chance or skill that brings out one’s real nature, one’s ownself, as much as Draw Poker. Where players all stand well in a community, the game is expected to be fair and honorable; hence a good opportunity is offered for those who are _disposed to cheat_, to do so. I would rather play a few games of poker with one whose character and disposition I would like to learn, than to receive a basketful of recommendations. I admit there are games played in which all are gentlemen, and no one under any circumstance could be induced to take any advantage of another. But, my boy, such cases are rare. Want of opportunity, and fear of the eyes of others, are what keep many players honest. Now, with these introductory remarks, I will say, that it is to guard you against the acts of such players that I shall talk to you for a short time, feeling sure that, if you remember well what I say, it will be to your eventual great gain.