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bank。 This was in one of the lowest gaming houses； where
〃skin〃 games （cheating games） are practised。
‘In the gambling house in Broadway； near the New York Hotel； I
have often noticed a young man； apparently of some 18 or 20 years
of age； fashionably dressed； and of prepossessing appearance。 On
some days he would play very high； and seemed to have most
remarkable luck； but he always played with the air of an old
gamester； seeming careless as to whether he won or lost。 One
night he lost so heavily that he attracted the notice of all the
players； every stake of his was swept away； and he still played
on until his last dollar was lost； then he quietly walked out；
whistling a popular Yankee air。 He was there next day
_MINUS_ his great…coat and watch and chainhe lost again； went
out and returned in his shirt sleeves； having pawned his coat；
studs； and everything he could with decency divest himself of。
He lost everything； and when I next saw him he was selling
newspapers in front of the post…office！
‘The mania for gambling is a most singular one。 I have known a
man to win a thousand dollars in a few hours； and yet he would
not spend a dollar to get a dinner； but when he felt hungry he
went to a baker's shop and bought a loaf of bread； and that same
night lost all his money at Roulette。
‘There is another house on the corner of Centre and Grand
Streets； open during night and day。 The stakes here are the same
as in the one in Broadway； and the people who play are very much
the samein fact； the same faces are constantly to be met with
in all the gambling houses； from the highest to the lowest。 When
a gambler has but small capital； he will go to a small house；
where small stakes are admissible。 I saw a man win 50 or 60
dollars at this place； and then hand in his checks （markers） to
be cashed。 The dealer handed him the money； and said〃Now
you go off； straight away to Union Square； and pay away all you
have won from here to John Morrissey。 This is the way with all
of them； they never come here until they are dead broke； and have
only a dirty dollar or so to risk。〃 There was some truth in
what he said； but notwithstanding he managed to keep the bank
going on。 There is a great temptation to a man who has won a sum
of money at a small gambling house to go to a higher one； as he
may then； at a single stake； win as much as he could possibly win
if he had a run of luck in a dozen stakes at the smaller bank。
‘In No。 102； in the Bowery； there is one of the lowest of the
gaming houses I have seen in the Empire city。 The proprietor is
an Irishman； he employs three men as dealers； and they relieve
one another every four hours during the day and night。 The
stakes here are of the lowest； and the people to be seen here of
the roughest to be found in the city。 The game is Faro； as
elsewhere。
‘In this place I met an old friend with whom I had served in the
army of Northern Virginia； under General Lee； in his Virginia
campaign of 1865。 He told me he had been in New York since
the end of the war； and lived a very uncertain sort of life。
Whatever money he could earn he spent at the gaming table。
Sometimes he had a run of luck； and whilst it lasted he dressed
well； and stopped at the most expensive hotels。 One night he
would sleep at the Astor House； and perhaps the next night he
would not be able to pay for his bed； and would stay all night in
the parks。 Strange to say； hundreds live in this way； which is
vulgarly called 〃scratching〃 in New York。 I afterwards saw my
friend driving an omnibus； and when I could speak to him； I found
that he was still attending the banks with every cent he earned！
‘It is amusing to watch the proprietor of this place at the
Bowery； he has a joke for every one he sees。 〃Hallo； old
sport！〃 he cries； 〃come and try your luckyou look lucky this
evening； and if you make a good run you may sport a gold watch
and chain； and a velvet vest； like myself。〃 Then to another；
〃Young clear…the…way； you look down at the mouth to…night！ Come
along and have a turnand never mind your supper tonight。' In
this way the days and nights are passed in those gambling
houses。'
There is also in New York an association for the prevention
of gambling。 The society employs detectives to visit the
gambling saloons； and procure evidence for the suppression of the
establishments。
It is the business of these agents also to ascertain the names
and occupations of those who frequent the gambling rooms； and a
list of the persons thus detected is sent periodically to the
subscribers to the society； that they may know who are the
persons wasting their money； or perhaps the money of their
employers； in gambling。 Many large houses of business subscribe。
In the month of August the society's agents detected among the
gamblers 68 clerks of mercantile houses； and in the previous six
months reported 623 cases。 It is stated that there are in New
York and Brooklyn 1017 policy and lottery offices； and 163 Faro
banks； and that their net annual gains are not less than
36；000；000 dollars。
AMERICAN GAMBLERS。
At American gambling houses ‘it is very easy；' says the same
writer； ‘to distinguish the professional from the ordinary
gambler。 The latter has a nervous expression about the
mouth； and an intense gaze upon the cards； and altogether a very
serious nervous appearance； while the professional plays in a
very quiet manner； and seems to care but little how the game
goes； and his desire to appear as if the game was new to him is
almost certain to expose him to those who know the manoeuvre。
‘Previous to the struggle for independence in the South； there
were many hundreds of gamblers scattered through the Southern
towns； and the Mississippi steam…boats used to abound with them。
In the South； a gambler was regarded as outside the pale of
society； and classed with the slave…trader； who was looked upon
with loathing by the very same men who traded with him； such was
the inconsistency of public opinion。
‘The American gambler differs from his European brethren in many
respects。 He is very frequently； in education； appearance； and
manner； a gentleman； and if his private history were known； it
would be found that he was of good birth； and was at one time
possessed of considerable fortune； but having lost all at the
gambling table； he gradually came down to the level of those who
proved his ruin； and having no profession nor means of
livelihood left to him； he adopted their mode of life。
‘On one occasion I met a brother of a Southern General （very
famous in the late war and still a wealthy man） who； at one time；
was one of the richest planters in the State of Louisiana； and is
now acting as an agent for a set of gamblers to their gaming
houses。 After losing everything he had； he became a croupier to
a gambling house in New Orleans； and afterwards plied his trade
on th