GAMBLING SUPERSTITIONS. 351 



the player ; and those inherent in the combinations of the 

 game.' That is, we are to distinguish between the chances 

 proper to the game, and those depending on the luck of 

 the player. Proceeding to consider the chances proper to 

 the game itself, our friendly cheat sums them all up in 

 two rules. First : ' Though 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.' Secondly: c ln a game of chance, the 

 oftener the same combination has occurred in succes- 

 sion, 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' (and he might 

 have added that the belief in this elementary theory 

 had ruined thousands). * Hence,' he proceeds, ' a player 

 must come to the table not only " in luck," but he must 

 not risk his money except at the instant prescribed by 

 the rules of the maturity of the chances.' Then follow 

 the precepts for personal conduct : ' For gaming pre- 

 fer roulette, because it presents several ways of staking 

 your money which permits the study of several. A 

 player should approach the gaming-table perfectly 

 calm and cool just as a merchant or tradesman in 

 treaty about any affair. 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. Every man who finds a pleasure in playing 



