PLAYING THE " GAME " 



indeed, brings out all the finer qualities of true sports- 

 manship, and it is a curious study how the same traits 

 can be brought out in men of different nationalities 

 and races. 



Just another word about gambling clubs at the 

 various continental resorts. It is astonishing with 

 what discrimination stacks of chips are issued to men 

 on credit. The controllers seem to know exactly 

 who is good for money and who isn't. But my 

 experience is that any man with a reputation need 

 never worry about obtaining a sufficient supply to 

 continue play should he so desire. Of course the 

 amounts will vary. So far as I know there is no 

 organised "intelligence" department, yet few mis- 

 takes are made in the accommodation given. Of 

 course the profits are stupendous, so that some latitude 

 can be well afforded. Among the big men very few 

 b^d debts are made, for year after year the same 

 round of players go to their old haunts at the various 

 plages, or inland watering-places. 



Are the games straight ? In nineteen cases out of 

 twenty, yes. In the odd instance it can be done so 

 cleverly at times by a banker being put into the chair 

 by the administration, and even then who is able to 

 say exactly how it is done ? I knew an elderly French- 

 man who had the reputation of being a card-player 

 — that is, he was cleverer than his fellows. I will not 

 emphasise my description of his calling. I happened 

 to see him one day sitting on the terrace of a certain 

 casino, and said that I wondered he wasn't in the 

 Cercle, and asked him the reason that he could keep 

 away from the cards. " Monsieur," he replied, " I 

 have great experience with cards. There are two 

 hundred and forty-six combinations in which the cards 

 can be arranged ; I know two hundred and forty-four 



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