VISITS TO FRANKFORT 73 



who would have perfectly fitted in the Bath of Brummel's time. 

 He was a great master of the game of poker, for he was an 

 uncommonly good judge of men, the highest compliment that 

 was bestowed upon a man in those days, when judging men 

 and women was the main business of life. This ancient worthy 

 would have chastised his grand-nephew if he had found him in 

 a game at his table. 



Though I have been much thrown with gamblers, those of 

 the green cloth in my youth and those of the stock market in 

 later years, I have never been able to come into their state of 

 mind. Even as a youth I had no fancy for the business, though 

 I liked the American game of poker for the play of wits, and 

 had some profit from that side of the experience. I particu- 

 larly liked to watch skilful players when the stakes were high 

 to see the human motive of the performance ; there is no other 

 game, save that of war, where there is so good an opportunity 

 to see how minds work. 



I count my visits to Frankfort as in a high measure educa- 

 tive. At home I had few associates of my own age who were 

 in any way interested in matters which interested me. In the 

 gatherings at the capital I found several youths of the Eugenia 

 who were facing the same problems that I envisaged ; who were 

 setting themselves largely against life. Three of these young 

 men were my kinsmen, of remote degree but near enough to 

 make a bond between us. Two of them went down in the Civil 

 War, and one, Sanford, was assassinated by Goebel, who after- 

 ward met like end on his way to his place as governor of the 

 commonwealth. Now and then came to Frankfort some of the 

 older men who had won distinguished place in public affairs 

 John C. Breckenridge, then Vice-President of the United States ; 

 Crittenden, of the famous attempted compromise; Elder Breck- 

 enridge, then the head of that house of strong men ; and many 

 others of less note. In those days it was easy for a lad just near- 

 ing to man's estate to know his elders. They were on the watch 

 for such as might serve them; moreover, in my case, they all 



