Curiosities of Literature (Vol. 1-3). Disraeli Isaac

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СКАЧАТЬ of the author being himself one of the most inveterate gamblers; he wrote this work to convince himself of this folly. But in spite of all his solemn vows, the prayers of his friends, and his own book perpetually quoted before his face, he was a great gamester to his last hour! The same circumstance happened to Sir John Denham, who also published a tract against gaming, and to the last remained a gamester. They had not the good sense of old Montaigne, who gives the reason why he gave over gaming. "I used to like formerly games of chance with cards and dice; but of that folly I have long been cured; merely because I found that whatever good countenance I put on when I lost, I did not feel my vexation the less." Goldsmith fell a victim to this madness. To play any game well requires serious study, time, and experience. If a literary man plays deeply, he will be duped even by shallow fellows, as well as by professed gamblers.

      Dice, and that little pugnacious animal the cock, are the chief instruments employed by the numerous nations of the East, to agitate their minds and ruin their fortunes; to which the Chinese, who are desperate gamesters, add the use of cards. When all other property is played away, the Asiatic gambler scruples not to stake his wife or his child, on the cast of a die, or the courage and strength of a martial bird. If still unsuccessful, the last venture he stakes is himself.

      In the Island of Ceylon, cock-fighting is carried to a great height. The Sumatrans are addicted to the use of dice. A strong spirit of play characterises a Malayan. After having resigned everything to the good fortune of the winner, he is reduced to a horrid state of desperation; he then loosens a certain lock of hair, which indicates war and destruction to all whom the raving gamester meets. He intoxicates himself with opium; and working himself into a fit of frenzy, he bites or kills every one who comes in his way. But as soon as this lock is seen flowing, it is lawful to fire at the person and to destroy him as fast as possible. This custom is what is called "To run a muck." Thus Dryden writes—

      "Frontless and satire-proof, he scours the streets,

       And runs an Indian muck at all he meets."

      Thus also Pope—

      "Satire's my weapon, but I'm too discreet To run a muck, and tilt at all I meet."

      Johnson could not discover the derivation of the word muck. To "run a muck" is an old phrase for attacking madly and indiscriminately; and has since been ascertained to be a Malay word.

      To discharge their gambling debts, the Siamese sell their possessions, their families, and at length themselves. The Chinese play night and day, till they have lost all they are worth; and then they usually go and hang themselves. Such is the propensity of the Javanese for high play, that they were compelled to make a law, that "Whoever ventures his money at play shall be put to death." In the newly-discovered islands of the Pacific Ocean, they venture even their hatchets, which they hold as invaluable acquisitions, on running-matches.—"We saw a man," says Cook, "beating his breast and tearing his hair in the violence of rage, for having lost three hatchets at one of these races, and which he had purchased with nearly half his property."

      The ancient nations were not less addicted to gaming: Persians, Grecians, and Romans; the Goths, and Germans. To notice the modern ones were a melancholy task: there is hardly a family in Europe which cannot record, from their own domestic annals, the dreadful prevalence of this passion.

      Gamester and cheater were synonymous terms in the time of Shakspeare and Jonson: they have hardly lost much of their double signification in the present day.

      The following is a curious picture of a gambling-house, from a contemporary account, and appears to be an establishment more systematic even than the "Hells" of the present day.

      "A list of the officers established in the most notorious gaming-houses," from the Daily Journal, Jan. 9th, 1731.

      1st. A Commissioner, always a proprietor, who looks in of a night; and the week's account is audited by him and two other proprietors.

      2nd. A Director, who superintends the room.

      3rd. An Operator, who deals the cards at a cheating game, called Faro.

      4th. Two Crowpees, who watch the cards, and gather the money for the hank.

      5th. Two Puffs, who have money given them to decoy others to play.

      6th. A Clerk, who is a check upon the PUFFS, to see that they sink none of the money given them to play with.

      7th. A Squib is a puff of lower rank, who serves at half-pay salary while he is learning to deal.

      8th. A Flasher, to swear how often the bank has been stript.

      9th. A Dunner, who goes about to recover money lost at play.

      10th. A Waiter, to fill out wine, snuff candles, and attend the gaming-room.

      11th. An Attorney, a Newgate solicitor.

      12th. A Captain, who is to fight any gentleman who is peevish for losing his money.

      13th. An Usher, who lights gentlemen up and down stairs, and gives the word to the porter.

      14th. A Porter, who is generally a soldier of the Foot Guards.

      15th. An Orderly Man, who walks up and down the outside of the door, to give notice to the porter, and alarm the house at the approach of the constable.

      16th. A Runner, who is to get intelligence of the justices' meeting.

      17th. Link-boys, Coachmen, Chairmen, or others who bring intelligence of the justices' meetings, or of the constables being out, at half-a-guinea reward.

      18th. Common-bail, Affidavit-men, Ruffians, Bravoes, Assassins, cum multis aliis.

      The "Memoirs of the most famous Gamesters from the reign of Charles II. to Queen Anne, by T. Lucas, Esq., 1714," appears to be a bookseller's job; but probably a few traditional stories are preserved.58

      THE ARABIC CHRONICLE.

       Table of Contents

      An Arabic chronicle is only valuable from the time of Mahomet. For such is the stupid superstition of the Arabs, that they pride themselves on being ignorant of whatever has passed before the mission of their Prophet. The Arabic chronicle of Jerusalem contains the most curious information concerning the crusades: Longuerue translated several portions of this chronicle, which appears to be written with impartiality. It renders justice to the Christian heroes, and particularly dwells on the gallant actions of the Count de St. Gilles.

      Our historians chiefly write concerning Godfrey de Bouillon; only the learned know that the Count de St. Gilles acted there so important a character. The stories of the Saracens are just the reverse; they speak little concerning Godfrey, and eminently distinguish Saint Gilles.

      Tasso has given in to the more vulgar accounts, by making the former so eminent, at the cost of the other heroes, in his Jerusalem Delivered. Thus Virgil transformed by his magical power the chaste Dido into a distracted lover; and Homer the meretricious Penelope into a moaning matron. It is not requisite for poets to be historians, but historians should not be so frequently poets. The same charge, I have been told, must be made against the Grecian historians. The Persians are viewed СКАЧАТЬ