ow, rich and poor, are perfectly suited in their requirements;
whilst at some places the stakes are unlimited, at others they must
not exceed one dollar, and a player may wager as low as five cents, or
twopence-halfpenny. These are for the accommodation of the very poorest
workmen, discharged soldiers, broken-down gamblers, and street-boys.

'I think,' says a recent writer,(87) 'of all the street-boys in
the world, those of New York are the most precocious. I have seen a
shoe-black, about three feet high, walk up to the table or 'Bank,' as it
is generally called, and stake his money (five cents) with the air of a
young spendthrift to whom "money is no object."'

(87) 'St James's Magazine,' Sept., 1867.

The chief gambling houses of New York were established by men who are
American celebrities, and among these the most prominent have been Pat
Hern and John Morrissey.

PAT HERN.

Some years ago this celebrated Irishman kept up a splendid establishment
in Broadway, near Hauston Street. At that time his house was the centre
of attraction towards which 'all the world' gravitated, and did the
thing right grandly--combining the Apicius with the Beau Nash or
Brummell. He was profusely lavish with his wines and exuberant in
his suppers; and it was generally said that the game in action there,
_Faro_, was played in all fairness. Pat Hern was a man of jovial
disposition and genial wit, and would have adorned a better position.
During the trout-fishing season he used to visit a well-known place
called Islip in Long Island, much frequented by gentlemen devoted to
angling and fond of good living.

At Islip the equally renowned Oby Snedecker kept the tavern which was
the resort of Pat Hern and his companions. It had attached to it a
stream and lake to which the gentlemen who had the privilege of the
house were admitted. Mrs Obadiah Snedecker, the buxom wife of 'mine
host,' was famous for the exquisite way in which she cooked veal
cutlets. There were two niggers in the establishment, named Steve and
Dick, who accompanied the gentlemen in their angling excursions, amusing
them with their stolidity and the enormous quantity of gin they could
imbibe without being more than normally fuddled.

After fishing, the gentlemen used to take to gambling at the usual
French games; but here Pat Hern appeared not in the character of
gambler, but as a private gentleman. He was always well received by
the visitors, and caused them many