ment. The gamblers sit round a table, each
with a lump of sugar before him, and the player upon whose lump a fly
first perches carries off the pool--which is sometimes enormous.

They tell an anecdote of a 'cute Yankee, who won invariably and
immensely at the game. There seemed to be a sort of magical or mesmeric
attraction for the flies to his lump. At length it was ascertained
that he touched the lump with his finger, after having smeared it with
something that naturally and irresistibly attracts flies whenever they
can get at it. I am told that this game is also played in England; if
so, the parties must insist upon fresh lumps of sugar, and prevent all
touching.

The reader will probably ask--what next will gamblers think of
betting on? But I can tell of a still more curious source of gambling
infatuation. In the _Oxford Magazine_,(93) is the following statement:--

(93) Vol. V.

'A few days ago, as some sprigs of nobility were dining together at a
tavern, they took the following conceit into their heads after dinner.
One of them observing a maggot come from a filbert, which seemed to
be uncommonly large, attempted to get it from his companion, who, not
choosing to let it go, was immediately offered five guineas for it,
which was accepted. He then proposed to run it against any other two
maggots that could be produced at table. Matches were accordingly made,
and these poor reptiles were the means of L500 being won and lost in a
few minutes!'

THE CRIMES OF AMERICAN GAMBLERS.

Suicides, duels, and murders have frequently resulted from gambling here
as elsewhere. Many of the duels in dark rooms originate in disputes at
the gaming table. The combatants rush from play to an upper or adjoining
room, and settle their difference with revolver-shots, often fatal to
both.

One of these was a serio-comic affair which is perhaps worth relating.
Two players had a gambling dispute, and resolved to settle it in a
dark room with pistols. The door was locked and one of them fired, but
missed. On this the other exclaimed--'Now, you rascal, I'll finish you
at my leisure.' He then began to search for his opponent. Three or four
times he walked stealthily round the room--but all in vain--he could
not find his man; he listened; he could not hear him breathe. What had
become of him? 'Oh!' at length he exclaimed--'Now I've got you, you ----
sneak--here goes!' 'Hold! Hold!' cried a voice from the chimney, 'Don't
fire! I'll