Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 August 1904 — The Judge's Card. [ARTICLE]

The Judge's Card.

Justice Grantham of England was once on a train when a stalwart man entered the compartment and began to smoke. “This is not a smoking compartment,” remonstrated the judge. “All right, old chap. I’ll just finish my cigar,” said the man. Then his lordship became angry and taking out his card handed it to his companion, saying he would report him when the train stopped. The smoker took the card, put it into his pocket without looking at it and went on with his cigar. At the next station he got out and went into another carriage. Justice Grantham called the guard and demanded that the man’s name and address should be taken and that be should be summoned. The guard went to the delinquent and shortly after returned to his lordship. “If I were you, sir,” he said confidentially, “I would not prosecute that gentleman. He has given me his card—see, here it is— and he is Mr. Justice Grantham!” The Fifteen Matches. Take fifteen matches, bunch them up so they cannot be easily counted, lay them on a table and tell some person that you will allow him to start the game by drawing from the pile one, two or three matches, but no more. Tell him that you have the same privilege, and that you intend that he shall draw the last match, or at least that you will leave the last for him to draw. If you watch your turns carefully you will succeed perfectly, unless, of course, your opponent is acquainted with the system, and very few persons are. If he should first draw one, you draw one. If his second draw should be three, then you draw one again. Observe now that there are six drawn. In order to assure yourself of winning make certain that this is the case either at your first or second draw—get six off the board. Then there are nine remaining. The next time you draw let it make four with what he draws, leaving the five still to be drawn. Now, if be draws three you take one; if he draws two, you take two, etc. You will thus see that the last match will always be left to your opponent