Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1887 — It Broke Up the Game. [ARTICLE]

It Broke Up the Game.

In 1862 six railroad conductors sat down to enjoy a game of draw in a room in the second story of a building locatedjabout where the National Hotel now stands. Having no poker chips they utilized watermelon seeds. The man who acted as banker placed the melon seeds in a glass goblet, after counting them, as the floor was well covered- with seeds which could be used by any player who might run short. After proceeding a few minutes the goblet cracked, making a sharp report which did not attract much attention, however. The seeds were placed in another goblet which shortly afterward cracked with quite a sharp ring. At this one of the players shook his head and said: “Toys, that’s enough for me. I’m through. ” The others laughed at him and insisted on hi 3 continuing the game, but no go: superstition had close hold on him. The third goblet was then filled with the seeds and terminated with the same crack as the two preceding goblets, and so on until the sixth and last goblet in the room had cracked. Several who were members of ,the party now reside in Atlanta, and some of them are yet running passenger trains and can vouch for the correctness of the story I have told. I wish some one would explain the affair. Maybe we can get the facts when the glass factory begins to run.— Atlanta Constitution.