As the money
was lost, the losers fell off, if they could not borrow or beg
more; and this went on sometimes in the winter season for 14 to
16 hours in succession; so that from 100 to 150 persons might be
calculated to visit one gaming table in the course of a night;
and it not unfrequently happened that ultimately all the money
brought to the table got into the hands of one or two of the most
fortunate adventurers, save that which was paid to the table for
'box-hands'--that is, when a player won three times in
succession. At these establishments the price of a box varied
from one shilling to half-a-crown. Every man thus engaged was
destined to become either a more finished and mischievous
gambler, or to appear at the bar of the Old Bailey. The
successful players by degrees improved their external appearance,
and obtained admittance into houses of higher play, where two
shillings and sixpence or three shillings and fourpence was
demanded for the box-hand. If success attended them in the first
step of advancement, they next got initiated into better houses,
and associated with gamblers of a higher grade.
PLAY IN 1838.
About the year 1838 the gaming houses were kept open all day, the
dice were scarcely ever idle, day or night.
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