From
William Reese Company - Americana, New Haven, CT, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
AbeBooks Seller since July 13, 2006
134pp., printed in double columns. Small quarto. Original black cloth, stamped in gilt and blind. Cloth a bit faded and rubbed. Front hinge weak, first three leaves beginning to loosen, scattered light foxing. Very good. The peculiar third-person autobiography of a habitual gambler and self-styled "sporting man" turned temperance orator from Bristol, Rhode Island. The author relates the events of his life to date in florid and effusively self-congratulatory fashion, including his schooling at Philips Exeter, his start with sports betting in New York, traveling to New Orleans and playing faro in a Pullman car, and every other type of betting imaginable up and down the Mississippi. Much of the action takes place in Louisiana and New Orleans, with descriptions of a Mardi Gras ball, cockfighting, billiards parlors, card games, and more. Talbot describes being struck with the temperance spirit after losing his fortune and listening to Dr. Reynolds speak in Illinois; he would travel across the country as an orator for the cause. Although naturally his convictions were as pure as could be, he describes also the "wives of distinguished men - magnificent women - who clung to his arm with an affection which, to impure men, would appear sensual, but, to students of human nature, ennobling." Quite uncommon in the trade. Seller Inventory # WRCAM57232
Title: TURF CARDS AND TEMPERANCE OR REMINISCENCES ...
Publisher: The Eastern Publishing Company, Bristol, R.I.
Publication Date: 1882
Seller: William Reese Company - Americana, New Haven, CT, U.S.A.
The peculiar third-person autobiography of a habitual gambler and self-styled "sporting man" turned temperance orator from Bristol, Rhode Island. The author relates the events of his life to date in florid and effusively self-congratulatory fashion, including his schooling at Philips Exeter, his start with sports betting in New York, traveling to New Orleans and playing faro in a Pullman car, and every other type of betting imaginable up and down the Mississippi. Much of the action takes place in Louisiana and New Orleans, with descriptions of a Mardi Gras ball, cockfighting, billiards parlors, card games, and more. Talbot describes being struck with the temperance spirit after losing his fortune and listening to Dr. Reynolds speak in Illinois; he would travel across the country as an orator for the cause. Although naturally his convictions were as pure as could be, he describes also the "wives of distinguished men - magnificent women - who clung to his arm with an affection which, to impure men, would appear sensual, but, to students of human nature, ennobling." Quite uncommon in the trade. 134pp., printed in double columns. Small quarto. Original black cloth, stamped in gilt and blind. Cloth a bit faded and rubbed. Front hinge weak, first three leaves beginning to loosen, scattered light foxing. Very good. Seller Inventory # 57232
Quantity: 1 available