Explore "Science V. s. Luck" by Mark Twain on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
[Written about 1867.]
At that time, in Kentucky (said the Hon. Mr. K -- -- -); the law was very strict against what is termed "games of chance. " About a dozen of the boys were detected playing "seven up" or "old sledge" for money, and the grand jury found a true bill against them. Jim Sturgis was retained to defend them when the case came up, of course. The more he studied over the matter, and looked into the evidence, the plainer it was that he must lose a case at last -- there was no getting around that painful fact. Those boys had certainly been betting money on a game of chance. Even public sympathy was roused in behalf of Sturgis. People said it was a pity to see him mar his successful career with a big prominent case like this, which must go against him.