Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

the bank.THE YUKON ADVENTURE 153When it was suggested that this purpose would befurthered by a visit to "Tammany Hall" on the opening night,he was only too pleased to go under the auspices of JudgeMorford, an old-timer, whose title of "Judge" was purely acourtesy one. The Judge had said that all "the boys" fromBonanza and Eldorado were going to take in the opening ofthis dance hall, and prospects seemed good. The sight wasa strange one; first of all came the concert or show, and thenthe more serious business of the evening. Raucous-voiced"callers off" stimulated the laggards to "grab a lady," andwhen the dance was over, everyone "promenaded" to the barand purchased a drink for his partner and himself. The"lady" received what is known as a percentage cheque, to becashed at the close of the evening, and then the "caller off"hastened on the next dance. Overhead were tiers of small boxesrunning all round the hall. Neither the Judge nor the bankerdanced that night, but very soon the former was hailed hilariouslyby friends in one of the boxes and he, in due course,introduced his banker friend to Skiff M, Johnny L ,and one or two other old-timers and the ladies in this box.They were drinking champagne, and it came quick and fast.As payment was made by handing a small sack of gold dust tothe waiter, who took it to the scales and subsequently returnedit, the banker could not ascertain the cost, but he observedthat three pints were required to serve a "round." In duecourse, his sense of the fitness of things impelled him toplay the host. As he had no sack of dust, he had to enquirethe cost after the drinks were served, and was told $120, or $40He endeavoured to carry the matter off with a bravea pint.face, but as the refreshments had taken nearly all the moneyhe carried, and his turn would assuredly come again quickly,prudence induced him to see in the crowd an imaginaryindividual he "simply had to speak to." He went to his bedand for some time thereafter sought business in less excitingcircles. That night Tammany Hall took in about $30,000over the bar. Many of the patrons were men who had a