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The Gaming Table by Andrew Steinmetz

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Gambling in the United States

CHAPTER IX. page 28

FLY LOO.

Some of the games played by the Americans are peculiar to
themselves. For instance, vast sums of money change hands over
Fly Loo, or the attraction existing between lumps of sugar and
adventurous flies! This game is not without its excitement. The
gamblers sit round a table, each with a lump of sugar before him,
and the player upon whose lump a fly first perches carries off
the pool--which is sometimes enormous.

They tell an anecdote of a 'cute Yankee, who won invariably and
immensely at the game. There seemed to be a sort of magical or
mesmeric attraction for the flies to his lump. At length it was
ascertained that he touched the lump with his finger, after
having smeared it with something that naturally and irresistibly
attracts flies whenever they can get at it. I am told that this
game is also played in England; if so, the parties must insist
upon fresh lumps of sugar, and prevent all touching.

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