Why do we say it?

Southland Times, Issue 21095, 29 May 1930, Page 8

Why do we say it?

“Above Board”

Gamblers are always inclined to be suspicious of one another. “1 was a stranger and ye took me in,” is the professional cardplayer’s motto.. Of course, no honest man in his right mind plays gambling card games with strangers. A lot of people temporarily unbalanced have done so to their cost. Long, long ago, victims of card-sharpers learned that when playing in strange company, it is necessary to insist that all the gamesters hold their hands continuously above the table. Only thus can it be assured that no surreptitious passing of cards goes on “below the board."

Thus, “everything above board” means that there is no possibility of deception. ■ When all is “above board,” a man loses by reason of his bad luck or lack of skill of play. But such is human vanity that we are all of us disposed to think that, when we lose, whether our game be cards or horses or business, the dice has been loaded against us. Such is rarely the case. Human success depends much more on individual merit than most people are prepared to admit.