{"id":"01KG8AKWJT3AA6X5AK9C2D6J1K","cid":"bafkreiexjutr3ce5xwfhv6ckbbgsrqo4efahqjcydbz3whqmozc5m6sfli","type":"intro","properties":{"description":"# Introduction\n## Overview\nThis is an \"intro\" type entity, representing the introduction to Chapter LXXIII, \"Night and Day Gambling in a Man-of-War,\" from the novel *White-Jacket*. It was extracted on January 30, 2026.\n\n## Context\nThis introduction is part of [Chapter LXXIII. NIGHT AND DAY GAMBLING IN A MAN-OF-WAR.](arke:01KG8AJVA0MGBK23WN4PS84AQ6) within the novel *White-Jacket*. The novel itself is contained within the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection and was extracted from the text file [white_jacket.txt](arke:01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY). The following section is [Night Gambling](arke:01KG8AKWJQJEMRQ4S1WW4K3JFW).\n\n## Contents\nThe introduction describes the allowance of the game of checkers on board the Neversink and the strict prohibition against gambling. It explains that while checkers was permitted due to the warm weather and lack of shipwork, all forms of gambling were forbidden under penalty of punishment. The introduction highlights the inclination of man-of-war's-men towards gambling and the challenges in enforcing the anti-gambling regulations, drawing a parallel to the smuggling of spirits.\n","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T20:49:59.545Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"Introduction","end_line":11699,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:16.646Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Introduction","source_file":"01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY","start_line":11673,"text":"CHAPTER LXXIII.\r\nNIGHT AND DAY GAMBLING IN A MAN-OF-WAR.\r\n\r\n\r\nMention has been made that the game of draughts, or checkers, was\r\npermitted to be played on board the Neversink. At the present time,\r\nwhile there was little or no shipwork to be done, and all hands, in\r\nhigh spirits, were sailing homeward over the warm smooth sea of the\r\ntropics; so numerous became the players, scattered about the decks,\r\nthat our First Lieutenant used ironically to say that it was a pity\r\nthey were not tesselated with squares of white and black marble, for\r\nthe express benefit and convenience of the players. Had this gentleman\r\nhad his way, our checker-boards would very soon have been pitched out\r\nof the ports. But the Captain—usually lenient in some things—permitted\r\nthem, and so Mr. Bridewell was fain to hold his peace.\r\n\r\nBut, although this one game was allowable in the frigate, all kinds of\r\ngambling were strictly interdicted, under the penalty of the gangway;\r\nnor were cards or dice tolerated in any way whatever. This regulation\r\nwas indispensable, for, of all human beings, man-of-war’s-men are\r\nperhaps the most inclined to gambling. The reason must be obvious to\r\nany one who reflects upon their condition on shipboard. And\r\ngambling—the most mischievous of vices anywhere—in a man-of-war\r\noperates still more perniciously than on shore. But quite as often as\r\nthe law against smuggling spirits is transgressed by the unscrupulous\r\nsailors, the statutes against cards and dice are evaded.\r\n\r","title":"Introduction"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJVA0MGBK23WN4PS84AQ6","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKWJQJEMRQ4S1WW4K3JFW","peer_type":"subsection","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:19.034Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:49:59.739Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}