Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-11-04

Jutiiu Il suit va TpOtlS SRiCbuiCly tur-
rished and lighted; several card tables
surrounded With persons, PLAYING whist
and faro. We were introduced formal
", for ceremony was maintained in this
temple, as they were all gentlemen there
ali whose debts were debts of honor.
On side table refreshments were pla-
ced, and was invited, in the most fat
tcring manner, to take punch, the hos
pitablo host, 10 doubt intending to ply
me with liquors in order to " screw my
courage to the sticking point" The
whist players were amusing themselves
with playing for so dollar points, mere
trife aud one observed, that he should
quit whist and try faro, it he lost more
than $500. Finding so little interest
in looking on, placed myself near the
faro table here were several venturing
with all the zeal Of most unnatural
and hectic excitemcnt-their faces, the
alternate picture of hope and despair
fear, Joy. anxiety and agitation pre-
vailed: here Was one filing up checks
on the bank and loosing them quickly,
get going on to TIL even TO ruination-
mother with a pile of notes and half
eagles before him, on which, he ever
and anon stnlc a greedy and delighted
glance, while his opposite ns;ghbcr,
Nhu had lost his all, fixed Ms wan
aud surken eye on the glttcring store,
in deep despair; here was one strdug
rapid. mp and down the room, beating
his head that - let the folly in, and the
dcdr reason out"--there another potr
ing down glass after glass, to drown
rcIeCliOn--whIla th,rd sat gnawIrg
the ends OF his fi:;gcrs, and mGrrerins
curses load aud deep" Monst. lua
infatuatiun. To what will this ayaii".,
this ami SGCrG tameS," ieau mcn to
recognized. among these last morial5,
several grGtlcmen of family and re-
sprctshAlty, several merchants wl,c sub
scqGcn'Iy strppet pay ;.ent. but could
eiye No aycaunt vi 40. $50 uoilai7,---
Here they wrre destroy ing Che hops ut
their family, and shaking their PEACE Of
mind IN gami 8 house, While the FOND
and cstimatIc vii" counted tie s;,t
hours of their GusCUCc, anH alone in
thcir sumptunus dwellings, waiting
night after night for their return: pa
cling the room i'll perturbation; rakinS
together the expiring embcvs marking
the glimmerinS OF TIC DING taper /,
starting at every rusting sound her
heart, which should DO tranquil, beating
with alarm, until the traant husbands
we'll known knock reyives and aiima;es
hcr--when his disor,cred dress. his
pale and angrrcd coun;cnance. and the
deep drawn sigh of misfortune. draws
from his heart hrnkcn companion, the
silcat tear Of agony; while cold and
C9HIortirsS, With aching head and heart
he thraws his lisli2ss person on his bed,
and groans the liNelong night with a
poor wife, whom his vices have made
Wrytchrd. ShamP--Shame, that man
shnnld permit his reason to be thns Sd.
criiiced BY an inordinate thirst Of gain.
q miserable, misguided infatuati0n. n"
gambler ever died rich. though fortune
for years, may have dclnded him Nth
smiles, yet she deserts him at his ut
most need and bread which honest la
Dor earns. is swcc;er to the appetite.
and a greater c0rdia! 70 the soul, than
the luxurirS purchased with the gains
at play. gains acquired oulyto be again
lost, gains obtained at the expense ol
the peace. happiness and prosperity oil
Whole families. HOWARD.