Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-11-04
From the. National .4drocofe.
DOMESTIC ECONO.yy

with an old friend on the subject If ns' '
vailing VICES, and contrasting the M,
with the present, | imagined that ,p sS
ty had somewhat improved. that moral
ty seemed to be more felt and stu1;0I
than it was formerly. and that dsna 3
sitiou, generally speaking, seemed r. +
prevailed doing what was right. ltsk. II
no pleasure in dwelling on the dull sifs
of a picture, where there bright touch e
IS. aud agreeable tints to admire: M, Il
would Censure a community for fault, Il
which were not apparent, or Withhold B
that need of praise which merit. . irtu. 4
and good actions claim. | thera6,a +
thought, that among decreasing vices 1
might reckon 'gambling.' which | fiat s
tered myself was happily getting daiIv T
into disrepute. You are in error, obser
we'd my friend, and am sorry to say
II :-once gambling vas confined to
high sphere but king and noble. /
men were authorised to rob their psopIp,
and then each other under this friend.
ly and seductive mark il shortly spread
like an epidemic, and infected what wa,
called high Classes--the mechanic, and
the labOrer was preserved by that puri.
ty of thought which arises from employ.
ment am. economy. but, alas the dis.
case has even affected them. Come.
said he. it is pleasant nigilt-take
walk with me-. and will show you how
this vice is nourished in the heart of
moral community. | will attend you,
said ], if you even lead me where no
clamp burns''-my powers of locomo.
ten arc at least equal to yours. We
took our departure as st. Paul's chimed
eight o'clock land after crossing several
squares, and passing through lonely al.
leys. we entered what seemed to be
ia, ern. and on going up stairs in a long
room, We found large table surround
ed by mechanics, dirty laborers and
ragged boys: they were employed at
game called i9tto OF kino-the master
drew the numbers from a wheel, while
the company covered such as appeared
on small placards before them. and
when they obtained certain number,
they claimed and touk the purse.-Here
was high life in miniature loud and
boisterous mirth, obscene language. and
deep imprccations, prevailed among this
clan Of apprentice boys, who instead of
being detained at their honest labor,
stole an hour, and probably the means
to crafty vicious propensity. Mas
tiers have the same duty to perform as
parents, and while they receive great
credit in sending ALI honest apprentice
forth, they cannot escape great por-
ton of censure if that apprentice is an
idler and gamester. We left this hum
bic habitation of vice to examine some
of more elevated character, for vice
has degrees) and We shortly entered a
celebrated billiard room, brilliantly H.
Illuminated, and the glare of light intro
duced to our view a number of young
men gcnteely dressed they were mer-
chants and attorneys clerks, together
with few who had no pursuits at all:
l watched them for half hour--a
couple played game for oysters-ano-
Their set played for wine-a party was
made for pool, in which game several
played for money, while the lockers on
smoaked segars and drank brandy and
water oaths were heard in abundance,
and the smashing of maces. bouncing of
balls, and cries for the waiter, gave
dismal coloring to the scene. Here was
another picture Of vice which debases
the character of our city. Could the
parents and employers of these young
men find no other pursuit for them q
Were they SO Indifferent to their morali-
ty and prosperity as to pass over in ST.
lence these nightly and deadly dcbauch-
es /? If they had no einployment--Why
hot improve their mind and amuse their
fancy with book If they had no book,
and rheir time was heavy--why not
pass an hour with neighboring friend,
or a pleasant and worthy family! and
if these advantages are denied them,
and they have no book, no friend, but
must walk the streets at night to search
for objects Of amusement, let them en-
ter those places Of worship which are
nightly opened, and join iD prayer and
anthem there they will find friend
true one. who never turns a deaf ear
to a sincere applicant. How much
more delightfully."- would their moments
pass, than thus burYing their honor