The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1819-11-10
A9isseuany.


Mas converslng few evenings ago
With an Old friend OH the subject os pre-
val!ing vices, and. contrasting the past
with the present imagined that society
had some what improved, that morality
seemed TO be more ielt and studied than
It was Formerly, and that disposition.
gersrally speaking, Asrned TO prevail of
doing what was right. | take no pleas
uresin dwelling on the dull side of pic
rlleWhere there are. bright touches, and
aSrrable thts to atimire---nor would |.
reiisAre community for faults which
wereh apparent, or withhold that need
ofpraisc winch merit, virtue ind good
ae:ions claim. therefore, thought, that
among decreasing vices | might reckon
gambling, which Aattercd myself WAS
happily sctting daily INTO disrerute. You
are IL error, observed my friend, and |
am sorry to say it;--once gambling was
confined to high spherc---nonc but
kings and noblc,nen were authorized to
rob theu people, and then each Other.
nndcr this friendly and seductive mask it
shortly spread like an epidemic, ard In
icc,ed what was called high classes--the
mechanic, and the labourer, was prcserv-
ed cy that purity of,hought which arises
from employment and economy. but. alas
tfe dist sse'ilas even affected them. Come,
aid he, il Is pleasant n;ghl--take walk
unli rle, and will show you how this
vice isnoprished in the heart Of q moral
community. ! viii attend you, said !,
fyou even lead me where 10 - lamp
burns'--my powers ot locomotion urc
at least equal 10 yours. We took our
departure as st. Paui's chimed eight
O'Clock, & after crossing several squares,
and passing through lonely alleys, We en-
rcrcd what seemed 10 be tavern, and,
co going up stairs in a long room, We
sound IA large bic surrounded by me-
s:.',ics, dirty Iabou;ers and ragged boys;
-,!!cy welc employed At gane called
!o.to VI klAo-,he master drew The num-
bers from wheel, while tic company
covcied such rs appeared Oh small pla-
cards De.o:c them, and when they Oh
lnIned ccltaiii number, t..cy claimed
and tool. the purse Here was high lite
in miniatuie loud and boislcrous ulirlh,
obscene language, and deep imprecatiors,
prevailed among this clan o! apprentice
boys. who, Instead Of being detained at
their honest labour, stole IN hour, and
probably the means to crafty a. vicious
propensity. Masters haze the same du-
ty 10 perform as parents, and while they
receive grca. credit in sending an honest
apprentice forth, they CARROT escape
great portion OF censure il that apprcn-
tice Is an idlcr and.a galncs.er. We left
this humble habitalion of vice to cxam-
inc some Oh a more elevated character,
(.or vice las degrees and we shortly CHI
tered celebrated billiard room, brilliant.
ly illuminated, and tic glare of light in.
trcduced to our view number Of Young
men gcntecly drcssed--they were MGR
chants and attorneys clerks, together with
4 few who had 10 pursuits, 1t Li,--l
watched them for a lIa!f hour; couple
played a game for oystcrs-another SC,
played for winc--a party was made up
i3r pool, in which game several played
fox noi,cy. while the lockers on smoked
segars aid drank brandy and water
oaths were heard in abnndance, and the
smashing Of Taces, bouncing Of balls,
and cries for the waiter, gave dismal
coloring to the scene. Here was anSth.
CT picture Of vice which debased aie
character of our city. Could the parents
and employers of these young mcn find
no odier pursuit for them ? Were they
so Indifferent to their morllity ard pros
perity as 10 pass over in silence these
nightly snd deadly debauches If they
had no employmen,-Why not improve
their mind and amuse their flncy with a
book ? If they had no book, and their