Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-09-27
pRJvATE CoRREsPoNDENCE.

i
Paris, august 3.-A little pamphlet
has Just been published here, entitled
"Another Victim of the Gambling
houses" in which father details the
overwhelming ruin and misery tina,
have been brought upon him by his
sons fatal passion for gambling. He
states that his son Eugene was study
ing the law in Paris. After very long
silence he receives letter from him,
stating that he had been utterly ruined
BY frequenting the gambling houses
The letter thus concludes:-"The son
whom YOU loved so much has covered
himself with indelible disgrace; he cam
not, he ought not, ever see you again.
| beseech you not TO curse me when
you shall know the enormlly OF my
crime" The ill-guided man had forg-
ed the name Of banker to various bills,
amounting 10 $4,000 francs. The un-
fortunate father fastened to Paris to re-
imburse the banker whose name had
been forged, and who threatened to pro-
secute. Not knowing his sons lodg-
ing, he had to apply to the police for
the address. On entering his chamber,
the son Being absent, he found the ia
bic covered with playing cards, upon
some of which were traced the Internal
combinations that had cost him his
fortune and his son his honor some
ragged articles of dress, pair o. pis-
tolls and strong dose of laudanum.-
The olice agent who accompanied
him, .uggested that the most likely
place to find his son was at the Hotel
d'Angleterre, the vilest and most dis
gushing Of the gambling houses with
which Paris is infested. OF this place,
to which he repaired, he gives the fol-
lowing description: 81 had scarcely
advanced few steps into this horlid
place, when my body became covered
with cold Precipitation. tits difficult
to conceive that amongst the brigands
who plumber on the high way, there
should be any whose countenances are
marked with more decided signs OF re-
probation than those impressed upon
the faces Of the hideous beings whom
here saw. The greatest number were
covered with rags; some were sleeping
in a corner; others were grouped around
table, upon which they were haz rd'
ing the recently acquired fruit Of theil
plumber OF receptions. a ferocious Joy
glared in the eyes Of those who won
while the loosers actuallyfoamed witt
rage, and expressed their despair in the
most loathsome and abhorrent terms
The very air seemed thick with curses
and pestilence. But what was still
more disgusting than all this, was tht
appearance and conduct OF the wretch
ed women that frequent this den. =
The son was not found there upon thu
occasion. The next day the father re
ceived letter from his wife, informing
him that the night before some perso'
had scaled the garden wall, got into hi
| Office. broke open his desk, and tool
| tberefrom 100, 900 francs. The robbie
| it appeared afterwards, was his Owl
son. The father who was receivero
taxes, Immediately authorized his vii
to dispose of all his property to max
ND the deficit, and sent in his resigna
ton to the minister Of finance. Twelv
days afterwards his wife joined him i
paris. with 1000 francs, the remnan
Of their fortune. Immediately on he
arrival she was attacked with a malie
nant fever, and was corpse In twenty
| four hours. The writer OF the pan
inlet then goes on to state-"A mont
after this event, on issuingfrom the p;
lais royal, l thought l recognized m
son in the midst Of group OF thos
wretches whom / had seen at the M
tel d'Angleterre. Icalled out to hin
he turned round, cried out with lou
voice, Oh! my father, and rushed t'
wards me, dropped senseless at m
feet raised him up, and to my sham
I saw it, l took advantage Of this M
ment Of insensibilitv, and pressed M
10 INV heart On recovering him tro'
his fainting fit, l found that his reaso
was gone. For three months | hay
: INCREASINGLY watched over him. but II
tie hone now remains: he is quick
towards the tomb" The al