Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-06-06
PROVIDENCE.
GAMING.

is none which is more dreadful in its conse-
quences, or more certain to involve the unhap-
py devotee in ruin, than that of gaming. 1t is
the harbinger Of almost every crime, it bcgets
intemperance, il renders the heart callous TO
the finer feelings, it produces moral and intel
lcctual abstraction, it is the author of disease,
and prostrates man below the level Of the brute
creation. We well remember the fate Of one,
who was the companion of our juvenile days,
and whose dawning genius bespoke for him the
honors of the world Fortune smiled upon his
birth; and ere he had reached his majority, his
father died, and left him handsome fortune.
At first, he devoted himself to habits of INDUS
try, and was esteemed as one Of the most PROM
ising young merchants Of the community; and
all who knew him, predicted his future excel
lence and greatness Unfortunately, at the
instance of some associate, he one night con-
sented to visit gaming house; and in a mo-
mcnt became SO enrapturcd with play, that he
assumed the vocation of profcssed gamc.tcr.
His business was suspended, and the gaming
table was his only place Of resort. Next came
habits of intempcrancc, and with them the loss
of reason and responsibility. In little while
his fortune was squandered, and in the little
space Of year, he was prostrated on a bed of
sickness; and ere he had attained the age of
twenty-five, descended TO an untime!y grave,
covered with ignominy and disgrace.
A day or two before he bade the waking
world good night, we visited him, whcn as he
pressed our hand, his bosom was agonixcd with
ten thousand throcs; and in moment Of phrcn-
zy, he uttered tho most appalling curses that
mortal ever listened to-and implorcd the
wrath of Ieaven,to descend upon him, who
first introduced him to the resorts of the game
ster A young wife, once happy and with a
fair prospect before her, stood weeping by his
bed side, whilst his infant child wcpt, as it lis
tened to the phrcnzicd cjaculatiCns of the lost
and abandoned gamester. This rcmniscencc
has been recalled to us, by reading the follow
ing essay, which we extract from an interest,"
ing work, entitled Deaths Doings."
"Thc passion for gaming is as universal as
II is pernicious; avarcc is its origin, and as all
human hearts are more or less avaricious,
propensity to gambling is confined to no pecu-
liar country. The savage and the sons OF re-
finement, the scientific and the ignorant, alike
admit it within their bosoms. There appears TO
be delicious allurement connected with the
anticipation Of winning, that counteracts all
qualmy doubts and for while, deprives the
soul of its general sympathics by cnslavlng it
to obvious seIlishness. Some writer's have en-
dcavourcd to confinc the prevalence OF gamb-
ling to those climes where the fri&id stcrnness
of the atmosphere occasions mdntal torpor,
which is 10 be relieved only by tho, pcrturba-
tions Of the heart. But existing faEts arc
confutation to this Limitation; for whether we
cast our eye over the fertile provinces of Chr
ma, or turn to the ncultivated islands in the
Pacific Ocean, we find man yielding himself up
to the same destructive passion, and cntaing
on himself consequences equally appalling.
A more Notwithstanding spectacle cannot
we'll be agincd than room replctc with
regular gambling parties, ca ch engaged at their
particular game; take, for instance. one oftbc
metropolitan heils!-An uHpitidted stranger,
Oh his first entrance there, may learn a lesson
that will remain indclible while the soul is ca
pabc of remembering former sympathes
the hushinl silence Of the room-raroy dis
turbed but by the passive footballs of walters,
and dismal sighs escaping from sorrowed
hcarts-thc mourniu associations that wait on
every unhallow cd spot, and the deepening
seriousness that misery is bus'ed in pcnsive rev.
ols--all commingling, sink on the visitant's
soul with appalling reality. Though Wntaned
himself, his tcndercst pity and most mclan-
choly prcsentmcnts must be awakened for the
deluded victims of selfish passion: While
standing by and gazing at one Of the attentive
gamesters, what room for moralizing compar-
son! Observe his ghtterlhg eye that rolls so
wildly under its frctful lid, the alternate wrink-
ling and relaxing of bis moistoncd brow, his
baking lips, and their frequent despairing NUT
ter Of convusiye anguish! His countenancc y
the faithful mirror of his soul its internal pass
ions may be seen working thcre.-Now, a trc-
pd gcam of Joy illumcs his sunken chsst-
again the smile dissolvcs, and the gloomy sui
lcnnoss of disappointment sheds there its mo-
notony of shade. His visagc may be compar-
ed to lake OH breezy spring day, where dr.
zy sunbeams mellow for while its placid sur
face, TO be succeeded by pattcring rain drops.
and the ripping play of ru'Fcd water Thus
pleasure for while lights up the gamoster's
ice, the features glow as il passes over them,
and then relapse into the emotions of deep
rooted melancholy! Miserable feelings arc not
only betrayed in the countenance; they arc
perceived in each movement of the hand, the
peevish grasp of the dice box, Or the dubious
selection of a card, in the arrangement of the
tricks, and disposition of the counters; his
whole air denotes a mental struggle. Suppose
he be tho momcntary winner; even then his
delight is but a mockery of felicity, while the
losing adversary awes down its demonstration
by the livid contortions Of his visagc, and the
patient stcrnness ofavarice wrtl,ing forspcedy
retaliation