Southern planter., 1832-04-28

fhd-hoar-ioohinp Frenchman with the whskers
ooked, when he counted the sinners; ,rhisdiup ali
he tlmo, 10 appear unconcened"--and they siop.
pod It's mouth with yociierous roar oladmimtIon
y his humor. Perfectly happy, he led tho way to
ms chamber, where an expensive suppcr and deli.
cous wine awaited them. The conversation turn
ed on play, duly illuminated by tho cup, Of which
u. quaiied unsparinPly; for il was nearly the fvt
and positively 20 be the last, Of his dissipation.
Oh! that last timo; that finishing indulgence
mat fatal once more--how many Lave YOU ruined.
ye, prime minister Of selfdelusion; how many
iounshlng fortune, happy family, diaden Of
genius, noble heart have ye sunk into tho oa,lv
dust Of death, or worse than deaIhl We're Il moi
lor youi tho vice, whose dread deformty il Is nv
gloomy task 10 paint, would lose its torror az il lost
ITS charm. What is that charmi Hope. whatis
the ierrorf DespaiT--at which truth and oxpori-
ence will not forever point in vain. Hone. that
lights up that one last time with the flush of Ger.
tainly, Withdrawing not her false illumination ,il
the cataract Of rum rushes deadly over all. That
one last A-bewaro oft, wandorer from the mar
row path in every rack but most especially m that
most accursed ofGAMINo--you will fort last time
seek to win; another last time eodeavor 10 regain
your olcn--and then, forgetting all principle and
honor, good faith, generosity and honesty, tanner
for the last time Of all with that which is anothers
The conversation grew animated, and the temp
ter had the inexperienced H. completely IN his
clutches; he was eloquent and praclised. From
convincing him Of the abstract pTopriety Of gamb-
ling, as a perfectly fair matter between man and
man, he Proceeded to shew tina, tho solemn con
demnltlon passed by every well regulated society
upon IL, was iallacious and unlounded; the mere
fanatic whining Of gloomy minority, who thanked
God that they we're not as other men wcro--and
who, devoid of the spirit Of innocent hlariiy them
selves, sought TO rob others Of the enjoyment which
iis indulgence bestowed The million instances of
death and ruin, which history held FORTH were oas-
ly proved 10 be exaRgeTations II not falsehoods:
and al all events unworthy the apprehension Of a
dashing player who practsed according 10 the I'M
proved principles Of the present day. To all this
were added the goTgeousnoss Of wealth, and the de.
light Of luxury; which. according TO the speaker,
were certainly atlainablc by HIMSELF or any who
took him for guide; carelessly passing of his own
evident pauoity ofmcans, by pretending philoso
phic contempt Of wealth, aud disposition 10 play
onIy foT entertainment Yet would all this have
failed-for H's reason too strong for wine; had
not the painted devil, fashion, and the all corrupt
ing usage Of sOciety been brought TO bear against
his early education and well grounded principles
He was told that in is country, II was no disgrace
to play; on the contrary, that it was one Of IN,
chief ornaments Of an accomplished gentleman I,
be scientific in the depths Of gamlngi that it was
sign ofinielleci and knowledge oftbe world; mark
ing youngsier for future ominonce, and adjoining
the silver brow of those who had attained the high
est digni;ies "Aye," said the dear friend Gilbert
with increasing neutrality-suspicious. and sena
tors, Judges, physicians, lawyers and gentlemen oi
fortune, here, whatever the pIeudices Of your blut
education may have induced you 20 boliovc, via
with each other IN this noble amusement Infinite
" above those grovellng notions which prescribe
the power that governs chance by skill hoy glory
in openly; and by public edcts as by private ex.
ample, fearlessly point 10 play as tho high road 10
pleasure and TO fortune. For yourself, act as you
plense should you pursue this track unsufully
and suffer loss, mover blame me for IL; seek to in
nnonce none; least Of all yoTsclG who arc SC
much better qualified than | to judge of the pro
prioiies fife. Pursue your own path; but do Il
with enlarged and unpreiudicod views; and, f you
should, for occasional relaxation, enlist among tho
votaries Of Fortune, make use ofmy experience and
friendship and you will ever be, not only safe, bu
triumphant And above all things, tear from YOU
mind the foolish notion Of discredit as attached tc
play; you soa how society and law combine for il,
support, and you need not my individual suffrage
in lis favor. BE man, and forget the silly prosng
Of your grandame. Enough said-judge for your
self; I'm tired Of talking; let us drink and Sleep
And they did drink; and daylight dawned upor
their unquiet slumbers and lighted lis second seI
10 ruin He won again--again--t borrowed
lost--drank- associated with counterloitors; 90
more money by his unholy traffic; played for n,
last time; won; determined TO nuke a fortune al
once, and played again. upon solemn oath to give
il up for ever, and lost dH He fled to Mexico
played again; and his twenty-fourih year saw hin
perish upon a scaiiold for coming! lilo suffered
alone; for his dear friend Gilbert escaped, and re
turned with fine horses and Jewels to New Orleans
where he stands again prepared to initiate youth in
TO familiarity with those crcellent establishments
which "public edici and prioaic example hare $,
hoRorably combined 10 sanction"