Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-05-06
WHOLE NO. 266.
GAMING HOUSES.

we ma the loIiown.g exceHent aHicIO
in the New-York Evening Star. II is
deserving Of attention.
HELLs.-Figure 10 yourself, gentle
render, double granite house, Of the
largest dimensions, iu one of the most
fashionable squares Of the great metrop-
oils, surrounded by the houses OF the no
bllity and officers OF the crown in the
centre Of all that is elegant, accomplish
ed and useful in arts, in arms and in sci
ence. The lower floor appropriated for
Offices, for tho maitre de CUISINE, for the
reireshment rooms Of waters and live
ried attendants. The grand staircase Of
Italian marble, and in the inches arc
beautifully executed statues of the gra-
ces, heavy Chinese and stained glass
lamps and lustres are suspended over the
grand entrance, which leads 10 suites Of
apartments above, where tho festooned
hangings, the rich Turkey cnrpets, and
Persian ottomans, the tall mirrors, the
molu lamps and candelabrass, the gor-
geous paintings, and silken draperies,
might vie with oriental magniiicence,
where the glare, and flash, and shower
of light, rivals in brilliancy the midday
sun. In this palace, none but the elite
OF fashion and wealth enter-here the
warrior and statesman may be found
the lord of millions, and the heirs of cas-
ties, and countless acres-the choicest
wines and the most delicate viands tempt
the appetite-the air is perlumsd, and ull
is splcndor and intoxicating bliss, yet
this apparently terrestrial paradise is cal
led HE'LL, and very properly so, for it is
a GAMING HOUSE where all the passions
which can agitate human nature are
seen in countless variety-where hope
and fear, avarice and waste, Joy and
grief, expectation and despair, alternate
ly reign-where desperation urges the
last stake, and the pistol is the last re-
fuge.
! We have our hells in this city--our
gentee and select aiming houses, where
friends meet to win ench others money,
and where the initiatory steps to gamb-
lcr's life and gamblers fate, are clearly
developed
Il The other night, hearing the rattling
of balls in room brilliantly illuminated
in one of our public streets, l strolled in
to sec what was going on, and there be-
held two boys not over fifteen years Of
age, playing billiards; so very short, that
they had to stand on tip-toe to use the
mace and QUE with any certainty-an
OLD MAN, the keeper of the table was
marking for them. They were fashion
ably dressed; one Of the little urchins
had segar in the corner Of his mouth,
and the other had fur cap neatly cock
ed on the side Of his head; and at every
pause of the game, took a sip Of some
thing from a tumbler, which might have
been wine and water--probably some
thing stronger; the little fellows moved
briskly around the table, and were by
no means novices. They were pretty
boys, delicately featured; children Of
rich parents; any father might be proud
of such boys, and yet would be spared
much anxiety and pain to be without
them.
| What are they good for; what prospect
have thoy through life, commencing life
thus? Initiated at an early age in vice
and extravaganza, for them study could
have no charms; industry no allurements;
a sober, happy, temperate life, no attrac-
ton. Pleasure and Play are the twin
Stars oftbeir destiny; and an early grave
in penury, their only reward Who
stands accountable for their ruin Pa
RENTS. Up to certain age OF discre-
ton, father is responsible for the sins
Of child; hence the strong declarations
Of the early moral writers, that the fu-
,her who does not bring up his son To
some profession or calling, is q villain;"
and so he is; he is the assassin Of his
own child.
\ When the two boys had finished their
game-pnid their bill-lit their segars--
and buttoned up their coats, for walk,
the old marker was lelt alone. He had
been gambler in his time, and was like
q broken down race horse, who could
not give ny the turf. "Do you know"
said l, "that l have some curiosity to
learn what was the largest sum you ever
won at cards at a settingi" "Why,
when was young follow, l kept COM
puny with all tho young fellows in town,
| one night won thirty thousand dollars
at brsg." "Prodigious Thirty thou
sand dollars?" eyes, played all night
and lost it all back, except eight hun
dred dollars, and would have lost that but
it was Sunday morning; and l heard
the bells ring for church, and recollect-
ed that had promised my wife to go
and hear the Bishop preach. So I
washed my hands and face, smoothed
my hair, aud with downcast looks and
pious features, joined in the Litany, and
chaunted the Palms"