New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-07
c5NpIJNG IN NGWYORN.


1rI,e ni,t{ic attention has re11i.iit pie HtSo'e''
.. ,be nregslence Of this des-H a5 and dessr0@.
.;ve vice IL our city. The accounts gwen OF It's
s.-.;tJe heart rending eiiects,-9t the extent 10
.~f;ol . $ cer,ied,-of the number and tie prev
49,, respe liability OF many OF rs viotims,-of the
nse,I f5 eatrop the unwary and OF the Tesa
e.. b,,.,aess.like system 70 winch it IS reduced
:.t,oya,aj magnificent establishments that rival
,1a wors. ac.ls of London ana Paris,-.Ioush
INV, fro,a perfectly auth atic sources, and n
MANY cases from personal observation, have been
n sncb startling character as scarcely TO be
deemed credible by those OF oar COOL easy citi-
zeps. who DO not look beyond the smoke OF their
own chimn'es
Bat the halt has not yet been told. The strong
est language would not be strong enough to de
scribe tire whole in its full extent OF terrible de.
pravity. Scenes are daily and nightly passing
within short distance OF our most fashionable
thorough fares. which would harrow up the soul OIL
any one on whom the curtain Of the internal orgies
was raised. We have seen enough VITA our own
ewes to chill the blood and tumthe heart INTO STONE
Our experience shall be made known In t'ils
case secrecy would be n crime W nat we sh4il
teIJ. we know and if any one demands the proof
the proof shall be forthcoming. In tew short
erticles in The 1ri5ltae we sbail lay open some
If the hights and depths OF this mystery oilnqul-
r.. Would that our words might pierce the dull
cold ear OF selfish apathy, and arous3 tie PQouc
mind to the gulf Of pollution which yawns IN the
midst of our shining city
Letus begin with the beginning. The germ o
gambling in New-York is TO ne found in the
streets. The first novitiates in the dreadful trade
IRE the BOIs, who may be seen at every hour OF
the day in certain parts OF the City, swarmlng the
pavcments like flies, intent on juvenile games
which contain the seeds Of gambling in its most
loathsome forms. With the song OF earliest birds.
these uukeBpt, unwashed, uucared-ior urchtns
emerge from the dens aud fookeres OF the Five
Points, ana other similar localities. Many OF
them destitute of parents friends, entirely with
out home, have passed the night-HeaYen
knows where-seeping in coal-boxes, under stair
ways, awnings cellar doors, crouchin8 in
the nearest vacant spot which can give them
q miserable shelter Tor the night The hrst
fling in the morning is to get possession OF a
few coppers These they gain by begging pfer
ing, or doing any little job that may turn up.
With tins stock in trade they are ready to COM
lnence operations. The excitement Of precociOUs
gambling has already poisoned their blood They
are more eager to get a chance at game than to
get their breakfasts They have soon drawn
around them other boys not OF their own set. If
they can get hold of pupils on their way to
school, they are sure not to let them go till they
have eilectually cleaned out their pockets of what
stray coppers may be found in them. The tayorte
game is pitching and spanning cents, though bet
ting on marbles also runs high. In these games
they have the expertness of old stagers. 1t is
study to watch the pluck and science with which
they enter into the spirit of the game. Coppers
change hands rapidly, and on n small scale you
can see developed all the passions of the veteran
gambler The lucky boy who has won a few
coppers is usually apt to invest his capital in the
purchase OF a Z" horse" saddle" or gig so
called at the policy Office. To make good this
outlay, which is pretty certain to prove total
bss he goes to the pavement and plays with fresh
zeal, fer the purpose of getting what he calls
chunk
This is the first stage But young ambition
COON takes higher fight. The aspiring gambler
next expands his wings at the tenpin alley or
bowIing.saoon Here he goes through new
courao Of sprouts he is getting his eyetoeth cut
randy. The next move is to the blGardtable'
where his proficiency is marvellous, and diversified
with the new wrinkles he obtains at the railing
rooms, he is ready for the forotable at which he
takes the first degree in the higher branches ofthe
desperate career which has now become his des-
tiny. The street.boy thus launched, often sails
before the wind at anSastonshing rate. Many of
the mostuotorious gamblers have risen from these
small beginnings to their present eminence IN
their detestable trade We might name three of
the most celebrated larotables in New. York that
are now owned by two tuueothered gamblers,
who pride themselves on being regulars in the
profession, and who have come up through all the
degrees from spanning coppers in the street to
their present dsgraccful prominence. r. L. E
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