Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-12-16

expenses, and interest 4ot money, with
I fair consideration for risks, &c, he CAV,
him his freedom; provided the Coloniza
tien Society would take charge Of him.
| Gambling Houses in San Francisco.
! The San Francisco correspondent of the
New Orleans True Delta, hns The follow,
ing description of,he gambling houses OF
the city Of gold, in his last letter: H5sa'
] have before mentioned the gambling
houses in this city; since then | have hae
an opportunity Of examining them, and al.
most ceased 10 be surprised at the fascina.
ton they exercise over both old and young,
Of all classes and conditions. They are
erected on two sides Of the plaza, their
fronts entirely Of glass, and at night bla.
zing with light. Their magnificent proper.
tions, splendid furniture and gll,teling piles
oi coin glowing in light brighter than day,
furnish coup ds'eil brilliant and start
ling beyond description. The largest sa.
looms are about thirty feet in width, ex.
tending back one hundred and thirty or
forty. feet. Curtains Of crimson or blue
danask shade the lofty side windows, their
rich fringes forming frelted frame for
the broad mirrors which separate them.--
Pictures, masterpieces of urt-but are de-
graded 10 pander TO the rassions-line the
walls, and smile and glow in the ligh. of a
thousand lamps, with voluptuous reality
Rich furniture Of mahogany or rosewood
surrounds the room in handsome groups,
and at one end table isspread with every
luxury Of the season on silver and china,
Of which all are welcome to partake; nnd
heating liquors and rich wines are offered
10 stimulate 10 a fiercer madness the low
and evil passions Of the infatnaied crowd
The eye of the spectator, however, soon
wanders from this animate glare, 10 the
still but high wrought life before him.. 2
Through the centre of the rooms are
placsd tables of mahogany covered with
velvet, or polished 10 the las. degree Of
brightness. and around these, their faces
sharply defined by the brilliant side.lights,
IS gathered the strangest crowd ever col-
lected in this country Of contrasts. Sailor
aad soldies, gentleman and beggar. stand
side BY side; the millionaire and the news
boy, the dapper clerk and unshorn miner
Of the twelve months: while scattered
through the whole, you see eagerly pro-
,ruding the shaggy head Of the Indian,
the olive face and glittering eyes of the
Mexican, and the broad, gross countenan-
ces Of the Chinese, as il TO give the final
touch 10 this m ,st unique picture. Those
nearestth tables sit with countenances
pale or flushed, as they win or lose; those
next behind bend over them, watching
with almost equal. exci,enent-impatient
to risk fortune, fame, or even soul itself.
upon the same die. Here sits an expert
enced gambler, cold, passionless, winning,
with apparent Indifference, the product of
d years slavery in the mines. How the
eyesof his victim burn with rage and hate
as his last ounce is remorselessly swept
into the 'bank!' a1 Hfs':s 80
$ Last week youth was tried for mur.
der committed in one Of these houses, in a
moment of desparate excitement; he was
acquitted because no. one could be found
to swear that he sd,U him commit the net,
though oil were convinced Of his guilt; ;and
he was sent forth among his fellows with
the mnrk Of Cain upon lis brow, which
no time nor repentance can Affect There
is man equally maddened by success -
He has won some thousands tonight, and
is preparing to spend them in bacchanali.
an orgies. "A few weeks, perhaps even
before he has spent bis i'll go, ten wealth,
and he viii, be carried, abloaaed corpse, to.
the strangers grave, aRd none will be
found 10 ask OF answer for him on this
wide earth, except, perhaps, it may be, a
broken aheartain q distant and. Do not
suppose from this, that all who are there
gathered are .players-mary are drawn
thithsr by curiosity; some go from custom
OF nlsyee OF excitement; but public opinion
bns so changed, that, those who twelve
months ago might have played freely.
would now as soon cut off right hand, as
10 be seen holding cards in gambling
house. They would be distrnsted by the
business men of the place, and
rejected BY the pare and good Of the gent.
ler sex, whose influence, though silent, is
rapidly ..;winnowing the wheat from the
tnfes, ,"al4s ssj afg ss..sf,fsst .zsass.s sd %
500 The bnglo-Saxon Race. a!
~ M - gE1:l..- n