Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-08-16

of his government, and whether, his proclamation
meets with the approval Of the President Of the
United States.
With assurances of distinguished consideration, I
have the honor to be your Excelencys most obcdi-
ent servant, (Signed) P. H. BELL.
From the N. Y. Sunday Times
Confession of Gambler.
&
In almost all occupations and pursuits, there
degrees in the downward tendencies of life, if we
could only keep the run of them, and understand the
moral The dashing beauty, who has made the first
false step, and all around whom is gay, fattering,
and eonviva does not perspective the strides
that reach the bottom-how she sinks by degrees,
like the barometer in an approaching storm:
| Stepping into popular CGfe few days since, for
cooling drink, we heard the rafting of billiard
balls and saw two lads in fashionable attire with CT
gars in their mouths and coats off, playing at one of
the tables old fellow, whose countenance was ia
miliar to us, keeping game for them We rcmem-
! bered him in the prime of life gentleman gam
| bier. We make that distinction between profess
sional gambler, who cheats at cards, and one who
plays skillfully but honorably He had some consd-
GRAFTON in society, for his occupation not gene
rally known He had respectable acquaintance
gentlemen nodded to him in friendly way his man
ners were always correct and his dress was neat
without being fashy. He led the life of a gambler
| however-to-day rich, tomorrow poor-with all the
phases and changes incident to that calling. We
at once that in his descent he had got as low as
billiard marker and could not throw off his early
habits although he had no longer any money to sport
with.
"Well," said we, here you are yet? Always at
a game of chance, game of skill. You look as
| if fortune had dealt hardly with you"
Il don't COMPATIBILITY should l % he replied.
Il never had any certainty in my professional life.
| If | had thousands day, was without a dollar
the next Now am sure to get seven dollars at the
end of week. and | am contented"
''Do you know said we, taking scat alongside
of him the cushioned scttcc, that have curl
osity to learn what was the largest you ever
won at cards at sitting"
Zone night won thirty thousand dollars at brag =
was his answer.
"Prodigous! Thirty thousand dollars, do you
say!3 , ,.o, 49,
ccptng eight hundred dollars. l should have lost
that but it was Sunday morning, and heard the
bell ring for church, and rccollecting that had pro-
missed my wife to go to hear the bishop preach, |
washed my hands and face, smoothed my hair and;
with downcast looks and pous features. joined in the
litany and chaunted the psalms,'
& From the gaming table to the church -
Yes and am not the only one who underwent
that transition. 1t is not very unnatural or unrea-
sonable If You win YOU have something to give
thanks for if you lose you pray for better luck
iii future. This is the consolation OF the gambler
life !"
odd you never forswcar gambling q weinquircd
"Oh! frequently; but always broke my OATH
One night lost three thousand dollars-all had IN
the world-and went home quite melancholy with a
friend. 1t past two o'clock, and invited him
to drink glass of brandy and water. swore all
the bitter Oaths could remember that never again
would handle cards. While was thus swearing
felt in my pocket for little tobacco, and found
bank note of one hundred dollars rolled up in cor
ner. All my gambling propensties revived in an
instant. Lets go back said |, and try our luck
once more. with this hundred may win five thou
sand. We went back, and lost the note in five
minutes! So much for the virtuous resolutions OF
gambler. Human nature is not to be trusted"
) 1.-THE gambling houses of the present day." said
we, care on rather higher scale, my old friend
than in your time
':Eyerything on a similar scale is the same. We
arc progressive people Houses OF questionable
character used to be in hooks and corners where
lamp burned--now they blaze on in splendor quite
near Broadway, and the lady abbess rides IN her own
carriage"
:sOniy to carry a note or to inquire for some gen
ti2man, he answered. " | quite lost in the splen
dor which surrounds me. [ smell the rich viands o.
: the kitchen as | ascend the staircase | enter the
suits Of apartments where the festoOned hanglngs
the rich Turkey carpets and Persian ottomans tho
tall and deliberately carved and gilt mirrors, the
ormula lamps and canclabras, the painting of Ven
and Danes in gorgeous frames, the sllken ORA
peries which vie with ancient magnifcence, the rlcE
wines and delicate vands the table, and the plate
and attendants, all have the appearance OF an en-
h chantcd castle-of what we read of Paradise. 1t Is
t hell, where the pockets picked y
= ''Are you acquainted with any OF the Keepers o.
f these splendid establishments q
: 'Who would know brother of the order of far.
and rouge ct mor in seedy coat and shocking BAG
. hat Yet know them by instinct-by their bush.
j. and we'll trimmed boards, the oily smoothness O
t. their hair the richness of their garments theil
i watch-chains and diamond breast-pins, their easy
1t lounging gait and the finely favored cigars in the
It mouths
l. "Do our rich merchants, extensive brokers anc
millionaries, paronise these extensive establish
re ments q
G " Not to any extent. They spread their nets TO
d srangers-for the rich planters and factors will
d which our city and fashionable hotels abound g
d We were glad to hear that the bulk of victim
It were not townsmen and yet there are to-
It many of such who lose their money at cards, ant
n throw melancholy pail the happiness of al
l. entire fmy-Night after night the poor wife sit
IF alone, waiting the return of her truant husband
y Each knock at the door-each jar or jingle of tn
lie bell alarms her, until she becomes nervous from sol
l. tude and watchfuness The chrping of the cricke
the HEARTH the moaning of the wind through tn
4, easement, serves only to make night hdeous. Tn
ID midnight bell tolls, and still he comes not. Til
hour of two strikes-sometimes it its three in tn
y morning-ere his step is heard and then he enters
lie pale haggard tormented with passion and despair
W wild with disappointment, without kind word,
or endoarnr her whose low