The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1850-08-21
CONFESSIONS OF A GAMBLER.
BY MAJOR NOAH.

In almost all occupations and pursuits
there are degrees in the downward tenden,
cies of life, if we could only keep the run o.
them, and understand the moral The dash
ing beauty, who has made the first false step.
and al around isgay, fatteting and convivaI,
does uot see in perspective the strides thai
reach the bottom how she sinks by degrees,
like the barometer in an approaching storm.
Stepping into popular cafe, few days
since, for cooling drink, we heard the rats
'ting Of billiard balls, and saw two lads in
fashionable attire, with cigars in their mouths
and Goals of, playing a. one Of the tables,
and an old fellow, whose counlcnancc was
familiar to us, keeping game for them. We
remembered him in the primo OF Ii ife as
gentleman gambler. We maze that distinc-
lion between a professional gambler, who
cheats at cards, and one who plays skilflly,
but honorably. lie had some consideration
in society, for his occupation was not gener>
ally known, He had respectable acqualn. -.
;ances gentlemen nodded 10 him in friendly
way, his manners were always correct; and
his dress was neat without being fflshv.-
He led the life Of gambler, however to.
day rich, tomorrow poor-with all the
phrases and changes incident 10 that calling.
We saw at once in his descent, he had got
as low as a billiard marker, and could not
throw off his early habits, although he had no
longer any money Il sport with.
"Well," says we. "here you are yet! AL.
ways at game of chance or skill. You
look as if fortune had dealt hard with you"
81 don't complain, why should l9'' he res
piled. 81 never had any certainty in my pro.
fessional life. IL had thousands one day
was without single dollar the next. Now
am sure to get my seven dollars at the end
of the week, and am contencd"
ado you know" said we, taking seat
alongside Of him on the cushioned settee,
"ihal have curiosity to know Whit was
The largest sum you ever won at cards a. o
sitting9"
-"One night won thirty thousand dollars
at brag!'' n.n r..
"Prodigious! Thirty thousand dollars, do
you says"
"Yes. Iplaycd all night, and lost it all
back excepting eight hundred dollars. |
should have lost that, but it was Sunday
morning, and heard the bells ring for
church; and recolecting that had promised
my wife TO go TO hear the bishop preach, |
washed my hands and face, smoothed down
my hair, and with downcas. look and pious
features, joined in the litany and chaunled
The psalms"
"From the gaming table to The church,"
ayes, and am not the only one who un>
derwent that transaction. Ii is not very un,
natural or unreasonable. IL you win, YOU
have something to give thanks for; il you
lose, you can pray for better luck in future"
This is the consolation oflhe gamblers life.
7"Did you never forsweur gambling2' we
inquired.
"Oh! frequently, but always broke my
oath. One night lost three lhtu,ard doIlalS
--all had in the wOrld--and went home
with friend, quite melancholy. II was past
two o'clock, and | invited hin 10 drink q
glass of brandy and water. swore all the
bitter oalhs could remember that never
again would hantle cards. While was thus
swearing, | felt in my pocket for little
tobacco, and found hahk note of one hun
dred dollars rolled up in corner. All my
gambling propensites revived in an instant
l"Le,'s 60 back" said |, "and try our luck
once more with This hundred. | may win
five thousand. We vent back, and lost the
note 10 Eve minutes! So much for the vir,
tuous resolution Of gambler. Human ma.
ture is not TO be trusted" ..
"'The gambling houses Of the present day, '
said we, fare on rather a higher scale, my
old friend, than they we're in your time"
"Eseryihng on similar scale is the same
We are progressive people. Houses Of q
questionable character used to be il hooks
aud corners, where no lamp burned --nov
they blaze out in splendor quite near Broad
way, and the lady abbess rides in her owr
carriage"
"Do YOU ever visit any Of the extensiv,
gambling saloons in tho city ~ .es
"Oniy 10 carry note, or 10 inquire fol
some gentleman" he answered. ~ an
quite lost In the spIendOr which surround