The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-10-12
From As New York Sp.day Times,
Confession Of a Gambler.

4 nj
made the first false step and sll around whom /,
is gay, aatsering, aud convival, does not see \,
in perspective the strides that reach the bottom
---how she sinks BY degrees, like the barome- !,
Ter in an approaching storm. !,
Stepping into popular Cdte, few days IN
eince, for cooling drink, we heard the rat- NJ
tling Of billiard balls, and saw two lads il ST
fashionable attire, with cigars In their mouths, :
and coats of, playing u one Of the tables, an h
old fellow whose countenarce was familiar TO h
us, keeping game for them. We remembered v
him in the prime OF life as gentleman gam '
bleE We make Ihst distinction between h
professional GAMBLER, who cheats at cards, and |
one who PLAYS sklllfully but hohOtaby. He (
had some consideration in society, for his oc~ |
cupation was generally known. He had
Respectable acquantances; gentlemen nodded
TO him in friendly way; his manners we're
always correct; and his dress neat without
being fashy. He led the life Of i gambler,
however--lo day rich, tomorrow poor-with
all the phases aRd changes incident 10 that
calling. We saw at oace 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.
tWeI,' said we there you are yet! Always
al a game Of chance, or game Of skill. You
look as If fortune had dealt hardly with yOu.'
II don't com plain-why should IL he Ie-
~ noj,o. hoJ onv Cortnintu Tnv nPCs
feseional life. II | had thousands one day
was withort dollar The next. Now | am
sure to glt seven dollars at the end OF week,
and am contented.' ..
DO you know said we, taking seat along
side of him on the cushioned settee, 'lhat !
have curiosity to learn what was the largest
cum you ever won at cards at sitting?'
sOne night I won thirty thousand dollars at
brag!' was his answer.
'Prodig,ous' Thirty thousand dOlIras, did
you say?'
'Yes. played all night and lost Il all
back excepting eight hundred dollars |
should have lost that, but ii was Sunday morn :
Ing, and heard the bell ring for church, and
recollecting that / had promised my wife to go
and hear he bishop preach, washed my hands
and lace. smoorhed my hair, and, with Gown
cast looks and pious features joined IN the
the Titany and chaunted The peulms'
of From the gaming table to theEhurthF'
.ac: sYes; and am not the only one thai under
ud- went that transition. 1t is not very unnatural
or unreasonable. Ifyou win, you have some
Is. thing to give thanks for: if you 1ose' you ca'
the pray for better luck next time. This Is IN
tell consolation Of the gamblers l'le'
The did sou never IOtswear gamOllng'' :"
ken inquired, -.
yio- 'Oh! frequently but always broke my 0ath
and One night lost three thousand dohatS-ai
tied badin the world-and went home quite mean
etch cholv with A friend. Ii was past two o'cloc'
ex- .nd invited him to drink glass OF brandy an
that water. swore all the bitter oaths cou'd II
}, IN member,ha, would never again hanale cSto
While was thus swearing | felt in nv Pock'
MIN to, ,;,,ls tobacco, aud found banknote Il
IS ore hundred dollars rolled up in eoFne
Iun- All nv gambling propenSines revived IN
rev instant - Let's go back sald Il a"u
turc, our luck once more with this hundred M
cies, win five thousand.' We went back and 10
A6ed the note in less than FIVE minutes % HUI
mill- for the virtuous resolutions OF gamoleE' II
ed to man naINre is not to be trusted
se it sThe gambling houses Of the present "a
pulu- .,id we. are on rather a hgheF scae' my
relay friend, than in your time''
lrocl- Everything on a similar scale is the san
Hun.t ". .rso pro6sCseive people. Houses OF
cour-l questionable character used't to De IN "oO
e en- and corners, where no lamp burned-no" IN
! put baze on in splendor quite near Broadway
gging the lady abbess rides in her own carriage
10 OF .o,lv to carry note or to inquire lor so'
war reEtleman,' he answered, au' @u'0 'VI'
uons ,he sDendor which SURROUNDS me- Ismeh
,reastI ,,ch viaods as ascend the staircase en-
Tx of The suits ot apartments, where 'he 'ss'OO'
ng- horoiovs. the rich Turkey carpets ana o.
ymen mans. the tall and elabOra'eIy 'caFVeu al"
stran Di,rors. the ormula lamps and cande'aOFoS'
veys na,Otinrs Of Venuses and D'an@s ~ gorge
even frames, tie silken drapcries when We F"
alists; anc,ent mqgnifcence, the rich wl"eS anu '
Their cate vands on the table, and the plate az"
verj- tendanrs. all have the appearance o. ."
nature cban,ed castIo-of what we read Of fafao'
lamed 1t is hell, where the pockets are picNeu :
occur tAre you acquainted with any OF the Ns'I
}, and Of these splendid establishments ~.
which sWho would know a brOtheF o. 'H0 ''''
etined fayo and rouge et no'r in seeoy Ooa'
nse in shocking bad hata Yet Know 'ne" ~
.ymen s.inct--by their bushy and well w" INN
licking boards, the oily smoothness o' '"e'' ~"
have yichpess Of their garmeOts' 'heit "a's'-S"
il was and diamond bfeaspins, taelF easy iO'''
all re- pai, and the hnoy-favOred cigars '''