New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-11
GAMBLING IN NETWORK.
No. VI......For The II

game. holding the same rank with the universal
Yankee nation, as Rouge ct Noir in France and
Monte in Spain. The two latter, however, are
far less pernicous in their character, they pre-
sent few Of the chances for fraud and trckery,
which are found so sbundantly in the game OF
Faro. With slight degree of ingenuity, the
practiced f arc player can obtain complete poses
sion of the unsuspecting novice; he can deal the
cards to suit himself; he can resort to all sorts
Of tricks to blind and gull the victim the YER
dant and unwary are sure to be made TO bleed
largely and even those who have cut their eye
teeth often made to suffer to the tune OF thou
sands in a night, in spite of their teeth.
The present game of Faro has not escaped the
influence of the progressive law, which some men
tell US, binds all human things. 1t has advanced
with the advancing spirit of the age Hoyle, if he
were to revisit the earth in person, or return in
spirit at the incantatons Of the weird sisters
of Rochester, would not recognise the game
which he has described with such scientific felici
~ in his immortal classic on his favorite branch
ofphilosophy In its present shape, modified asst
has been by the traditions of many years, adapted
to various meridians of taste and fashion, suited
to the peculiar speculative genius Of Brother
Jonathan, it has no more resemblance to the game
expounded by Hoyle than cock'fght has to
bull batting or horse race.
In this city, the game of Faro is advancing with
rapid steps. A taste for its desperate excite
ments is spreading among all classes Of players,
1t takes the place, to a great degree, OF othe
less stimulating games, though where the love
of gambling has become a confirmed passion, it
has no remarkable scruples about accepting any
mode of qualification. At the same time, the es
Adjustments devoted to this game, for the accom-
mediation of the initiated, are got up with SPLEEN
dor of appointments, and an extravaganza of lux
ury which twenty years ago would have been re-
garded as the hight of infatuation.
If we take, for a moment the incredible suppo-
sition that the game is played with perfect fair
ness we may consider it as one OF the most equal
Banking games that is fashionable among players
The common per centage insures the banker an
advantage of not three per cent on every dol
lar placed on the table, but this is not to be taken
as an actual view Of the case. The per centage va
ries with the character of the players. Shrewd
old heads accustomed to dealing, will often run it
up till it becomes the most shameless robbery.
1t is by no means surprising that the Police
should be tempted by the attractions OF this game
to make the sword of justice as light as possible
on the necks of ts 1~.-~t~--- Como OF SueSo WI
thy officials are always to be found at the Faro
Bank,-by no means armed with the inhexible Sc
verify of the law-but, good, easy souls, watching
the changes of the game with the eye of an ANA.
teur, and indulging in the luxuries of the season
at the expense of the house-a sumptuous supper
table always spreading its bountiful charms, with
out seeking quid pro quo from the partaker.
1t is thus by no means rare sigh. to witness
at these resorts, persons who pride themselves on
belonging to the highest circle of society, we'll
dressed gentlemen from the center OF Upper Ten
dom, military and naval officers, members OF
Congress, and other political functionares, PrOfes
sors and students of colleges members of the So
called learned professions, and individuals eminent
both in position and in reputation, mixed up IN
the indscriminate excitements Of the game, with
members of the City Police, and other noted official
characters whose visits at the Faro Table are as
constant and punctual as those of a New-England
Puritan to the Church. These houses. accordingly,
have little to fear from the Police of the City.
They have perfectly good understanding with the
agents of justice. So far as they are concerned,
the terrors of the law are of no more account,
than the scarecrow in a cornfeld.
From such sources, the fashionable gambling
houses derive an unfailing supply Of customers.
Educated to the vice from tender years, many
have gone through the regular graduation which
we have described in former articles, commenc.
ing with pitching coppers in the streets, taking
their degree at Ten Pins Billiards, Rafting and
Lottery Policies, they wind up their career ofruin.
GUS indulgence and seal their compact with the
devil, by devOting soul and body to the intoxicat-
ing, maddening and murderous chances OF the
Faro Table. We cannot use words strong enough
to paint the horrible scenes that of perpetual
occurrence in these dens of abomAation. For the
present we will draw veil over the loathsome
spectacle-the exhibition of delirious excitement,
of internal blasphemies, of reckless infatuaton,
of raging passion, and Of sulen, speedily, heart
corroding despair. We are unwilling to shock
the reader with premature developments. Our
materials in preparation, and if necessary, We
shall resume the the subject at no distant day.
Meantime, we put the question to our conscien-
tious, moral, law.sbiding citizens-to those who
have the dearest interests of life at stake in the
questiOn-whose children may grow up to be their
proudest boast and richest solsce, or become the
haggard victims of the hellish arts of the blackeg
If these magnificent temples of sin, these golden
affairs of the arch-enemy of souls, are to remain
in the midst of our swarming City, nightly allur-
ing thousands to the deepest damnstion known
this side the region of internal perdition, blasting
the fond hope of the parental heart, and crushing
out the life of the strongest manhood, and no word
be uttered to stay the progress of the devouring
curse-no arm stretched forth between the dead
and the living to arrest the cankerous plague, be-
fore which health and innocence, and purity and
domestic love- and all manly integrity Of soul, are