The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-04-19
For Tile Cecil Whig.
GAMBLING.


The love of Gaming is the worst of ills;
With ccaseless storms the blackend soul il fills;
Inveighs at Heaven, ncglects the ties OF blood;
DESTROYS the power and will of doing good,
Kills health, pawns honor, plunges in disgrace,
And what is still more drealiul-spoils her face.
Young.
There is, perhaps, no vice more rapid
in its progress, nor more pernlcious in
its tendencies, than gambling. The be-
ginner at card-playing is carried away
BY its facnations, and overcome by its
excitement. His greatest pleasure is to
meet his comrades at the card-table, not
SO much perhaps for gain, as for the
pleasureable excitement it produces
After while the idea of playing for
money predominates, and he soon finds
himself in the company of the most I'M
scrupuous sharpers-men who have
abandoned honesty, and are read and
prepared to fleece the novice of his last
copper. These fellows are adroit and
cunning to the last degree, and when
there is chance of victim, they spread
the net as cautiously around him, as the
fowler does around the bird he designs
to entrap.
If the fellow is discovered to have
money, but plays shyly, they suffer him
to win for while, and they are contin-
nally calling for liquor, not so much for
the purpose of drinking themselves, as
of making him drunk. After a while
he gets excited by strong drink, and feels
himself wonderfully rich, and dashes
down his money with the most reckless
profusion. He plays and loses.-Double
your bets, is the onl Y chance to win all
back. His funds soon run out, and eX-
aspcrated by his losses, and stimulated
by drink, a fight probably ensues, and a
dsgracetu row ends the affair.
The fondness ofgaming increases with
the practice, and in the excitement of
chances, and of liquor, the novitiate
thinks himself an adept in the art, but
still loses his money, and becoming des-
perate he risks everything, even if the
money be absolutely necessary for the
support of his family, or if it be the mon
ey Of another person.
The finished gambler is destitute Of
the ordinary feelings of humanity, and
is lost to every virtue. He delights to
enjoy his darling occupation, reckless of
time and place. He would desecrate
the Sabbath, and the sanctuary. He
would play in the chamber the dying,
or in the charnel house-he would play
upon the sepulchre of his father, Or on
his brothers collin.
can old ruined gamester in hopes to
make prey of young gentleman who
came to town with his pockets full of
money, took him to a gaming house, and
there, to encourage him to play, showed
him several topping sparks that were
born with no fortune, who by play had
purchased great estates, and lived in pomp
and splendor by success in shaking their
elbows" "You show me the winners
said the young gentleman, "but pray
what has become of the losers 2" "To
which the old prig making no reply, a
third person ovcrhearing their converse
ton, told the young gentleman, that
since the other was silent and confound-
ed with shame at the question, he would
oblige him with an answer" Many
of the losers" said, he, ''taking the high
way to repair their losses are hanged;
others have gone to sea to earn their
bread; others overwhelmed with the loss
Of their property, have in a moment of
desperation cut their Threats, or taken
poison; others having squandered the
money oftheir employers, or of the pub
lie, and involved their friends in losses,
have become worthless and abandoned;
others are begging Or moping about the
streets, or in jails for debt, where you
will be ere long, if you follow that old
rascal's counsel"
All money or property acquired by
games Of chance is acquired dishonesty,
inasmuch as it is acquired without giving
value, which is the only just basis of ex-
change.
There is too much countenance shown
the gambler.-The marks of public
Indignation should be set upon him
in characters as legible as those stamped
on the forehead of Cain; for while he is
countenanced and quietly permitted to
practice his nefarious trade, the young
and unsuspecting will be ruined thereby,
and wretchedness and loss will ever
follow in the train of this iniquitous vice.
RAMBLER.
ANTHRACITE Coal TRADE.-The
Pottsville (Pa.) Journal, says:
tnx f,,o L d. l.. 4 l.. H.,