Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-11-12
GAMBLING AND GAMBLERS.

Gambling is the stalking or winning OF prop
erty upon mere hazard. The husbandman rem
ders produce for his gains; the mechanic rem
ders the product of labor and skill for his gains
the gambler renders for his gain the sleights of
useless skill, or more often, downright cheat
ing. Betting is gambling there is no honest
equivalent to its gains Dealings in fancy stocks
are oftentmes sheer gambling, in all its worst
evils. Profits so earned are no better than the
profits of dice, cards or hazard. When skill
returns for its earnings useful service, as
knowledge, beneficial amusements or profitable
labor it is honest commerce. The skill of the
pilot in threading narrow channel, the skill OF
the lawyer in threading still more intricate
one, are the substantial equivalents for a price
received as if they were merchant goods or ag-
rcultural products But all gains of mere skill
which results in no real benefit, are gambling
gains.
Gaming, as it springs from principle of our
nature has, in some form probably existed in
every age. We trace it in remote periods, and
among the most barbarous people. 1t loses
none of its destinations among a civilized peo-
pie. On the contrary, the habit of fierce stimu-
lants, the jaded appetite of luxury, and the sa-
tiety of wealth, seem to invite the master-exci-
tant Our land, not apt to be behind in good
or evil, is full of gambling in all its forms-the
gambling of commerce, the gambling of bets
and wagers, and the gambling of games of haz-
ard. There is gambling in the most refined cir
cles and in the most low-among the members
of our national government, and of our State
governments. Thief CANDLES with thief in
jsil; the Judge who sent him there, the lawyer
who prosecuted, and the lawyer who defended
them, often gambled too. This vice once al
most universally prevalent among the western
bar, and still too frequently disgracing its men,
bers, is however, we believe, decreasing. In
many circuits, not long ago, and in some now,
the Judge, the Jury, and the bar, shuffled cards
by night, and law dy day-dealing out money
and justice alike. The clatter of dice and of
cards disturbs your slumber on the boat, and
rings drowsily from the upper rooms of the ho-
tel. The vice pervades the city, extends over
every mile of travel, and infests the most NOR
al districts. The secreted lamp dimly lights
the apprentices to their game; with unsuspect-
ed disObedience boys creep out Of their bed to
it, it goes on in the store, close by the till it
haunts the shop. The scoundrel in his lair, the
scholar in his room; the pirate on his ship, gay
women at parties oafers in the street corners,
public functionaries in their Offices; the beggar
under the hedge, the rascal in prison, and some
professors of religion in the somnolent hours
of the Sabbath-waste the energies by the ru-
inous excitement of the game. Besides these
players, there are troops of professional gamb-
lers, troops of hangers-on, troops of youth to
be drawn in. An inexperienced eye would de-
teet in our peaceful towns no signs of this vul-
ture-1ock; so in sunny day, when all cheer
ful birds are singing merrily, not buzzard can
be seen; but let carcass drop, and they will
push forth their gaunt heads from their gloomy
roosts, and come tapping from the dark woods
to speck the air, and dot the ground with their
numbers.
The universal prevalence of this vice is rea-
son for parental vigilance and reason ofremon-
STRANGE from the citizen, the parent, the minis
ter of the gospel, the patriot and the press.
propose to trace dts opening, describe its SUBJ
jects, and detail its effects.
young man, proud of his freedom, anxious
to exert his manhood, has tumbled his Bible and
sober books in dark closet. He has learned
various accomplishments, to flirt, to boast, to
tight, to drink. He has let every one of these
chains be put around upon the solemn promise
OF Satan that he would take them off whenever
he wished. Hearing of the artistic feats of en-
inent gamblers, he emulates them. So he pom
ders the game. He teaches what he has learnt
to his shop mates, and he feels himself their
master. As yet he has never played for stakes.
1t begins thus-peeping into a bookstore, he
waits till the sober customers go out, then slips
in and with assumed boldness, not cohcealing
his shame, he asks for cards, buys them, and