Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-02-04
IITT1R JOE THE DUElIsT.


Aduel occurred msny years ago, when
the writer of'these pages was in Paris.--
Theworst and most dangerous companion
upon earth is n gamesIer,, /" 4Venao re-
pente f,tit furyissimHs )" which according
to Irish translation, meaneth that man
must be arlicled for five years to an attor-
ney. AS regards play, we hold a differ
ent opinion, and believe that the course
of decentralization may be more rapidly
effected by the elea domnosa than by law.
TO the proof ;--even at a distance of a
quarter Of century, we must hold the
name sacred. But there are old guards
men who will remember Little Joe. -
A stouter soldier never headed compa-
ny. He was kind, well tempered, too
generous, probably, and everybody liked
him. In money matters he was careless;
had an early itch for play, and soiourn
with the army of occupation, confirmed
a disease already rooted In word, he
abandoned 4 profession he couldno longer
continue in, and became regular gRmb-
Ter,
Joe was first rate shot, and also con-
additionally pugnacious. He felt his own
degradation keenly, when to remedy it
was too late f; and a temper naturally ex-
eitable, had now become most dangerous
Is there one gamcster in twenty, who in a
very few years does not go-circum-
stances only considerable ruin? Joe
formed no exception. He lost caste, and
fell, and fell L" deeper and deeper still, ;"
until he reached the last degrading status
in .society-a cheUdlicr a. intiuStrie.
While engaged in this bare vocation, a
yourg citizen fell into the hands Of the
gang with whom Joe, now member Of
the body, was regularly coutederated.-
The victim was Londoner, and one as
it was represented, who would stand
pluckng, and that very extensively. He
had crossed the channel, like Thousand
and one fools who flock annually TO the
French capitol to view Partisan lions, and
as n countryman, little Joe kindly under
took to play Mentor to this Cockney Te-
Tenacious. 1t was not difficult matter
for,ono who knew the world 80 we'll as
Captain K, to worm himself into the
confidence Of the raw youth, and he easily
succeeded, In every point but one the
intended victim was as plant as could be
wished-but on that he was most obsti-
nate, He had horror of play, He
would drink, racket about, dissipate, but
name game Of chance, and he startled
like frightened steed. The period al
lotted by "the governor at home" as he
in London parlance, termed his father had
almost expired and as plump pigeon
as ever a gambler dropped upon, was
about to return TO the country house he
had quilted TO see the world, without
losing single feather. To the villainous
confederation that thought was madden
ing and, as last resource, deooy duck
was tried-and one of the lovelest and
most artful Of the last was accidentally
introduced by the gallant captain to Mon
sieur Calliro, as he derisively called the
citizen.
To describe the progress Of this
gambling conspiracy would be waste Of
time. 1t was managed with consummate
ability. Tho devoted youth became des-
parately enamoured of his friend the
captain, he told his love, and then came
proof positive that Greek and Roman
friendship are not comparable to the tre-
mendous sacrifices of personal feelings,
which you may expect from cafe &C
quaintance Damon returned in time to
substitute his own neck and stay the exc
clifton Of a gentleman named Pythias.
Now, Captain K, on learning the
state of the young Londoner's affections
although himself secret worshipPer al
the shrine of the same divinity, resigned
his own prctensions, and actually under.
took to plead with the fair enslave~ of his
friend. Great was the intimacy, ofcourse
that succeeded ; and at tho apartment,
of Madame La c., morning, noon, ant
night the young Englishman might have
been found
Play was cautiously introduced-no
thing was stsked but mere 6agotelle-
beyond the hazard of trihe, it was evi
dent that any experiment would be dan
gerous. The day for the citizens depar
ture was fixed, and it was pretty certain
the bird would escape the net of the fow
Ter. Could he have been bu! led to play
he would have been cheated scientihcal
ly, That was not to be done, and nothing
could succeed but bold and downright
felony.
. Madame's birthday returned, as it die
some twenty times year; and she gave
petit souper. k sent in the winC
aud the citizen provided the viands,
merrior evening could not be SPENT
Two or three ladies, and as man,
gentlemen of high honor favored L,
c. with their company. Their
was play, limited to few francs, and, OIL
the Englishmsn's part, to gloves and gal
tiers, Supper was served-all was hiler
ous--the wine circulated freely, and al
the Londonerremembe in the morning
when he awoke with burning head, was
that he had become unNccountsbly drunk
and got home lie knew not how,
Ho strove to get up but his temples
throbbed almost to bursting. An exces.
in wine had never affected him SO before
could this arise from simple drunkenness
The sensation was altogether new. The
t.,,tf, ,,,.r I, n al =, ~ hear Il r,rl, hk Jr,c.