The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-04-06
LECTUREs TO YOUNG MEN.
nv HENRY WARD BEEcHER.
GambIers and Gambling.

Gamblers and Gambling. =,
Then the soldiers, when they had cruched Jesus,
took his garments and mado four pats TO every sol
dier part and also his coat Now the coat was
without seam, and woven from the top throughout.
| They aid therefore among themselves. Let us not
rend it, but cast lots for il, whose shait be. These
| these things therefore the soldiers did.
Ihave condensed into one account the sepa-
rate paris Of this gambling transaction as mar
rated by each evangelist. How marked in ev-
cry age is Gamblers character! The enrae-
ed priesthood Of ferocious secis tainted Christ's
dying aeonies; the bewildered multitude. sc-
customed to cruelty could shout; but no earth
ly creature but Gambler, could be so lost to
all feeling as to sir down cooy under dying
man TO wrangle for his garments, and arbitraie
their avariciops differences by casting dice for
his tunic, with ha nds spotted with his spattered
blood, warm and yet undried upon them. The
descendants OF these patriarchs OF gambling,
however. have taught rs that there is nothing
possible TO hell, uncongenial to these, its elect
saints. In this lecture il is my dsagreesble
task TO lead your steps down tie dark path 10
their cruel haunts, there 10 exhibit their infer
nal passions, their awful ruin, and their ghssty
memorials. In this house Of darkness, amid
I fierce faces cleaning with the fire Of fiercer
hearts, amid oaihs and groaus and fendish or
gies. ending 10 murders and sirewn with swell
tering corpses-do not mistake, and suppose
yourself in Hell, you are only 10 its precincts
and vestibule.
Gambling is the stalking or winning Of prop
ery upon nero hazard. The husbardmen
rendefs produce Tor his gains; the mechanic
renders the product Of labor and skill for his
gains: the gambler ,cuders for his gain the
sleights Of useful skill, or more often, down
right cheating Betting is gambling: there is
no honest equivalent TO its gains, Dealing in
fancy stocks are ofentires shee, gambling,
with all its worst evils. Profits earned are
| no better than the profits Of dice, cards or haz-
ard. When skill returns-for its earnings use
| ful service, as knowledge, beneficial amuse
mrnts. or profitable labor. u is honest com
| meree Tne sEiIi vr pito, ~ ttn sJi.-s
row channel the skill of a lawyer IN threading
| a still r'ore intricate one. are as substantial e
onvalents for price received, as il they were
me chant goods agricultural products. But
all gains al mere skill which result is no real
benefit, are gambling gains.
| Gaming. as itsprnes from principle OF onr
nature. has, u some form, probably existed 10
every age. We trace IL 10 remote periods and
among the mos, barbarous people. Ii loses
none Of its destinations among civilized peo-
pie On the contrary, the habit Of fierce slim
hlenrs, the faded appetite Of luxury, and lhe
| satieiy Of wealth, seem TO invite the mas'er-ex-
citan. Our land, not apt TO be behind IN good
or evil, is foil OF gambling n al It's forms-,he
! gambling Of commence, the gambling OF bets
and wacers, and the gambling Of games OF haz-
ard. There Is gambling 10 the refoed circles,
and in rhe lowest; among the members OF our
nationsl government, and OF our stare govern
ments. Thief CANDLES with thief in Jail; the
Judge who sent tliem there the lawyer who
| prosecuted them and the lawyer who defended
! them, often gamble too. This vice, once al
most universally prevalent, among the West
ern bar, and still too frequently disgraong It's
members. is, however, we are happy TO believe.
decreasing. In many circuits. not long ago,
and in some now, the judges, the jury. and the
bar shuffled cards by night, and law by day
dealing out money and jus ice alike. The
clatier Of dice and cards disurbs your slomber
on the boat, and rings drowsily from the upper
rooms Of the hotel. This vice pervades the
city, extends over every line Of travel, and in
, tests the most moral districts. The secreied
, lamp lights the apprentices TO their game; with
unsuspected disobedience. boys creep out O'
ihei, beds o il; il goes on 10 the store close
BY the till, IL haunts the shop. The scoun
. drel in his lair, the schCa n his room, The pl-
rate On his ship, gay women al parties. loaiers
; in the street scorDers, public fuDciionarles 10
their Offices, ;he beggar under the hedge. The
! ascal p prison. and some professors Of reli
t gion in The solemn hours Of Ssbbath--waste
their energies by the ruiGous excitement o.
r the game. Besides these players, there are
: troops Of professional gamblers, troops Of hang
4 e,s-op, troops of youth TO be drawn IN Al
: inexperienced eye would detect in our town nc
J. signs Of this vulture hock:-so in . sunny day
. when all cheerful birds are singing merrily. no
4 buzzard can be seen, bur carcass drop; ant
. the, will push FOR their gauo' heads from ihei
4 gloomy roots. and come Tapping from ihe dsrl
woods to speck the air, and dot the groun'
with their numbers
, The universal prevalence OF this vice is
!: reason for parental vigilance; and reason o
= remonsrance from the citizen, the parent. th
minister Of the gospel. the patriot, and tn
4 press. propose 10 trace It's opening. descrb
d its subjects sud detail its effects.
= A young man, proud Of freedom, aoxious q
n exert his manhood, has tumbled his Bible. ant
= sober books. and letter Of counsel. into a ds,
d closet. He has learned various accomplish
> nents, TO flirt, to boast, 10 swear TO fight 4
u drink. He has let every one OF these chain
q be put around him, upon the solemn promis
~ Of Satan that he would take them off whenev
n er he wished. Hearing Of the artistic feats 0
N eminent gamblers, he emulaies them. So, h
: ponders the game. lie teaches what he ha
learned to his shopmates. and feels hlmse
: their master. Asyet he has never played TO
% stakes, II begins thus: Peeping into book
{, store he watches till the sober customers &
70 - out; then slips 10. and with assumed boldnes
of not concealipg his shame, he asks for cards
m buys them, and hasiens out. The first gam
70 is to pay for ,he cards. After the relish {
= playing for a stake. 20 game can satisfy tbe'
10 ,Difhorf stake. A Few nuts are staked. the
N bottle Of wine; an oyster-suppev. AT la
he they can venture sixpence 10 actual money
to just for the amusemen; Of it. l need 60 n
~ " fur,her-whoever wishes to do anything wi,
the lad, can do il now. II properly piled, an
gradually led, he viii 60 to any length, and sto
only at tue gallows.-Do you doubt IL? l.
u. US trace him year or two further. on.
y With his fathers blessing and his mother
e. tears. the young man departs from home. II
nd has received his patrimony. and embsrks q