Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-11-25
A LONDON GAMING HOUsE--ITS INNER
LIFE.

\ little volume has recently been published in
London, entitled "My IIaunts," which contains
some very light and agreeable reading:
.:Come, we have reached the aristocratic TITLED
Leighborhood Of ST. james street: and Wonder
house that one with the bright fanlight over the
doris the scene of our intended visit. Do you
see those two police constables, one on either side
of the doorway. Some years ago the son of an
eminent statesman, recently deceased, lost a yery
large sum of money in one of these places, and
since that time the doors of all suspected gambling
houses have been watched by the police. They
are supposed 10 take an accurate account of the
number of persons who enter, their style and ap-
parent position in life.
They wish US good night, as we pull the ivory
knob communicating with the spring bell, which
does not make the usual chatter, but sounds only
once; and for that good night you will, if you
win, give half Grown, as you emerge into the cold,
gray light of morning. The sergeant passing on
his rounds will see you slip the coin into the hand
of his subordinate, will give you good morning
as you pass, and in all probability, be paid with a
segar for his civility. On the gay spirits of the
metropolis do the propr;etOrs Of houses of this
stamp mainly depend and many little perquisites
solacc the arduous duties Of the West End police
man.
"No sooner has the bell sounded, than, rs in the
story of the " hite Cat, the door is opened by ar
unseen hand. and our entry is Immediately CLOSED
behind US. We find ourselves faced by a SECOND
door, pannelled with iron and covered with greene
baiZe, with a small, square aperture in the centre
at which u cleaning eve apears. | am recognized
an iron bar is swung back, two bolts withdrawn
and having assembled a flight Of most softly CARPET
ed stairs, we stand within the walls of a Londor
gambling house.
You will observe that the first floor is that por
ton Of the house in which play is carried on. Tht
basement may be q tailors or n boOtmaker's shop
The mysteries Of the upper regions have ncvel
been penetrated; but the drawing room contain.
the real Lares and Penates Of the proprietors
And very handsome rooms they are; Brilliant,
lighted, warmly curtained, and plentifully mirror
ed. Lrck at the table spread out in the back room
and covered with cold fowl, ham. tongue, beef, anC
salads; these, with wines, spirits and cigars, ar,
provided CONTINUOUSLY. Indeed the more you drink
the better pleased are your hospitable entertainers
"Let us push through this knot of men ~loungin!
in the doorway and discussing racing matters
and make our woy to the play table. This, 70,
will observe, is an ordinary billiard table, furnished
with pockets, cushions, Be-. aud yonder. in the cor
ner, stands n rack Of coes-an arrangement which
has been adopted, recently. in consequence of tn,
frequent visits Of the police. And now let Vi
look around at the company.
That tall, dark man, standing at the centre o
the table, is one of the proprietors of tho house,
handsome, dashing Israelite he is. lie is yer,
rich, always dresses to perfection, and besides be
ing the owner of two or three racers, keeps q cab
riOlet and q mail pheton--in one or the other o
which you may see him every afternoon in the Park
! I'd you seldom 20 down to dine, either at tn
Crown and Sceptre at Greenwich, or ut the Sta
md Garter at Richmond. on q Sunday, withou
finding his trap ut the door during some portiol
Of the evening, Idio'ie gn,rlsinen, would lie arts