The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-08-12
Card Plnyin. and its Results.

| 1t Is significant fact that card-playing is on,
OF the most pregnant incipiencics that lead t,
vices of the deepest dye and If persisted in in
veterately renders obtuse those fine sensibili
ties which are implanted in the nature of NOR
tai man. Unhappily for the rising generation
vice exercises contagious influence ovel
them and although they see the yawning vor
tex ready to receive them, yet a desire for
little more pastime and a little more pleasure
produces an incentive to urge them on to the
road of ruin. A departure from the path of rec
titude is not merely increased q little by card
playing, but greatly augmented !; and if rigidly
adhered to, operates as stepping stone to al
lure the victim to the depths of black despair
Few give this axiom a thought, because it il
generally considered a harmless amusement
So would sundry other things be, ifkept within
certain limits; but there's the dilemma force
of habit as well as perverted taste acquired
thereby, all concentrate themselves to make
baneful what is considered harmless.
When we contemplate the countless numbers
who have gone astray by its ins;diou3 wiles we
cannot refrain from calling it Bane of good
seducing cheat" For full evidence of the de-
mOraliZatiLn in humanity that it produces.
would refer you to the criminal, who, after
leading life of degradation and wickedness, is
arraigned at the bar for crime, for which he
will be launched into eternity. Acquaint your
SCil WIN u ulStOly vi HIS llIc. anu YOU VIII al
most infallibly find that the first step that has
led him to destruction was card playing. 1t is
sage aphorism which says; "Avod tempta-
ton. through fear you cannot withstand it,"
and if acted upon to a greater extent, would
save legion Of human beings from imminent
jeopardy. That the reader may have cogniz-
ance of the vcracity and foundation of the pre-
cedent assertions, the writer humbly tenders
the subjoined statement for pcrusal:
Al.
he loved with an ardent attachment an intinl-
acy made tenacious by emulation on my part
and reciprocity on his. lie was gifted with a
brilliant genius. fraught with magnanimity and
nObleness of purpose in each design; in brief,
his attributes were what we love and admire in
young man. But he acquired a taste for card
playing. while playing for amusement with
some of his associates. AT first. he would not
stake money, but gradually gaining confidence
in his dexterity and competency for performing
the art Gfso it may be termed) was led to bet
heavily, and soon became a thorough adept.
and confirmed gambler. So great was his de-
sire for this unhallowed amusement, that he
would frequently leave his place of business
during the day. to engage in it with his vile
companions. His employers. at this juncture.
missing money from their till, and being unable
to account for it, felt constrained to keep a Wig
liant eye upon him. Subsequently, they often
saw him emanating from noted rendezvous of
gamblers. And after accommodating for what
purpose he went there, and how he conducted
himself while there, they very justly came to
the conclusion that he was embcZZling money
from them. lie was young man in whom they
had heretofore placed implicit confidence. His
enterprisng capacities mcrited greatly their
appreciation. and his ACKNOWLEDGEMENT would
have been their delight. But alas !! thought
they, we must not I" Nourish a viper in our bO-
SONS, to receive its fangs." So after atlmon-
ishing him to retrace his steps, and desist from
his downward course, they discharged him
thinking this an suspicious dcnunciation, and
one that would turn him to the path of recti
tude, from which he had been so vilely inveig-
led They were too humane to expose him, be-
cause it was their wish that he might see his
folly. and the delusive phantom under which he
was laboring, and become man again. But
habit, the eXecutOner of all hOpe-the stigma
that obiterates from the mind all aspirations to
virtue and holiness-the annihilator of happi-
ness and every desire for personal promotion
the monarch that compcls mankind to bow sub
mis>ivcly to misery's cruel yokc-hcld him as
with an iron grasp And notwithstanding the
cntreatics OF his warmest friends, he plunged
deeper and deeper. and was soon Oh par with
his rccrcant participants. All thoughts of the
ameioration of the talents allotted him. and
wishes for establishing for himself an unsullicd
reputation. were lost in chaos, and laid aside
forever He for a time managed to support
himself by pursuing his pusillanimous course,
and by the subterfuge attending this base prac
tice. managed to obtain Il prccarous liveli-
hood. All my heart shudders when bring to
mind recollections Of having passed a window
in one of the most disreputable streets of the
city, through which, in dismal cellar, l recog-
nized my once-lovcd friend, drinking and ca
rOusng with demons in human shape. His
sunken eye, blOated visagc and tattcred apparel
presented q decided contrast to the manly fea-
lures and noble bearing which characterized
his department before the tempest came.
But. to continue my narrative. That men
become insane in certain peculiar points, with
out being n total non c0inpOs DleHfnS, was no
longer skeptical. For my unfortunate friend
was completely blind to his sinking condition ;
and each heavy loss that he met only served as
a narcotic to stimulate him to more fearful
plunge. And at length, having been swndlcd
by designing sharpcrs to an extent that cha
grincd him much. he, in fit of phrcnZy, under
the excitement Of the game, Inflicted mortal
wound upon the person of one of his cabailcrs.
Then followed his arrest and trial-and not
withstanding his promises of amendment, and
the influence of those friends who were dear to
him, the Governor was memorable, and he was
duly sentenced to serve out the remainder OF
his mis- spent life in the State Prison.
How sad a lot! Still, law and justice de-
manded it-and to assuage the stern decree
would be to propagate anarchy. visited him
in his cell, and on saluting him. the first words
that escaped his lips were, "Oh, sir, had heed
cd the wise counsel of my friends, had l not
taken the first step. | need not now have been
here. o! could l recall my wicked life, and
the hours spent in gambling, how very different
would be my course for the scales have fallen
from my eyes, and l now see that to which
had SO long been Blind Young man, beware
Of the first step! Remember the narrow way
that leads unto everlasting life, and strive to
enter therein. Avoid the society of evil COM
panons, ere your fate is sealed, and contrition
forever shut out from your heart. And when
this adn,ontion falls npOn your ear, allow it to
dspel from your mental vision all obstacles
that strive to impede yonr progress towards a
life of uprightncss. Look upon the pcrnicions
practice as possessing the attributes Of vile
destroyer. and refrain FROM it. as you would
from imbbiEg the sediment of misery dcgrad-
rig cup. For depend upon it. if you follow its
footsteps, you will exc ont an ignominious ex-
,o,oo opJ ,,lt;un,{,l.y c;ply ccu1 int nor