The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-12-23
For the Ninnesotian.
For Young NIen.-No. III.

For Young NIen.-No. III. 4
"a man is known by the company he keeps"
Birds Of feather flock together" evil
corrupt good manners. !" Gan !
man take take fire in his bosom and not be !
burned? Can he go upon hot Goals and his feet
lot be burned" Can young man go into one
If those places in our city called saloons, and
ningle with the profane aud abandoned, drink
with the drunkard, mingle in their obscene con-
rersation, and inhale their rotten breath and
not be contaminated? Can be take the long
pole in his hand and drive the balls one against
another, in contest with low fellows, who spend
most of their time at this worse than trihing
business, and not loose, in measure, his own
selfrespect, and in large measure the respect
fthe communit;? Can he sit down around a
card table, and spend hours in the senseless
sport Of shufIling he spotted papers, mingle in
the excitement of the game, and hear the pro-
family of the gambler. and not be corrupted, or
cntced to renew the sitting? Can he long
practice such games and not be led to gamble
and'loose his honest earnings by the superior
skill and rascalitv of old birds at the business.
That gambling is Improbable to the many who
engage in it, is evident from the fact that there
are well-!ed, well-dressed, plump-lookng fell
lows who live by it in this community. They
have money plenty, sport gold watches, swing
cane, and ride in a carriage. Their living
must come off some portion of the community;
there must be fools enough to keep them up or
their craft would soon be gone. These are
kind of sharks who eat up the little fish, or bet
ter still. sharpcrs who take in the green uns."
Young man, far from home, think not that you
may mingle in such company. or safely try
your luck at the card table. You may think
and success in life, will never know that you
have stepped aside for a little while to see how
things are done in these lower walks Of life. or
to try your luck at the card table. Dream not
that by few lucky throws You will win what
may help you on in your business, and SO has
ten the fulflmcnt OF the desires of anxious
friends. Once in this whirlpool, it is not easy
to escape and there is more danger that your
ruin, your loss of property and character.
will bring those parents in sorrow to the
grave. If you venture thus, there is danger
that those sisters whose pride you are will hear
that their brother in st. Paul has become
lssipatcd, and the companion of fools. The
road to ruin winds slowly down men do not
precipices. The taste for inning is often first
acquired in the parlor,w where people who would
be thought fashionable. have various instru-
ments for different kinds Of games. If playing
cards does not suit your notions Of propricty
or safety, you surely will not object to rat
tie a box and throw the dice with the good la
dy Of the house no harm in it, There is dan
ger in it, and in that parlor youEmay acquire
that taste and knowledge which will be your
ruin. No young man need be ashamed of not
of chance. And we hesitate not to say, that
that is bad company where such things
are practiced. You should feel above seeking
tho sUcirty VI cultivating the acquaintance of
either gentleman or lady who has not intelli-
gcncc or good sense enough to entertain you
an evening without resort to those games
that are fit only for those splendid hoyes call
ed saloons. Twill close this paper with the
picture of gamblers given by Ii. w.
Bcecher:
''liow marked in every age is a gamblers
character! The cnragcd priesthood of fero-
cious scots tainted Christ's dying agonics
the bcwildercd multitude, accustomed to cru
city could shout but no earthly creature but
a gambler, could be so lost to all feeling as sit
down cody under dying man to wranglc for
his garments and arbitrate their avaricious
differences by casting the dice for his tunic,
with hands spotted with his spattcred blood,
warm and yet undried upon them.
The descendants of these patriarchs of gam
bling. however, have taught us that there is
nothing possible to hell unconscnial to the sc
its select saints. 1t is my dsasrceablc task to
lead your steps down the dark path to their
cruel haunts, there to exhibit their Internal
passions, their awful ruin and their CHASTITY
In this house of darkness,
amid fierce faces cleaning with the fire of fer
Ger hearts, amid oaths and groans and ficndish
orgies, ending in murders and strcwn with
swcltering corpses-do not mistake and SUD
pose yourself in hcll-you arc only in its pre-.
cinct and vcstibule."
Space is not allotted me to go to any great
length upon the evils brought to view in this
number. would advise every young man to
read the book from which have taken the
above extract, "Bcecher's Lectures to Young
Men," GILL,IN.
AS to the free love doctrine said Mrs. Par
tington. with a face as benevolent as thanks