The Georgetown news., 1855-12-20
A Chapter on Betting.
BY A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

EDITOR Town TALK:-As you were kind
enough yesterday to report a novel case
tried before me, wherein [ took strong
grounds in favor Of judicious betting, [ have
thought proper, with your permission, to go
further, and give my views at length on this
point. The philosophy Of betting, [ be-
lleve, has never yet been written. The sub
ject is an inviting one to the contemplative
mind, but | am sorry to say has been shame
fully neglected. 1t is not my intention to
touch upon the philosophy of the thing in
this communication, but merely to give it
a cursory glance in support of the position
assumed by me in the case of Wheeler VS..
Sharp.
Life is a game, sir-a big game. Upon
this assertion plant my foot, and defy the
world to move me. Now if Life is a game
and no one hope will be fool enough to
doubt it-all the men and women are bet
ters. Thus you perceive, Mr.. Editor, my
subject opens as neatly as an oyster. But,
further. If, as l have shown beyond all
controversy, Life is a game, and all the men
and women merely betterS, the questions
arise, what's the amount of their piles?-
What cards do they bet on? and how does
their luck run? These are all honest que
ries, and very naturally follow along the
train of thoughts am attempting to place
on paper The piles in possession Of these
various gamblers at Life's faro table are,
generally speaking, governed by the wealth
or poverty of their parents. We occasion
ally find man or woman approach the
game with but one little stake, who by
watching the run of the cards and betting
iudiciously, come out in the end with a large
fund. In olden times these cases were quite
isolated, but of late years. since almost any
bet-no matter how small-is taken, they
are more common.
The desire for betting is born with US
it dies with us-I was about to say it goes
to the ID with us. The first thing the
fond mother says to her infant is, ''Ill bet
he'll make a little man." or woman, as the
case may be. The first thing the infant
thinks, aud if it could talk, would say, "IIl
bet pa and ma love me better than any
child they ever had" On the part of the
infant, this is judicious betting, for [ 90
upon the assumption that it is the first off
spring. Those who suppose that betting is
not natural, but simply one Of the many
contracted habits Of life, should stick peg
here in the infants case. The child grows
expands -swells-spreads itself It is
taken sick. The physician-an old gam
bier, by the way-comes in. He sees at a
glance that it is a big game-a game Of
life and death. He stakes his reputation
which constitutes his only pile-gives the
child dose Of castor oil, sugar-coated pills
or tlsh hooks, rubs it down with a warm
brick, and takes the chances. AS remark
ed IN the case of Wheeler VS.. Sharp, have
no faith in those who bet on chances, or
trust IN luck, and the only thing which sur
prlseS me is, that while all history and ex-
perlence has proved that the chances re-
ferred to lose eight times out Of ten, people
Will continue to bet on them. The conse-
quences are awful to contemplate!
Everywhere all our daily walks-in
every phase of life-among the lofty and
the lowly, the rich and the poor-we see
this natural propensity to bet The first
thing we hear from the young man the day
after his marriage, is, ''I'll bet high on nv
wife," A month later and you could hard
ly get him to ''pungle" down a cent on her.
The blooming young bride, too, in the full
ness of her love for Perkins, could at the
start, while intoxicated with joy at the happy
union, be induced to make bet which she
might repent the balance of her days. So
we 90. When the boarder takes his seat
at the breakfast table, he says, softly, II
don't 90 much on that beefSteak," coffee,
butter, or whatever he may chance to taste.
Another says: 81 think III bet my pile on
this hash;" third informs the landlady
that it is losing game to board with her,
! and leaves in disgust.