Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-02-09
PEEP INTO A WASHINGTON GAMBLING
HOUSE.

The Washington correspondent of the Clereland
PIdiRdealert thus describes a visit to q gambling
house, and whathe saw and heard there:
"llavlng heard much of the magniGcence and
grandeur of the metropolitan gambling-houses,
with several Cleveland friends paid one a visit the
other night. The entrance was through a narrow
lighted way, opening from the avenue, Just east
of the National. A pair Of stairs at the further
end OF the hall brings you abruptly against a small
door, fastened on the inside you ring a bell a
coloted servant looks through the latticed panel to
see if all is right. If he discovers a wellknown
customer or a frequent visitor of such places the
whole party is admitted, On the principal, of course.
that "a person is known by the company he keeps
Gamblers understand human nature better than
anybody else. We were admitted first into a room
beautifully %carpeted, fresco painted, with chairs,
sofas, lounges. &C., Of rosewood, a large centre
table, on which were the leading newspapers of the
country, and around which sat several wellllressed
gentlemen, leisurely reading and discussing the
news of the day. This was but the half of a
double parlor, the reception room, or, as Milton
would say, the vestibule of hell
Our guide, who was a well-known Washinton
gentleman, introduced US to the keeper of the es-
tablishment, telling him that we had never been in
such a place before, and were led by curiosity to
explore his Internal domains. lie appeared highly
delighted, and Immediately opened up the inner
temple We entered, and found that the half had
not been told us a chandelier, costing from three
to four hundred dollars, brilliantly lit up, flung its
glittering rays on gold papered walls, satin damask
curtains, sofas, &c. In the centre, and near one
end of the room, stood q long six legged table, with
a richly embroidered spread, falling in folds, near
~ to the floor on the wall over the table hung q
massive guilt frame, and large as life a huge crouch.
ing tiger, with eyes Of glaring fire, lips apart, and
apparently ready for n spring upon his unsuspect
ing victim. The cl3th being removed from the
table beneath, revealed Faro Bank with all the
implements of that well-known fascin ating game
ivory CHIPS, representing 81, So, S25, $3.50 each,
lay piled up in one corner, for the convenience Of
the betters in a small box beneath lay piles OIL
bonk bills, and heaps of double eagles for the re.
d~emption Of these very issues.
1t was early in the evening and the players had
not got in. The keeper entertained us with tales
of the table-how f~Uolishly young men came there
rs we had, out OF curiosity, and were induced &c
try their luck out of curiosity, which generally
left them out of cash, out of character and out Of
friends, in the end. We proposed leaving. wher
he politely invited us to stay to supper; he showed
us his bill of fare, which included SOUP, roast beef
oysters in all styles, ducks, v%enison, quail, fish
chocolate, coffee, nuts, and all the wines and liquors
TO be found in the best restaurants. Whoever il
admitted to the rooms, either as players or specta
tors, are also admitted to these suppers free o.
charge. Don't gamblers understand human nature
The keeper was impatient to have the House or
ganized, so members codld draw their mileage
and make their business better. This is but one
of the many institutions in this city, and the
Tiger is bound to be fed though the peopl,
~starye."