The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-11

cept those built on the plan of the Illinois Gen.
trail, must infallibly have been in bankruptcy.
Gambling and Gaming Houses.
Sincethe time when playing cards were invented
for the amusement Of an idiot king, gambling has
steadily followed in the footsteps Of civilization.
1t is the first vice of youth-the consuming pas
sion Of middle age-while the veteran Of four
score finds his solace at shilling point whist All
over Europe, the mania for gambling, among all
classes, is devouring. On the Continent the gam
bling houses are authorized by law, and pay
license tax to government. At all the German
spas the gambling houses are licensed, and are
among the chief attractions Of each resort. The
citizens Of the town are, however, forbidden
to participate in or witness the games, which are
open to visitors. This is an amusing regulation.
It is as much as to say to the gamblers, you may
cheat each other and plumber foreigners as much
you please, but the natives are to be protected.
You can't cheat them, because the law will not
permit them to give you an opportunity. In
London there were formerly great gambling
houses, the existence Of which was known to and
winked at by the police. These establishments
no longer exist; but gambling is carried in the
private rooms of all the clubs, where the play is
high and desperate. Great fortunes have been
lost in single night. In Paris the laws against
gambling houses are very rigid, but gambling is
carried on sub rosa to a very great extent Then
the French enter into stock gambling as a matter
of excitement and amusement. The mania ex-
tends to the women; the reports of lie Folla as
TO the style Of the last new bonnet are not more
interesting to many Of the beau sex than the ac-
counts Of the rise and fall Of fancies on the
Bouse.
In the United States legislative action and GER
tain popular outbreaks have made gambling
dangerous vocation. Still, such is the
money power Of the great gamblers that
they are able to pursue their trade
with comparatively little risk. This would seem
to be paradox; but, as Hamlet says, the time
city Of New York for that proof. Gambling in
New York is peculiar institution supported
and protected by peculiar influences. We have
here as many as two hundred gambling houses
in which four or five thousand persons are direct
ly interested. There is just enough Of secresy
about these houses to give additional zest to the
business which is carried on within their walls.
We find them in the upper part Of Broadway,
following the fashionable movement up town, and
the click of the faro box is mingled with the
waltz from the last opera when a nabob of the
Fifth avenue entertains the other nabobs Of the
other avenues with soiree ddnsdne.
The wicked always flourish, and the gamblers
of New York are not exceptions to the general
rule. Their victims come from every class of So
ciety-from the mechanic who throws away his
ten dollars per week upon q dicer's oath, to the
millionaire who puts ten thousand upon the
wrong card at faro. Efforts have not been want
ing to break up the system and punish its lead
ers. When Mayor Wood came into Office he pro-
cured nearly two hundred indictments against
the gamblers, and used his best efforts to bring
them TO the bar of the Sessions. The result was
no result at all. One or two were brought to
trial-none were punished; nearly all the indict-
ments slumber On the Clerks calendar-the dice
rattle az merrily as ever--the faro dealers dia-
monds are still radiant on the dollar side of
Broadway and gambling is still the most pro-
fi.able, IL not the most respectable OF vacations.
Why, asks the unsophisticated reader-why
in this enlightened republican this great metro
polis-in this age of progress, civilization, refine
ment-wby should these things be? 1t is be-
cause the gamblers are wealthy. acute, powerful.
Ii is because they may be found among the pill
lars Of our fashionable churches-the highest
bidders upon select pews-the heaviest subscri
bers to the funds Of benevolent and religious : ,
cieties-the power behind the throne, that set up
splendid religious houses, theatres, nurseries and
hospitals. The gamblers are ostentatious in their
slms-they pray, like The Pbarisee, at the corners
Of the streets-they are especially liberal in con-
tributing to the support Of the widows and o.
phans whom they have reduced to want-they
come down most literally to the Five Points
Missionary Society-they are careful to put
sbly turn up trump.
The gamblers have political power, too. They
can control about four or FIVE thousand votes
and they are careful never to give these votes TO
any one party. During the late contest they
were divided among the three parties, upon the
ground that IL was doubtful which card would
win, and that ii was the best 70 have a claim
upon une Wnoie Doaiu ihis - the poHcy winch
the gamblers always pursue, and THEREBY
their safety is insured. If they have no
claim upon the Mayor, they may have one on
the District Attorney, or upon one of the
Judges. or some other oHicer-at any rate.
they take care to Keep themselves safe from
the remotest possibility Of due execution
Of the law as made and provided by the
State Legislature. Their patrons, too, men
occupying the highest social standinr
are always ready to shield the gamblers, and
thereby protect themselves from exposure
Thus the gamblers are surrounded by Mala-
kofIs, which the allied moral and legal forces
assault in vain. Their splendid houses rice ND
in the best quarters Of the city-in their ban
an. 40 fnrnishnd f,rats 10 thnir cratnr,,nra .l.