Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-09-03
Gaming and Gamblers.

H0io luuuSCJ anu GHrIIG preVall, gam
ing has but few patrons, and gamblers are
scarce. An honest vocation and diligent
attention to busiless, are sureities against
temptation to eril habits. "Idleness,"
as the old schoo books used to say, is
the parent Of vice," and every man Of OBJ
servation endorses the sentiment.
1t was with extreme pain that we have
been recently forced to the conclusion that
gambling is on the increase in our State.
Wealth and fortune have come in upon our
people, as remuneration to honest indus
try and enterprise. and we fear the rising
generation will reap the bitter consequences
which usually follow. Our men Of leisure
and means are increasing, and idleness or
the lack of employment, will lead men to
seek something to engage their attention.
Usually a resort is had to sources Of amuse-
ment, generally vicious and degrading
Business pursuits they deem unfit for their
position, and the paths Of literature or be-
nevolence, although they lead to rich pas
lures of pleasure and felicity, present no
inducements to the rich, idle and unbri-
died youth. Poor young men who have
every inducement to labor and enterprise,
anxious to cultivate social intercourse with
what they have improperly learned to con-
slider higher class, are drawn off by this
influence and engulphed.
Perhaps, the most pernicious man in any
community, is the decent, well-clad, respec-
table gambler. His very respectablility
makes him the more dangerous, because
] the more influential. Many mothers
heart has been made to bleed, and many
fathers grey-hairs have been brought in
sorrow to the grave, by the winning, Sc
ductive influence of such a man, upon the
unsuspecting, confding youth Decent,
well-bred young men could never be drawn
off into those miserable purlieus Of hell,
called gambling saloons, by worthless, de-
graded men who seek to plunder and 6lch
from them, what perhaps, has been accu-
mulated either by their own or their faith
er's industry. The mischief is done by
:. the gentleman of leisure, who professedly
takes game in his parlor for amusement
or who whiles away an hour at an evening
!, party in the senseless, time-murdering
: practice Of gaming How many a noble
:. youth has been led off into this practice by
: : such men and hopelessly ruined in this
:, way Is there no help for it What can
: be done to arrest the spreading evil? It
is crying sin upon our noble old common
wealth, "a blur upon her Well-earned repu-
tation for honesty and industry blot,
! foul and debasing, upon the character and
: name of christian people.
: The time was when these things were
: done in cornor. When men who even
J INDUCED in it for past time, got behind a
= screen, to shield them from the public gaze
! How is it now? In most Of our villages,
= towns and cities, billiard saloons, ten pin
> alleys, card-tables, etc., are unblushingly
paraded. The boy not out Of his teens
! young men and old men with coats off and
sleeves rolled up, engage in this soul-de
stroying work It has almost become gen
! tee] to gamble The youth, beginning in
II II childhood to throw the dice-to learn the
= names and value of the pack, or to pass
= : hours absorbed in the game of back-gam
! mon, or cards, with nice young lady, starts
= upon the road to ruin, ,land soon he is founC
y = to be an accomplished black-leg. And ye
- - no one speaks out manfully against it. The
y guardians of the public peace wink at it
the strong arm of thsfaw has become pow
n rless. because too often the makers and
!, executors of the law are the guilty partner
>. in the crime.
- The result is, our most promising youn!
p men, sons of professional men, of mel
!. chants, of mechanics, yea of farmers too, ar
~ being drawn into the whirlpool. What
ho =, to be the end of this? Why, idleness, poy
~ y erty, intemperance, ibertinism, an earl
- death-bed, and hell at last. What mus
~ ~ be done, we ask? The pulpit and tn
9, press, the conservators of public opinio
:, :, must speak out upon the subject. Mothel
= and fathers must be on the alert-the boy
aS are out.-N c. Christian Advocate