The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-01-21
How 1 Became a Gambler.


Although belong to The despsed frater-
nifty of Gamblers, have always made il
rule TO advise young men to shun The gam
bling table, that they may avoid the rock
upon which split; and will now offer,
through your paper some suggestions to the
heads of families on the subject OF social
card.playiug. f-'
Twas at least some twenty years of age,
and had lived some months in New York,
before ever knew the names of the ofdl.
nary playing cards--but the Importance of
thorough education in the science Of games
was soon made apparent to me, and quar-
,ersbepaeI lsasi pecied- IT. Boarding in
Broadway, gradually formed an acqnaint-
ance with a number Of highly respectable
families.
BY one of these was invited 10 attend a
social party. The heads Of this family /
knew 10 be members of an evangelical
church, and you may Judge of my surprise,
when made my entry into The parlor TO be-
holt most of the company, together with my
pious fIisnds, deeply engaged at play-noi
the plays Of innocence, but of depraved gom-
blers The father of the family was enga.
ged at chess, whilst the wife presided at a
card.table; their children were among ths
whist players, and oilers of the company
were engaged at backgammon, dominoes,
and checkers
The wine circulated freely and all seemed
happy but my self, who in such party was
barbarian. could DO nothing but look
on and confess my Ignorance, or occasion.
ally engage in conversation with some old
lady, whilst
| "The young and gay s zs
! Were are all engaged in Play."-
II is needless TO say that spent a very un
happy evening-and that resolved a, once
10 acquire an educaton so necessary TO the
maintenance Of respectable standing in so
ciety! I was not long therefore; in master
ing the mysteries of High, Low, Jack ant
the Game, and Whist; and a slight knowl
edge of these led me TO desire for furlhe
information until at last was an adept a
variety of games, able to reach others, ant
was favorile partner wherever went.
became exceedingly fond of cards, and a
they were introduced in every social circl,
where was admitted, my fondness gradu
ally ripened into passion, which clings Il
me even 10 tlIis hear. -------' = .s--
No better illustration of the dangers o
card-playing can be given, than my own his
tory. In the parlors Of respectable familie
acquired taste for play, which finally be
came an absorbing passion, knowing n,
) bounds, and rapidly hunying me down ih,
road ,o'ruin, where all is misery, desolatiol
and death I But my case is not a solitar,
one--thousands of gamblers have been mad
in the same way-and tens of thousand
have fallen before this terrible vice, in con
sequence Of toste for play being formed il
the family circle III National Guard t'l
4iA
AMERIcAN PEEREssEs. The death of Lad,
Stafford, in England, one of the three grand
daughters Of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton
who married an English nobleman, ha
J again given rise to remark on the singula
circumstances of three sisters marrying no
blsmen'o Of the highsstsank but the coinci
depce is still greater 10 this case, as neilhe
of the sisters had offspring, SO that no Amel
lean blood was sir insed into the peeraee b
} them. Their niece, Miss McTavish of Ba
! iimofe, married o brother Of Lord Carlisle
!, bu, paired from her husband after liviu
with him bni a short time. There have bee
bnlai I've other American women who hav
martisd English nobIemen, Miss Bingham
vile Of ihe first Lord Ashbnrton, and Mis-