Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-02-06

can look back to the time when he dld |
not know the name of the cards or the
uses of the dice. 1t requires study ana
much practice to become master OF cards
to thai degree which leads the player to
risk money, or to gamble.
But is there any school in this country /
professedly organized for the purpose OF
making expert gamblers? Is there any /
class of men who profess to teach the (
Art? I know Of none OF either. And /
if there were, doubt there being young
men who would dare TO profess them
selves learners. Yet there are teachers. /
In certain parlor not thousand miles
from here, there were gathered for an
evening party a number of respectable
people; rery respectable; young ladies
and young gentlemen. In the course OF
the evening, a proposition was made by
| one ofthe party to play "Whist." Very
soon . a set was formed with the exeep-
ton of one. q young man was invited
Ito ioin. who declared he knew nothing of
cards. "Oh, no matter for that they
/ all declared; awe will teach you" And
they urged him. Seeing the bright eyes
of young lady, dear to him, pleading
for him to join, he finally consented
That was his first lesson" Afterwards
he had several opportunities; and at
length became an expert @whist player"
and Iored the game. From that his pro
! gress was rapid until he became a notori-
Gus gambler. Now, who taught that
young man? Nota professed gamester;
not a "blackleg;" but those respectable
people, those bright eyes and gentle
looks.
1t would not do to say that every gam
bier is thus made but it is certainly true
/ that every one commenced his career by
playing for amusement. He played thus
until he became expert-and then he ven
tured for money. IF so, (and, Mr.
Chronicle, viii you inform me if I am
wrong if 50, every whist or other card
party Is a school for the education of men
who may use their knowledge in this
terrible vice, and many of them do! It
is a gambling school, AT this day it IS
said that many play cards. Church
| members, civil officers, magistrates Of
: the county, lawyers and judges it IS said,
play whist, and assert that there is no
harm in it. I would speak 10 one Of
: these. Should a young man educated in
: your harmless whist parties become a
: gambler, had you any hand in making
; him such? You did not teach him to
gamble; but how much did you lack Of
| It. You certainly taught him to play
? and / cannot see how you escape the re-
e sponzibility Of assisting to make him a
e gambler, and thus to ruin him. You put
; the weapons IN his hand, and taught him
f ito use them.
i Here, then, are some of the convictions
: on the subject. I want to say to those
5 church members, men Of influence. law
yers. judges, dc, If you would not ster
n up to the bar and take a glass Of brandy
s for fear Of the influence, I coniure you t.
e weigh well this question; look att OF
r all sides, and see if your influence is RICH
: when you engage in card playing. Fo1
e the sake Of your own children, neve.
j teach young man this exciting and en-
e tieing game, unless you are very sur,
d that, should be become a gambler, an,
4 end his days suicide, your Judge woul,
h say to you, Well done, good and faith
; full servant" Fathers and mothers be
/ fore you teach your children to pIa
-e whist" look down through the future.
T, And now, as a case in point, I clos
4 this article BY a mournfuI fact. A youn
'r lady Of, y. l., taught her lover
to play cards They were married; an
re in two years after their wedding he Dc
ty came both gambler and drunkard :
Who was to bIane2 u