The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1857-12-19
Gift Enterprise.

We have received the circular of great
gift enterprise, with request to ''insert in
your valuable paper, give an editorial no
tice, and send your bill"
Being somewhat disposed to accommodate
the proprietors, we will favor it with an edi-
torial first, and see about the insertion after
wards.
The gift enterprise is a new and fashion
uble name for lottery, and lottery is
very pernicious form of gambling, and gamb-
ling is one of the meanest ways of stealing.
Take it in any form, the gambleris is thief.
He appropriates to himself that which is the
property of another, and in manner most
reprehensible, because to do so he induces
another to attempt to steal from him. Thus
he not only robs his victim, but demoraizes
him by making him like himself, thief at
heart, and intent, even though he be the
loser in the game. We have much more re-.
] spect for the robber who pieks the poet,
or breaks into the room Of the unguarded
one, than we have for the man who induces
an unsuspecting young man to jeopardize
both his money and his character, at game
in which he is sure to lose both. The loss
of money is not to be deplored so much as
loss of character.
But many a man can be induced to buy a
lottery ticket who would scorn to gamble
with cards OF otherwise. is chance, he
thinks, to make fortune suddenly, and it
is not much of risk. Does he not know,
in the first place, that the men he deals with
are gamblers, and enter upon this ''enter-
prise" to make money without labor and at
the expense of the green ones who can be
caught by scheme Offering $4,000 farm,
$4,000 brick house, $4,000 dollar
town lot, a $1,000 horse, $500 Buggy,
and such like2 These gamblers put out
their bills, knowing that fools are not all
dead, and that a fool and his money are soon
parted. Of course they keep enough to pay
themselves well, and then distribute" what
is left, if any.
Occasionally some one proves "lucky''-
better say unlucky, for it proves curse in
ninety-nine cases out of a hundred. The
unfortunate possessor of the big farm, or
fine house, or nice horse, knows that he
has an article that he has never paid for,
and which in reality belongs to another, or
to others. Such possessions are mitigated
curses.
But the meanness of this system of gam
bling is its lying to begin with. 1t is call
ed "gift enterprise" This is a lie at once.
There is no gift about it. 1t is simply tax
ing your money, with possibility of your
stealing as much, may be more, from some
one who is as big fool as yourself. And,
oh! how benevolent they are 1t is some
times to promote the arts, music, and some
times literature. Artunions, giftenterprises,
and such like, are the meanest kind Of
gambling operations. If you have money
to fool away in such schemes, consult the
papers that advertise for them. You pro-
badly have one in your house, and yo:sr son
has pls!sss..s.sjJ gGe mp his naiudsta ,ry his.
luck with the little pocket money he has,
without having you know it. Papers that
invite your boys to become gamblers, and
tell them where to find the best choice Ii
quors, are great institutions to introduce into
your houses-so would rattlesnakes or the
smallpox be.-hdiana american.