Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-09-03
Sr C1.1BsvIrIE. Auo 90 ,57.


face Of this earth, there to greater or less
extent exists sin, in all ITS varied forms
And for town, whose inhabitants claims to
be moral. 81, CIairsville contains much that
is immoral and sinful. To point out in one
article all the varied forms, in which the
monster vice appears ameng US, would be
impossible. Much, might be said of the man
ner in which the Sabbath is treated, the
effects of idleness might be pointed out,
pages could be written, setting forth the
destruction which Intemperance is making
of all those habits and principles that render
Us an industrious and moral community.
But my present object is TO. say few
words in regard to certain vice that does
prevail to a great extent, in this and in all
other towns. mean gambling; it is not
among those only who have long since given
up all preteEsions to a moral character, that
this vice is practised. There are men in this
town, claiming to be ameng its most re-
spectacle citizens, such for instance, as mer-
chants, retired tradesmen, landlords and
men, who have held public Offices, that do
spend whole hours and almost days, at the
gambling table they walk the streets believ
ing that none but themselves. know what
manner OF men they are, in this some of
them at least are mistaken, FOR their true
character is known and they need not al
ways expect to escape that iLfamy of being
gamblers. IF much of this rice is commit
ted in daylight more, much more is commit
ted wnen darkness coy yeFeth ths.sarth, it is
then that the whole East of the gamblers is
marshailed, and now !! is that they set their
snares to entangle the feet of the young and
unsusPecting, giving them seat at the
gambling table, from which if not provide:
italy rescued, they will arise possessing the
in famous nd eXacrable character of the
gambler. Let all shun as they would pesti
lence, and death not only the open and pro-
fesYed gambler, but also the black-hearted
hypocrite, who in private can display all the
attributes of the gambler. and yet in public
claim to be an honest man. one would think
that after having created the hell that exists
in his own bosom, the gambler would re-
frain from using any means that might bring
others to the same unfortunate situation,
but alas! such is not the fact, not content
with their own, their families and each
others happiness, they must watch for and
embrace every opportunity of blasting youth
full character and family happiness. Gam5
ling is fruitful parent of vice, when it is
said that man is a gamber,i it is equivalent
TO saying that he is thief, a drunkard,
liar, profound swearer and Il viOlator of
the 9Th or 7th commandment; and if he is
not a murderer, it is because he has been
able to secure his aims by other and per-
haps less wicked means, ,and not on account
of conscientious ahhorrence of shedding
blood. Tell me not that the man who can
take the money OF another without render
him any equivalent, trample under his feet
all the duties of father, husband or son hold
at naught all other raquii ements Of Gods
moral law, would refrain from taking the
life of fellow being. provided that life stood
between him and sumo faVorite object, that
he wisf ed to gain. No the hard and stony
heart of the gambler, would let him execute
one compunctious throb. perhaps some are
ready to say that il such is the life of the
gambler few er would lead it Rome was not
built in one day the gambler did not acquire
the character here given him in day, it is
the product OF long list o. evil fractures,
we might point as IN example to what we
shall term social card playing 1t is the
doctrine OF many ,tha, there is no more harm
in a gaze of cards, provided there is no
money It state than in any other amuse-
ment, this we conceive to be great mis-
take, those who engage in any such amuse-
menr, are guilty in the first place of wasting
their time, and in the second place of doing
that which necessarily leads them to act
dishonesty, for snccess in card playing de-
pends on the players ability to cheat, but
the greatest objection to it, is that it learns
those who engage in il 10 play cards, and
thus it becomes means oil making a msn
d gambler, fer those who have taken this
elementary course in card playing when en-
riced to those gambling dens, falls more
ready victim than he who is entirely ignor-
ant of the way to use cards. Ignorance
under such circumstances is bliss. all such
amusements should therefore be opposed by
all who have any regard for mora lity. Let
all remember that the condition of the
gambler is the most hopeless Of all eondi-
tions, there IS hope for the thief, for the
drunkard, for the liar, and for the profane
swearer. but for the gambler there is almost
L
habits, that it is to be feared that the sac
cepted time and day of salvation will pass
and leave him still N the gall Of bitterness
and in the bowls of iniquily,' man may
lead the life of gambler, and almost sue
ceed in hiding it from his fellow-men, but
the time is coming when all his acts will be
revealed and he shall have his reward.