Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-12-01
A GAMBLING HELL.

The wealthy keeper of the most fashionable,
and magnificent gambling "helf' ir this coun-
try, died few weeks since at Washington
City. His sshouse'' being the most elegant,
and his bank the most weighty and substan-
tal in the country, il has been for years the
fashionable and fascinating resort of wealthy
planters, fast congressman, aspiring diplomats,
and ambitious sportsmen from every part OF
the world. For many years past he has lived
in the most luxuriant style. In person he
was about the medium size, fat and sleek, of
pleasing address, and generous disposition
exhibiting in his general department to stran-
gers the characteristics of well-fed, good
natured clergyman, rather than those of
heartlessS unrelentiDS gambler. His wife,
now widow, was Of good parentage; a wo-
man of rare beauty and accomplishments, pos
sessng social qualities which, combined with
the dazzling allurements of wealth, insured
her troops of admirers and courteZans. Rol-
ling along the avenue in her magnificent e.
quipage, which far exceeds in richness and
style that of the President of the United
States, or that of any other gentleman IN
Washington, she looked very queen-being
quite undsturbed by any thought that her
presence sent dagger TO scores of hearts,
whose patrimony, unlawfully obtained, had
contributed TO her enjoyment, in the same
proportion that its loss had added to the woes
and wretchedness of the beholder.
His ssestablshment'' was upon Pennsylva-
MIA Avenue, between the National Hotel and
the Capitol. Let us approach and look at it
iou enter by door of varegated stained
glass, which, by gas light reflects all the col
ors of rainbow. Ascending a flight of stairs
you reach door, pull the bell, and instantly
small aperture opens and you are greeted
with pair of red eyes and double row of
ivory, set in black, which nominally belong to
Sambo, but which in fact the property of
the proprietor. A glance suffices. You have
filled Sambo's eye and deemed passable.
The door is at once opened and you are usher
ed into the ante room--thc veStibule of hell
This room is not large but elegantly appoint
ed-the chief attraction being the side board,
which is of marble, and white as Diana's breast.
Here are arranged in long and glistening
columns decanters of cut glass, sparkling like
brlliants, filled with the choicest nectar, and
biushing TO the very necks with the glowing
vintage of the olden time. If you pass this
rubcon without tasting its sparkling but dam
gerous waters, it is not from any dearth of
hospitality on the part of your persuasive
host. The spacious ssSporting hall'' is now
visible. The floor is covered with carpeting
from the Orient, of immense cost and marvel
lous beauty. The walls are adorned with
perb paintings of the old masters and the new,
while pendant from the windows hang cur
tains of embroidered lace, covered with gold
en- tapestry OF Oriental msgnificence, with
mirrors of mammoth size rejecting your form
and features from score of cleaning en-
brasures. Along the hall, at convenient dis
tances, are ranged circular tables of polished
rosewood, around which are seated numbers
of thoughtful, anxious, dark-visaged men,
who heed you not-their eyes have another
and stronger attraction. One would naturally
suppose this to be theater for jests, drollery
and song, or 5achanalian revelings, or pugilis-
tic encounters. Far from it. On the contra
ry, all is hushed, silent, sepulchral.
No real voice sound
those oh VIZ lie md
You are opposed with the fearful stiffness
and awful silence which pervades the place.
A laugh, joke, or even a curse. would be a
sensible relief. But yon hear nothing of this.
An occasional long breath halt subdued
sigh is all that tells the ear that these mad
deyotees are possessed of lungs and life.
An hours inspection satisfies yonr curiosity,
and you are about taking your departure when
soft hand taps you on the shoulder, and
low voice ssPlcase don't leave, sir, supper
will be ready in few minutes" At precise
ly half-past ten O'Clock the doors of the di-
ming hall are thrown open and sssupper's
ready" proclaims an immediate armistice be-
tween the combatants, and invites you TO
more healthy and rational duty. The long
tables groan beneath their burden of gold and
silver plate, and the heaps of delicacies which
adorn them. Here are venison from the
brown forests OF Maine, turkeys from the broad
savanahs of the West, canvas backs from the
placid Potomac, trout from Superior, and
salmon from St. Johns. together with fruits,
flowers and wines for every taste and from ev-
cry cline. The repast over, you are permit
ted, with patronizing invitation, to ''call a.
gain,' to make your retreat to the open air,
there to thank heaven that you are not a wor
shipper within this magnificent yet chcerless a
bode. One nights work few days previous
to the close OF the last session, made sad
havoc among the Golfers of this den. 1t is
said that a distinguished Senator won on that
night one hundred and eighty thousand dol
lars, which broke the bank and caused tenn
porary suspension. A new house, however,
was soon purchased by him, and was magnifi-
Gently decorated, when the ssking of terrors,''
the great unbcaten and unchallenged, slept in
and closed the game of life forever.
PHYSICIANS IN AMERICA.-In New York
there is one nhv Sician To every fil0 inhahi-