Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-11-25
A Washington Gambling House.
Correspondence ofThe sion Post. Z

WAsHIEeroN, Oct. a5, 1858. :.
One of the most celebrated and success.
ful sportsmen of this or any other country
was buried in this city on Sunday week.
The occasion of his death affords me an
opportunity of giving your readers asketch
of the man and description of his gaming
house. Let il, serve as warning, not as
an example
F. He has been a resident of Washington
some fifteen or twenty years, during which
period he amassed great wealth by gam
bling, or, to .use3th mild and honest Ian
guage of the avenue, "he realized an ample |
s.forsune out of the successful lopperations
s of this house!" His 'house' being the
most elegant, and his bank the most weighty |
and substantial in the country,it has been
for years the fashionable and fscinating re-
ttseri of wealthy planters, fast congressman,
aspiring diplomatists, and ambitious sports
men from every. part of the world. For
many years past he has lived in the most
luxuriant style, having like certain other
rich man been clothed in purple and fine
+iinen, and fsring sumptuously every day.
In person he was above the medium size fat
and sleek, OF pleasing address, and a gen.
srous disposition; exhibiting in his general
department 10 strangers the characteristics
of well-ied, go9f-9aspred clergyman
rather than those of hesrtless, unrelent-
9kng gambler. s.. ...s sas
His reputation for generosiiv was widely
leslsblished! II a college was to be en-
! doved, 9 church built, or private charities
to be dispensed, bis was sure to be among
the most munifcent of the donations. III His
1 wife, Eew a widow, was Of good parentage; !;
fxwomsn of rare beauty and accomplish
aRe6ts, possessing sociat qualities. which,
kined with the dazziiug alluremepts1 of
2eaIth, insured her troops of admirers and
courtezans. Rolling along the avenue in
lher, magnificent equipage, which far ex-
oeeds 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 undisturb-
[bJ any thought that her presence sent a
dagger to scores of hearts whose patrimony,
lunlawfnlly obtained, bad contributed to her
enjoyment. in the same proportion that its
boss had added to the woes and wretched-
e.ss of the the beho;der. z.j. q
His establishment" was upon Pennsyl-
vania Avenue, between the National Hotel,
aad the. Capitol. Let us appro lch and look
at it. You enter by a door of variegated
stained glass, which, by gas-light. reflects
all the colors of the rainbow. descending
fight of stairs you reach door, pull the
4 ben, and Instantly small aperture opens
ans you are greeted with pair of red eyes
4 and double row of ivory, set in black. which
; nominaily belong to sambp, but, which, in
fact are the property Of the proprietor. A
glance suffices You have filed Sambo's
eye and are deemed passable. The door is
at once opened and you are ushered into the
: room is not large but elegantly appointed
. the chitf attraction being the side-board
, which is of solid marble and white az
/ Diana's breast. Here are arranged inllone
= and glistening columns, 1ecanters of cot
. glass, sparkling like briIiiants. filed with
5 the choicest nectar, and blushing to the
5 very necks with the glowing vintage of the
t olden time. If you pass this rubicon with.
: out tasting its sparkling but dangerous wat.
J, ers, it is not from any dearth of hospitality
Y on the part of your persuasive host. The
e spacious Sporting halP' is now visible =
d The floor is covered with carpeting from,the
Orient, Of immense cost and marve lous
: -Nbssatyt.The walls are adorned with supert
: paintings of the old masters and the new
. while penden: from the windows hang cur
Y tains of embroidered lace; covered with
: golden tapestry of oriental magnifcence
2 with mirrors Of mammoth size rejecting
, your form and features from score Of gleam
ing EN- braaures.s Along the hail. at con
: venient distances, are ranged circular tubles
I of polished rosewood, around which art
seated numbers of thoughtful, anxious, darl
: visaged men, who heed you not-their eyel
< having another and stronger attraction -
. One would naturally suppose this to be I
. theater for jests, drollery ard song,. or bac
+, chanalian rereiings, or puglistic encount
D ers. Far from it. On the contrary all il
hushed, silent, sepulchral. s...a
~>Nor cal voic or sound, rt-.a.i... ...
Within those cheerless walls is found"
} You are oppressed with the fearful tllnes
e and awful silence which prevades the place
A laugh, joke, or even curse, would be
sensible relief. Butyou hear nothing o
: this. An occasional long breath or half
subdued sigh is all that trlls the ear tha'
/ these mad devotees are possessed OF lungs
! and life. ,. e.-.,.. iii t.., .--sit.
An hours inspection satisfies your curl
: oslty. and you are about tsking your depar
ture when soft hands taps you on the
shoulder, and low voice: "Plesse dom
leave, sir, supper will be re ady in a. few
E minutes" At precisely l0a O'Clock the
doors OF the dining hall are thrown open
| and "supPer' ready proclaims an imme
date lrmistic between the combatants, and
5 invitessio more healthy aed RATIONAL duty
t The lsng tables groan beneath their burden
/. of gold and silver sate, and the heaps q
r delicacies which surmount and adorn them
/ Here are vension from the brown forests o
Maine, turkeys from the broad savannahs Of
: the West, canvas backs from the placid
/ Pc temae, trout from Superior, and salmon
E from kzaS,, Johns; together with fruits
t flowers and wines for every taste and from
! every clime,--and all free Of charge to the
q paruker. -s
E The. repast os er, you are permitted, with
a patrenizing invitation to "call again. to
make your retreat to the open air, there to
3 thank heaven that you are not worshi pei
withifffhis magnificent vet cherries a rode