The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-11-17
A Washington Gambling Kouse

cessful 5sportsmen r. of this or any other
country wac buried il, this city on Sun
day week. The occasion of his death af-
fords me an oppor unity ofgiving your
re lders scetch of the man aid de-
scription of his gaming house. Let it
serve as warning, not as an example.
he had been a resident of Washington
some fifteen or twenty years, during
which period he amassed great wealth
by gambling, or to use the mild and hon.
est language of the avenue. 'he realized
an ample fortune out of the. successful!
operation of his housed His house be-
ling the most elegant, and his bank the
most weighty and substantial in the coun-
try, it has been for years the fashionable
and facinating resort of wealthy planters,
fast Conglessmen, aspiring diplomats,
and ambitious sportsmen from every part
of the world.
z For many years past he has lived in
the most luxur;ant style, having, like
certain other rich man. been clothed in
purple and fine linen, and faring sump-
tuously every dey." In person he was
above the medium size, fat and sleek, of
pleasing address, and a generous dispo-
sition; exhibiting in his general deport-
mcnt to strangers the characteristics of a
well-fed, good-natured clergymen rather
than those Of heartless, unrelenting gam
bier " .'@ ."-' 1'i'f' = ''''' .
His reputation for generosity was
widely established. If a college was to
be endowed, a church bnilt, or private
charities to be dispensed, his was sure
to be among the most ,munifcent,o of the
donations. His wife, now o widow, was
of good parentage, q woman of rare beau
ty and accomplishments, possessing So
cial qualities, which, combined with the
dazzling allurements of wealth, insured
her troops of admirers and eourtesans.-.
Rolling along the avenue in her magnif-
cent equipage, which far exceeds in rich
ness and style that of the President of
the, United States. or that of any other
gentleman in Washington she looked
very queen-being. quite undisturbed BY
any thought that her presence sent dag
ger to scorrs of hearts whose patrimony
unlawfully obtained, had contributed to
her enjoyment, in the same proportion
that its loss has added to the woes and
wretchedness of the beholder.
I His establishment was upon Pennsyl-
ivauia avenue, betweenthe National Ho-
j. lei and the Capital. Il Let us approach
and look at it, .es, ;.gs tl.,.al.i..1y,.
h You enter by q door of variegated
stained glass, which, BY gas light, reflects
all the colors of the rainbow. Ascending
a flight Of stairs you reach door, pull
the bell, and, instantly small aperature
opens, and You are greeted with q pair
Of red eyes and a double row of ivory, set
in. black, which nominally belong to
Sambo, but which, in fact, are the prop
erty of the proprietor. A glance suHices.
You have filled Sambo's eye, and are
! deemed passabie. The door. is opened
and you are ushered in to the anti.room,
:! the vestibule of hell. This room is not
large. but elegantly appointed-the chief
attraction being the side-board, which
is of solid marble and white as Diana's
breast
Here are arranged in long and glisten.
ing columns, decanters of cut glass. spark
Hing like brilliaRts, filled with the choicest
nectar, and blushing to- the very necks
with the growing vintage of the older
time. iii ea st,i,, .s, go s.,,3
i If you pass this rubicon without tast-
!. ing its 81 a-kling but dangerous waters, il
lis Eo: from any dearth cf hospitality or
the part of your persuasive host. Il Tht
: spacious Sporting half is now visible
, The floor is covered with carpttng from
+ the Orient, of immense cost and marvel
: Gus beauty The walls ore adorned Will
superb paintings of the old masters and
! the new, while pendant from the window,
!, hang curtains of embroidered lace, GOV
t cred with golden tapestry Of Orienta
, magnificence; with mirror OF mammo,l
! size reaecting your form and feature'fron
:. score of cleaning embrasures.l Along
!. the hail. at convenient distances, Al,
ranged circular tables of polished rose
q wood, around which are seated number
5 of thoughtful, anxious, dark visaged meu
: who heed you not-their eyes having an
i, tother and stronger attraction. !a "''I
' i One would naturally suppose this to b
:. a theater for jests, drolleryi and songn o
bacchanalian, ,revelings, or pugilistic en-
/ counters. Far from it. On the contra
: Try all is hushed, silent, sepulchral: y
:; js "No real voice or sound ~ E7'HHo'
4 II Within those cheerless walls is found.
IS aYou are oppressed with the fearful still
D ness, and awful silence which pervades til
e place. o., A laugh. joke, or even . curse
Il would be a sensible relief. But 20
it hear nothing Of this. An occasional Ion
= breath or half subdued sigh is all ) tbs
q rtels the ear that these mad devotees ar
s. possessed Of life,I ,57aa4sils s1s9y ~!
u An hours inspection satisfies your CT
riosity, aud, you are, about taking you
Z ldeparture when a soft hand taps you O
ID thea shoulder, and a low voice: ''Pleas
81 don't leave, Sir, supper will be ready
o few minutes" AT precisely l04 o
i; clock the doors 8, of the dining hall oil
d thrown open and "supper's ready" pre-