Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1858-11-20
Correspondence Of the Boston Post
An Eminent .SpOFtsman" Dead.

in this CITY on Sunday week. he oc-
casion of his death affords me an OppOr-
tuniIy of giving yuur readers sketch OF
tie man and description of his gaming
house. Let il serve as warning, not as
an example.
He has been resident Of Washington
some fifteen or twenty years. during winch
period he amassed z cal wealth by gam
bling; or, To use HE mid and honest Ian
euaye of the avenue, "he real .Zed an am
pie fortune out of Ihe successful operations
of his house ~ His "house" being the
most elegant, and his bank the most
weighly and subs lantIal in the country, II
has he, fur year, tie fashionable and lac
inaing resort of wealthy planters and last
congressman, aspiring diplomats, and am
bilious sporsmen from every part OF me
world. For many years past he has Nv
I'd in The most lrXurIant style, having
like certain other rich man "heen cloth
ed in purple aud fine linen and iarng
sunplrou>ly every day" In person he
was above The medium size. fat and sleek.
of pleasing address, and general depoTt-
mrm To strangers the characteristics OF a
weii.icd, good natured clergyman rather
than those of heaEless, unrelenllng gam
bier.
His reputation for generosity was widely
established If a college was to be en-
dowed, church built. or private chart
Tics 10 re dispensed, he was sure TO Se a
mong the most munl6cent Of the dona-
tons. His wife, now a widow. was OF
good parenrage; a woman OF rare beauty
and mpishmeuts, possessing social
qualities which, combined with The dsZ-
zIing aliuremenls of wealth. insured her
troops Of admirers and courtezans. RoI. !
ling along The avenue IN her magnificent
equipage, which far exceeds in richness
and style that Of the President of the u.
States, or that of any other gentleman IN
Washington. she looked very queen
being undIsIarbed by any thought that her
presence sent a dagger TO scores Of hearts,
whose parrimony, unlaw(ully obtained,
had contributed to her enjoyment, in The
same proportion that lis loss had added
To The woes and wIetchedness OF me be-
holder.
His establishment" was upon Penn /
svlyania avenue, between the National
Hotel and the Capitol. Let US approach
and look at il.
You enter by door Of variegated STAIN
ed glass, which by gas light, reflects all
The coIors of The RAINBOW. Ascending a
flight Of stairs you reach door, pull HE
bell, and Instantly small aperture opens,
and you are greeted with a pair OF red
eyes and double row Of ivory sci in
black, which nominaily belonged to Sam
DO, but which, III fact. are The property OF
the proprietor. A glance svfliccs. You
have Fl led Sambo's eye and are deemed
passahe. The door is at once opened
and YOU are at once ushered into The ante.
vcs,ibue Of he'll. This room
is not large, but elegantly ppOuted-tht
chief attraction being the side-board,w hIch
is OF solid marble and as white at DIANA
breast Here are arranged in long and
vIistpning columns dccanlers Of cnt glass,
sparkling like hrilllanIs, with the choicest
nectar, and flushing 10 the very necks
with the glowing vintage Of the oIden
time. If You pass This rubicon without
tasting its sparkling but dangerous waters.
il is not from the dearh Of hospitality Oh
the part of he persuasive host.
The spacious "Sporting halP' is now
visible. The foo. is covered with ear
petng from the Orient, Of immense cos
and marvellous beauty. The walls are
adorned with suberb paintings of the old
masters and the new, while pendent from
the windows hang curtains Of embroldeI. !
ed lace. covered with golden tapestry Of
Oriental magnifcence : with mirrors Of
mammoth size rejecting your form and
features from a score Of cleaning embra.
sures. Along the hail, al convenient dis
tances, are ranged circular tables Of pl-I
ished rose wood, around which are seated
numbers Of thoughtful, anxious dark Wis
aged men, who heed you nol-lhelr eyes .
having another and stranger attraction. .
One would naturally suppose this To be a
theatre for jesIs, droIery and song, OF
hachanslian revelirgs, or pugilIs,Ic en-
counters. Far from it. On the contrary
all is hushed, silent, sepulchral.
"No real voice or sound,
Within those cherries walls are found"
You are oppressed with the fearful still
ness and awful silence which prevails the
place. laugh, joke, or even a curse,
would be sensible relief. But you hear
nothing Of this. An occasional long
breath or half subdued sigh is all that tells
the ear that these mad devotees are pos
sessed of lungs and life.
An horr's inspection satisfies your Gu
riosiry, aud you are about taking your