Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-06-12
MISCELLANY.
Gaming.


Voltaire asserts, that every gambler is.
has been or will be robber. Gaming is
an evil in the first place, because it is prac
ticc which produces nothing. Ifth9 whole
human family were all skillful gamesters,
and should play constantly for one whole
year, there would not be dollar more in
the world at the end Of the year than at it's
commencement
On the contrary, there would be much
less, besides an immense loss of time. But,
secondly, gaming favors corruption of mind
1t Is difficult to trace the progress of the
gamblers mind from the time when he be-
gins his course, but we know too well the
gaoi at which he is destined to arrive
There may be exceptions, but not many {;
generally speaking, every gamestcr, sooner
or later, goes to pcrditon, and often adds
to his own woe, by dragging others along
with him.
1t discouragos industry. He who is ac-
customed to secure large sums at once,
which bear no proportion to the labor by
which they are obtained, will gradually
come to regard the moderate, but constant
and certainrcwards ofindustrious exertions
as insipid.
The famous philosopher, Locke, in his
thoughts on education, thus remarks "It
is certain that gambling leaves no satisfac-
tion behind it, to those who reflect when
1T is over, and it in no way profits either
body OF mind. AS to their estates, if it
strikes so deep as to concern them, it is trade
then, and not a recreation, wherein few
thrive; and at best thriving gamester has
but trade Of it, who fills his pockets at
the price of his reputation"
j. Il. lIeadly, in his letters from italy,
and the Alps, and the Rhine, says that a
"gambler carries his repulsive soul in his
eyes, in his face, nay, almost in his very
gait. His very presence causes chilling
atmosphere around him, that upset all that
approach him. Gambling more complete
ly metamorpboses nan than other crime
except murder"
EGaming is always criminal, either in it.
self or in its tendency. The basis of it is
covetousness; desire to take from others
something for which you have neither given
nor intend to give an equivalent. / have
often wondered how sober and intelligent
people, who have consciences, and believe
the doctrine of accountability to God--how
protesting christians, as is sometimes the
case in this country, can sit whole evenings
at cards. What notions have they of the
value of time? Can they conceive of Him
whose example we are bound to follow, az
engaged in this way !? What herculean
task has Christianity yet to accomplish2
The excess of this evil has caused even
theoverthrow of empires. 1t leads to con-
spiracles and furnishes couspirators Per-
haps the vice has nowhere been carried to
greater excess than in France There it
it has its administration, its chief, its stock
holders, its Offices, it's priests 1t has its
domestics, its informers, it's spies, its pimps,
its assassins, its bullics, it's aiders, its abet-
tors, in fact, its scoundrcls of every des-
cription; particularly its hircling swindlers,
who are paid to entice the unwary into the
hells upon earth, so odious to morality, and
so destructive 70 virtue and christianity.
In England, this vice has been looked
upon as one OF pernicious consequence to
the commonwealth, and been for a long
time prohibited by law Every species of
gsabling is strictly prohibited, and is fre-
quently punished with great scyerity.--