The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-11-23
A WASHINGTON CITY GAMBLING G
4+z -.E HOUSE.
An cm .npnt ".SpOrtsnadn" dead.

brated aud successful sportsmen in this or any
other country was buried in this city ON Sunday
week The occasion of his death affords me an
opnortunitv Of giving your readers sketch OF the
man and description of his gaming mouse. Let
it serve as a warning, not as an example ~
He had been resident of Washington some /
fifteen or twenty years, during which period he
amassed great wealth by gambling; or, TO use the
mild and honest language OF the avenue, "he re-
allied an ample fortune out OF the successful opera
tons of his house p His "house" being the most
elegant and the bank the most welghty and sub /
s.antia in the country it has been Tor years the /
fashionable ard fascinating resort of wealthy plant
ers, fast Congressman, aspiring diplomats, and am
bilious sportsmen from every part OF the world
For many years past he has lived in the most lux
uriant STYLE having, like certain other rich man,
.sbeen clothed in purple and fine linen and tarlng
sumptuously every day." In person he was above
medium size, fat and sleek, of pleasing address,
and generous disposition; exhibiting IN his gen
era department to strangers the characteristic OF
well-fed, good-natured clergyman, rather than
that of heartless unreenting gambler
His reputation for generosity widely estab-
Esbed If a college was to be endowed, church
built or private charities to be dispensed, his was
sure to be among the most nlunlhcent CT inc 40
nations. His wife, now widow, was of good pat
ronage; woman of rare beauty and accomplish n
ments possessing social qualities which, comhlneo
with the dazzling alurements OF wealth, insured
her troops of admirers and courtezans. Rolling
along the avenue in her magnificent eqmpage'
which far exceeds in richness and style that OF the
President of United States, or that OF any other
gentleman in Washington, she looked very queen
being quite disturbed by any thought that
her prescnce sent dagger to scores OF hearts,
whose patr rmony, unlawtully obtained, had CON
trbuted to her enjoyment, in the same proportion
that its loss had added to the woe and wretched-
ness of the beholder.
His "estabishment" was upon Pennsylvania
avenue, between the National Hotel and the Capl-
tol. Let us approach and look at it.
| You enter by door Of variegated stained glass,
which. by gas light, reflects all the coors OF the
rainbow. Ascending flight Of stairs you reach
door, pull the bell, and instantly small aperture
opens and you are greeted with pair OF red eyes
ami double OF ivory, set in black, when
nominalv belong to Sanlbo, but which, in fact,
are the property of the proprietor. A glance suf-
fees. You lave flied Sambo's eye and are
deemed pas<able The door is at once opened and
YOU are ushered into the ante-room-the Vestibule
of hell This room is not large but elegantly aP-
rointed-the chief attraction being the sldeboard,
which is of bid marble and white as Diana S
breast. Here are arranged in long and g!l'tenln2
columns decanters Of cut glass sparkling like bril-
lians filed with the choicest nectar, and blushng
to the very necks with the glowing vintage OF the
oden time If you pass this lubicon without
tasting its srarking but dangerous waters 1T is not
from anv dearth Of hospitality on the part OF your
persuasive host, spacious 'SportIng hall Is now
visible The foor is covered with carpetng from
the Orient. of immense cost and marvellous beauty
The walls are adorned with superb paintings Oh the
old masters and the new, while pendent from tht
windows hang curtains Of embroidered lace, cover
ed with golden tapestry of Oriental magnifcence
with mirrors of mammoth size rejecting your form
and features from score Of cleaning enbrasures
Along the hall at convenient distances, arr
ranged circular tables of polished rosewood, arount
which are seated numbers of thoughtful, anxious
dark visagcd men, who heed you not-their eye
having another and stronger attraction On
would naturally suppose this to be a theatre 10
jests drollery and song, or bachanallan reyeihne
, or pugilistic encounters. Far from 1t. On tn
contrary all is hushed, SILENT sepulchral.
: "No real voice or sound
- Within those cherries walls found"
You are oDnrcssed with the fearful stiffness AM
: awful silence which prevades the place lau@f
Joke or even curse, would be q sensible reHe
: Bnt YOU hear nothing Of this. An occasionS
long breath hasubducd sigh IS aiIthat tells til
ear that these mad devoteCs are possessed OF lung
d and life. s- " ~f. "i 81
An hours inspection satisfies your curiosity
G and YOU are about taking your departure when
{ soft hand taps you on the shoulder and allow voice
IL "Please don't leave, sir, supper will be ready IN
few minutes" At precisely halfpast ten clock to
doors of the dining hall are thrown open and 'sul
. per's ready proclaims immediate arnlistc b.
,, tween the combatants, and invites to mol
healthy and rational duty. The long tables groa
beneath their burden of gold and silver plate, an
: the hears of delicacies which surmount and ado1
them Here are venson from the brow forest
y Maine, turkeys from the broad savannahs OF tt
West, canvas backs from the placid Potomac, tro
ID from Superior, and salmon from the St Johns, t
y eethcr with fruits, flowers and wines for eSel
taste and every cline. @a
The repast over, you are permitted, with pa
" ronzine invitation to ''call again., to make yo
st retreat to the open air. there to thank heaven tn
of you are not worshipper within this magnifce
is yet cheerlcss abode. ...-..... .-.. ....
is One nights work, a few days previous to t
is last session. made sad havoc among the Golfers
1t this den 1t is said that distinguished senator W
en- on that night one hundred and eighty thousal
a dollars which broke the bank and cansed temp
e: rarv suspension. 4 new house. however,
he soon purchased by him, and was magnificent
III decorated, when tie "king Of terrors," the gre
wv unbcaten and unchallengcd, slept In and closed
ed game of life forever .-r. e.. --a.r <i ~
h. "Why are you like an annual, my darllHg!" $;
be saucy lover, binding his arm around Harrie
-ly waist. 81" ...s' p .<as 49, =
K "I can't say. Wby?' 2: t'Because you
he handsomely Bound" .1naeed," said Harri
r ~ l.1,nL9,, oal