The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1858-11-20
lhE GREAT GAMBLING-HOUSE IN WASHING
IONA SENATOR BREAKING THE BANK.
orrespondonce of tho Bosom Porf.I

Correspondence of the Bostoa Pozt.l
WASHINGTON, Nov. lO.-One of the most
celebrated sportsmcn Of this OF 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 a description Of
ms gaming-house. Let it serve ~ a warn
ing, not a. an example.
He had been a resident of Washington
some fifteen or twenty years, during
period he amassed great wealth by gam
bling; or, to use the mild and honest
language of the avenue, Tho realized an
ample fortune out Of the successful opera
tons Of his houscv' His "house" being
the most elegant and his bank the most
weirhty and substantial in the country, IL
has been for years the fashionable and fl-ci-
mating resort ofwealthy planters. fast Con
gressmen, aspiring diplomats and ambi-
tious sportsmen 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 linen and faring sumptu-
ously every day" Inperson he was above
the medium size. fat and sleek, Of pleas
ing address, and a generous disposition;
exhibiting in his general department to
strangers the characteristics Of a well-fed
good-naturcd clergyman rather than those
ola heartless, unrelenting gambler.
His reputation for generosity was widely
established Ifacollege was to be endowed.
a church built. or private charities 70 be
dispensed, his was sure 10 be among the
most munifccnt Of the donations. His
wife, now a widow. was Of good parentage
awoman Of rare beauty and accomplish
ments. possessing social qualities which.
combined with the dazzling allurements Of
wealth, insured her troops ofadmirers and
courtezans. Rolling along the avenue in
her magnificent equipage, which far ex-
| cecds in richness and style that ofthe Presi-
dent Of the United States. or that Of any
other gentleman in Washington, she
looked n very queen-being quite undis-
/ turbed by any thought that her presence
| sent dagger to scores of hearts, whose
| patrimony unlawfully obtained, had con-
tributed to her enjoyment, in the same
proportion that its loss had added to the
WOES and wretchedness ofthe beholder.
His establishment" was upon Pennsyl-
vania avenue, between the National Hotel
and the Capitol. Let us approach and
look at IL.
You enter by a door Of varieeated
stained glass, which by gas light, reflects
all the colors of the rainbow. Ascending a
fight Of stairs you reach door, pull the
bell, and instantly a small aperture opens,
andyou are greeted with a pair Of red eyes
and double row Of ivory, set in black,
which nominally belonged to Sambo, but
which, in fact are the property ofthe pro
prictOr. A glance suthces. You have
filed Sambo's eve and are deemed passa-
BILE. The door is at once opened and you
are ushcred into the ante-room-the YES
thule Of hell This room is not large, but
elegantly appointed-the chief attraction
being the sidc-board which is Of solid
marble and white as Diana's breast
Here are arranged in long and glistening
columns decanters of cut glass, sparkling
like brilliants, filed with the choicest nee
tar, and blushing to the very necks with
the glowing vintage of the olden time. II
you pass this rubicon without tasting the
sparkling but dangerous waters, it is not
from any dearth Of hospitality on the part
Of your persuasive host. The spaciou.
Sporting hall" is now visible. The floor
is covered with carpeting from the Orient
ofimmense cost and marvellous beauty
The walls are adorned with superb pain
tings of the old masters and the new
while pendent from the windows hans
curtains of embroidered Lace. covered
4 with golden tapestry OF Oriental magnif
I cence; with mirrors of mammoth size re
flecting your form and features from Il,
score of cleaning embrasures. Along the
hall, at convenient distances, are ranged
circular tables Of polished rosewood
around which are seated numbers o
Thoughtful, anxious, dark visaged men
who heed you not-their eyes having an
other and stronger attraction. One woul,
naturally suppose this to be a theatre 70
, iests. drollery and song, or bachanalial
I revellings, OF pugilistic encounter. Fa
from it. On the contrary all is hushed
: silent, sepulchral.
Il ~. - -. - -...rI