Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-11-12
Correspondence Of The Boston Post
A WASHINGTON GAMBLING HOUSE,

puo vi bhe iiVsb oeioDi'e~o '"N 'e'>eos'9
ful sportsmen Of this or anyothcr country
was buried in this city on Sunday week.
Tho occasion Of his death affords me an op-
portunisy of giving your readers sketch
of the man and description Of his gaming.
house. Let 1t servo rs warning, not as
an example.
he had been resident OF Washington
some fifteen or twenty years, during which
period be amassed great wealth by gam
bling, or, to use the mild and honest Lam
guage Of the avenue, "he realized an ample
sfortune out Of the successful operations Of
''his house p His "house" being tho most
elegant, and his bank the most weighty and
substantial in the country, it has been for
years the fashionable and fascinating resort
Of wealthy planters, fast congressman, as
piring diplomats, and ambitious sportsmen
from every part of the world. For many
years past he has livcd in the most luxuri-
ant style, having. like certain other rich
man, "bcen clothed in purple and fine lin-
zen and faring sumptuously every day.
In person be was above tho medium size,
Cat and sleek, Of pleasing address, and a
generous disposition; exhibiting in his gon-
eral department to strangers the character
istics of a well fed, good-natured clergyman
rather than thoseof heartless, unrelenting
gambler. ..
His reputation for generosity was widely
established If college was to be endow-
ed, a church built, private charities to be
dispensed, his was sure to be among the
most munifcont of the donations. His
vito, now widow, was Of good parentage
a woman of rare beauty and accomplish
ments, possessing social qualities, which,
combined with the dazzling alurment Of
wealth, insured her troops Of admirers ard
courtezans. Rolling along the avenue in
her magnificent equipage, which far cx-
ceeds in richness and style that of the Pres
ident Of the United Statos, or that OF any
other gentleman in Washington, she looked
a very queon-being quite undisturbed by
any thought that her presence sent dag
ger to scores OF hearts whose patrimony,
unlawfully obtained, had contributed to her
enjoyment, lnt1e samc proportion that Its
loss had added to the woes and wrctched-
ness OF the beholder. :,
His establishment was upon Ponnsyi-
yania avenue, between the National Hotel
and the Capitol. Let US approach and look
at i. O.
fouienter by door OF varlgated stained
glass, which, by gaslight reflects all inc
colors OF tho rainbow. Ascending anight
OF stairs you reach door, pun inc beil ana
Immediately small aperture opens and
yon are greeted with PAIR oil red eyes ana
a donole row OF worry set 10 oiacK, wnich
nominaliy Deiong 10 oamoo' out wnich IN
lacI oeiong 10 inc proprietor ~ g'ance
sunlccs. lou nave hlieu oa,noos eye "uu
are deemed pasSaoie' Inc door Is at once
opened and you arc adml.'eu in.c III, tue an'e-
room' inc Vestloule OF nei' lnls room Is
not largo out elegantly apPoinCso--.ne
chiet attraction Deing the siue'poaro, wnich
IS OF solid marble and whlto as Diana 5
breast. Here are arranged IN long ana
glistening columns, decanters OF cut glass;
sparkling like bnllants, filled with tho
choiceSI ncctar, anu uluSnlhS W eholi very
necks with the glowing vintage of the old
en- time. If YOU pass this rubicon without
tasting its sparkling but dangerous waters,
it is not from any dearth Of hospitality on
the part of your host. The spacious "Sport-
ing hall' is now visible. The floor is COW
cred with carpeting from tho Orient, of inn
mcnse cost and marvellous beauty. Tho
walls arc adorned with superb paintings
of the old masters and the new, while pen
dent from tae windows hang curtains of
embroidered lace, covered with golden tap
cstry of Oriental nagnificence; with mir
rors of mammoth size rejecting your form
and features from a score of cleaning en-
brasuros. Along tho hall, at convenient
distances, arc ranged circul ar tables of pol
lished rosewood, around which arc seated
numbers of thoughtful. anxious, dark-visac-
ed mon, who hood you not--their eyes hay.
ing another aud stronger attraction. One
would naturally suppose this to be q thea
ter for tests. drollery and song, or bacchan
allan reyelinc, or pugilistic encounters. Fal
from it. On tho contrary all is hushed, ST.
lent, sepulchral. ~
$40 real voice or SOUND,
Within those eheerless walls Is found"
lou are oppressed with the fearful stiffness
and awful silence which perVades the place
A laugh, a Joke or even a curse, would b'
sensible relief. but You hear nothing 0
thls. An occasional long breath or hall
snodued sign is all mat tells the ear tina
these mad derotees are possessed OF lung
and life.