Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-11-20
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--- Correspondents Of the Boston Post .-.-..-
DEATH OF "A CELEBRATED SPORTSMAN
DESCRIPTION OF THE MAN AND HIS
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men OF this or any other country was buried in this
city on Sunday week. The occasion of his death
affords me an opportunity to give your readers a
sketch of the man and description of his gaming
house. Let it serve as warning, not as an exam
pie
He had been resident of Washington some fif-
teen or twenty years, during which period he amas-
sed great wealth by sporting; or, to use the mild
ample fortune out of the successful operations of his
house" His "house" being the most elegant, and
his bank" the most weighty and substantial in the
country, it has been for years the most fashionable
and fascinating resort of wealthy planters fast Con-
gressmen, aspiring diplomats, and ambitious sports
men from every part of the world. For many years
past he has lived in the most luxuriant style, hav
ing, like certain other rich man, "been clothed in
purple and fine linen and faring sumptuously every
day." In person he was above the medium size, of
pleasing address, and generous disposition, exhib-
ting in h general department to strangers the char
than that of heartless, unrelenting sportsman
His reputation for generosity was widely estab-
lished. If college was to be endowed, a church
built or private charities to be dispensed his was
sure to be among the most muniicent of the dona-
tons. His wife, now a widow, of good parent
age woman of rare beauty and accomplishments,
possessing social qualities which combined with the
dazzling allurements of wealth, insured her troops
of admirers and courtiers Rolling along the
in her magnificent equipagc, which far exceeds in
richness and style that of the President of the United
States, or any other gentleman in Washington, she
looked very queen-being quite undisturbed by
any thought that her sent dagger to
of hearts whose patrmony unlawfully obtained, had
contributed to her enjoyment, in the same proper
ton that its loss had added to the and wretch
edness of the beholders.
His establishment was upon Pennsylvania av-
enue, between the National Hotel and the Capitol.
Let us approach and look in.
You enter by door of variegated stained glass,
which, by gas light reflects all the colors of the rain
bow. Ascending a flight of stairs, you reach door,
pull the bell and instantly a small aperture opens,
and you are greeted with pair of red eyes and
double row of ivory, set in black, which nominaly
belonged to Sambo but which, in fact the prop
erty ofthe proprietor. A glance suffices. You have
filled Sambos eye, and are deemed passable. The
door is at once opened and you ushered into the
ante-room-the vestibule of - This room is
not large, but elegantly appointed the chief attrac-
ton being the sde-board, which is of solid MARBLE
and white as Diana's breast. Here arranged, in
long and gistenng columns, decanters of cut glass;
sparkling like brlants filled with the choicest
tar, and blushng to the necks with the glowing vim
tage of the olden time If you pass this rubicon
without tasting its sparkling but dangerous waters
it is not from any dearh of hospitality on the part
of your persuasive host. The spacious "Sporting
Hair is,now visible. The floor is covered with car
.petng from the Orient of immense cost and marvel
lous beauty. The walls are adorned with superb
dant from the windows hang curtains of embroidered
lace covered with golden tapestry of Oriental mag
niticence; with mirrors of mammoth size rejecting
your form and features from of cleaning
brasures. Along the hall, at convenient distances
are ranged circular tables of polished rosewood aud
around which are seated numbers of thoughtful,
anxious, dark visaged men, who heed you not-their
eyes having another and stronger attraction. One
would naturally suppose this to be theatre for
jests droery, and song, bachanalian revellings,
or pugilistc encounters. Far from it. On the con-
trary, all is hushed SILENT sepulchral
"No real voice sound
Within these cheerless walls found"
You oppressed with the fearful stiffness and aw
full silence which pervades the place. A laugh,
joke, even curse, would be sensible relief
But you hear nothing of this. An occasional long
breath half subdued sigh all that tells the
that these mad devotees possessed of lungs and
life.
An hours inspection satisfies your curiosity, and
you are about taking your departure when soft
hand taps you on the other shoulder, and low
voice says.
please don't leave, sir, supper will be ready in
few minutes"
At precisely halfpast ten O'clock the doors of the
dining hall are thrown open, and "supper ready"
prOclaims an immediate armistice between the COM
batants, and invites to more healthy and rational
duty. The long tables groan beneath their burden
of gold and silver plate and the heaps of delicaces
from the brown forests of Maine, turkies from the
broad savannas of the West canvas backs from the
placid Potomac, trout from Superior and salmon
from the ST. Johns together with fruits, flowers and
wines for every taste and from every cline.
The repast over, you permitted, with pa
tonizng invitation, to call again" to make your
retreat to the open air. there to thank Heaven that
you are not worshipper within this magnificent
yet cherries abode.
One nights work, a few days previous to the
o1o e l. H.
Golfers of this house. 1t is said that distinguished
Senator won on that night one hundred and eighty
thousand dolLars which broke the bank, and caused
temporary suspension. A new house, however,
was soon purchased by him, and being magnifcently
decorated, when the king of terrors," the great
unbeaten and unchallenged stepped in and closed
the game of life forever.
THE PORE AND Miss D1x.-The famous Americn
reformer Of the treatment of the insane, Miss Dix
gives tint following interesting particulars of her
visit to Rome and the pope:
IL visited the unatic asylum, and my heart revolt
ed at the sight. did not sick persons whom man
should pity, unfortunates whom we should endeavor
to cure; they were brutes in chains, the dens Of
which seemed never to have been cleaned Several
days after my visit to the lunatic asylum pre-
sented to his holiness the Pope, who knew the OBJ
ject of my travels. The pope asked me in the most
friendly manner whether l had yet visited the asy-
lum at Rome? I had the courage to answer, Yes
and am convinced that your holiness has not vet
paid it visit Pho Mono quickly raised his head
and only answered with an expressive attentive
look I understood him, and related to him, in q
voice full of emotion, all the horrors and barbarism
had witnessed 1 ventured trembling within nv.
SELF upon bold expression on the unchristian
treatment of the unhappy beings. The respect-com
handing man of Chrstendom listened with earnest
attention. and said briefly after had concluded
Come again in a weeks time And then left his
presence. My anxiety was unutterably great The
Protestant the stranger, had perhaps risked toe
much Although was conscious in my innermost
heart of my good intentions, yet passed sleeplest
night and day of the deepest inward agitation II