New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-05

A WASHING TON GAMBLING HOUSE.
correspondence Of The Boston Post.


WAsHIsGTos, Oct. y, 1853.
One of the most celebrated and successful sports
men Of this any other country was buried IN this
city on Sunday week. The occasion Of his death a.
fords me an opportunity OF giving your readers
sketch of the man and a description Of his gaming
house. Iet it serve q warning not as an example,
He had been resident of Washington some fifteen
or twenty years, during which period be amsssed
great wealth by gambling, or, to use the nnld ana
honest language Of the avenue, he realized an AMI
"pe fortune out Of the successful operations Of his
"house," His "house" being the most elegant,
and his bank the most weghty and substantial IN the
fascinating of wealthy planters fast Congress
men, aspiring diplomats, and ambitious sportsmen
from every part of the world. For many years past
he has lived in the most luxuriant STYLE having, hike
a certain other rich man, "been clothed in purple
and fine linen, and faring sumptuously every day"
In person he was above the medium size, fat and
sleek Of pleasing address, and generous disposi.
ton; exhibiting in his general department 10 stran
gers the characteristics OF wellfed, good natured
clergyman rather than those of hearess, unrelents
ing gambler. :.
HIs reputation for generosity was widely estabished
II college wac 10 be endowed church built, or pm
yate charities to be dispensed, his was sure 70 be
among the most munfcent Of the donations. His
wife, now q widow was OF good parcntage womae
Of rare beauty and accomplishments, possessing social
qualities, which, combined with the dazzling allure.
ments of wealth, insured her troops Of admirers and
courtezans. Rolling along the avenue in her msRnh-
cent eauipage which far exceeds in richness and style
that Of the Presdeo of the United States or that OF
any other gentleman in Washington, she looked avery
aueen-being quite undisturbed by any thoug II That
her presence cent dagger to of hearts whose
pairmony unlawfully obtained hsd contributed TO no
enjoyment, in the same proportion that It's loss pa
added to the and wretchedness of the bcholder
His establishment" was upon PennsyyaDia ave
nue., between the National Hotel and the Capitol
Let us approach and look at II.
You enter by door Of varegated stained glass,
which, by gas light reflects all the coors Of the rain
1,.r A,nhf nj afQ unn nh k<lpY
pull the bell and instantly small aperture opens, and
you are greeted with pair of red eyes and double
row Of ivory, set in black, which noninay belong TO
Salnbo but which, in fact are the property OF tho
proprietor. a glance suthces. You have filled Sam
bos eye and are deemed passabe. The door is at
once opened and you ushered into the ante-room
the vesriboe Of bell This is not large, bat ele-
gaDtly appontedthe chief attraction being the side
board, Which is Of solid marble and white Dians's
breast Here are arranged in long and gistsnipg col
urnus decaDters of cut glass sparkling like brsnts,
filed with the choicest nectar, and bushing 70 the
yory necbs with the glowing vintage OF the oden
time. II you pass this rubicon without tasting ib
sparkling but dangerous waters, it is not from any
dearth Of hospitality the part Of your persnssive
host The spacious "Sportirg ball' is nov yisihIe.
The floor is covered with carpeDg from the Orient Of
immense cost and marvellous beauty. The walls are
adorned with superb paintings Of the old masters and
the new, while pendent from the windows hang cur
tans of embroidered lace, covered with golden tapes
try Of Oriental magnifcence with mirrors OF mann
score of cleaning embrasures. Along the hall ~ con.
yeuient distances are ranged circular tables vt polished
rosewood around which are seated numbers OF
thoughtful anxious, -visaged men, who heed yon
not-ther eyes having another and stronger attraction
One would naturally suppose this TO be theater for
ie,ts drOery and song, bacchanalian revehngs or
pueili.tic encounters. Far from it. On the contrary
all IS hushed, silent, sepulchral.
mo real voice or sound
Within those ohee!e walls 10 found"
You are oppressed with the fearful stiffness and swfel
sieLce which pervades the place. laugh, joke, or
even curse would be sensible relief. Bat you hear
n.thiig z Of this An occasional long breath half
.ubdued sigh il all that tells the ear that these mad
devOtees are possessed Of lungs and life.
An hours inspection satisfies your curiosity and
you about taking your departure when sot band
taps you on the shoulder and low voice. " Please
don't leave, Sir, supper will be ready in few min
utes' At precisely loi O'Clock the doors OF the dn-
ing hall are thrown open and. suppers reafy, pro-
claims immediate armistce bet ween the
and invites to q more healthy and rational dnty, The
long tables yroan beneath their burden OF gold and
silver plate and the heaps OF delcscies which sur
mount and adorn them. Here are venison from tbs
brown forests of Maine turkeys from the broad soy
annabs of the West caDyas-oacks irom the placid
Potomac, trout from Superior and salmon from the
St. johns together with fruls, flowers and wines for
every taste and from every ciDie
The repast over, you are permitted, with patron
zino invitation 20 call again ~ make your retTea.
10 the pen air there to thaak heaven that you
not a worshper within this magnificent yet cherries
One nights work 9 few days previcus n the clo-e
of the last session. made sad havoc among the cohes
of this den. II is said that a distinguished Senator
won on that night $50 900, which broke the bank
and cau-ed a temporary suspension new hoas,
however, was soon parchased by him, and WAS mag
nfcently decorated, when the King Of Terrors, Es
great nlbesten and unchslleBged, steppe4 10 end
closed the game of life forever