Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-10-08
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 5, 1859


Occasional writes to the Philadelphia
Press as follows
Nowhere in the United States is gamb-
ling carried on SO magnificent scale as IN
this capital. A good many circumstances
conspire to this state Of things.
During the fashionable or Congressional
season, when the hotels and boarding houses
are filled, rich men come from all parts of the
country, and having almost nothing TO do
but to enjoy themselves, there being no ex-
tensive places Of amusement OF IL different
character, they are readily attracted into the
luxurious saloons where cards are cultivated,
and where they find assembled, night after
night, many agreeable and entertaining per
sons. There is another class known under
the phrase of neutrality-suspicious. III con-
tracts in the different departments, keen
scented inquirers after large jobs of every
kind, and who, in their anxiety to make TN
huence," spend their own money freely
In these saloons may be found the most gor-
gcous entertainments spread for the gratih-
cation of the appetite, the most expensive
wines, and the most Astounding hospitality.
It's surprising, in the height of the season,
how much money is lost and won IN single
night 4 gentleman well acquainted with
the secrets of these resorts tells me that nc
has known rs much as ten thousand dollars to
lie risked on single game, and others have
seen two or three thousand dollars hazarded
on a single card, and in a single game
The nomhaiaace of the players is startling
they lose or win thousands without sigh
or smile.
The hold which the passion for gaming
mt last obtains upon q man can scarcely be
described. 1t has been 50 III all ages, and
is so at the present day. The phrenzy takes
possession Of the savage rs well rs OF the
Christian-of the most ignorant as well as OF
the most intelligent. A young member of
Congress-who has lived blameless life,
until his election in the little village where
he is universally respected-almoSt before
he knows it. is swept into this whirlpool OF
gaming. Frequently the close OF his first
session finds HIM broken in health and ruin
cd in fortune. do not believe that stupen-
dous as the vice of New York PROFESSIONALLY
is. there are more facilities offered by the
adopts in gambling in that city than there
are advertised here In Mexico, California,
France and Germany, we are told it is COM
mon practice for the ladies to frequent the
gaming table. Happily, no such accuse.
ton can be made against the society OF
Washington. Even in private life, where
whist and other games are tolerated, you
never hear of q female risking money.
Faro. in which the better encounters the
bank. is the prevailing game in these saloons,
and although tables are set out, at which what
is called "brag." "poker," and other games
are played, the principal fascination is the
platform, covered with green leather, behind
which sits the imperturbable dealer, with his
pale face black eye, and monotonous call;
while, on three sides, are gathered, sitting
and standing, rank after rank. anxious and
excited spectators, who, breathless with anx-
iety, watch the little cards as they are dealt
from the tin box, and pick up their gains, or
swallow their losses, with silence only IN
terrupted now and then by an angry excla-
NATION or quiet chuckle Of exultation. :
Night is turned into morning, and the lat
ter frequently surprises the contestants III
the struggle. Occasionally streak of luck
befalls an outsider which, like prize in
lottery, is soon buzzed about and becomes
sort of advertisement for the gambler
] do not pretend to say that there is fraud IN
these games, because it frequently happens
that there is Us much skill among the volun-
teers as there is in the principals Of the es-
Establishments, but those who have taken
pains to investigate the facts do not hesitate
to say that, unless on extraordinary occa-
sions, the bank is sure to beat those who at
tempt to take up arms against it. 50 eau
tions have the keepers of these places be-
come that they are very careful rs to whom
they admit into their saloons, and 1t is to
this caution that the public is indebted for
the preservation of so many of those secrets
which, if disclosed, would undoubtedly re-
suit in great excitement
By THE WAY OF New ORLEANs.-The Phil
adelphia correspondent of the New York
Dispatch gives the following:
ave have Methodist preacher here who is
a jolly wag. A few days since, young
man who had long been attached to his
church, and who was about to leave for
New Orleans, came to bid his pastor fare
well.
"And you are going to that degeneratcplace
New Orleans, are you!'
"Yes, sir; but don't expect to be infuen-
ced by any extraneous pressure OF any kind.
responded the young man with considerable
earnestness.
'Well, l am glad to see you so confident.
/ hope the Lord will guide you. But do
you know the temptations which exist thereT"
mo, not particularly"
.Well, do; you'll find wanton women in
guise Of Paris, tempting the very elect: and
rare wines and ardent drinks; and you'll find
gay company, and night brawling, and
gambling, and dissipation, and running
after the lusts of the old man Adam"
''Still, sir, hope to combat them all sue
cessfully."
Il hope you will, my dear Christian BRO
Their" was the reply. Il hope your will.
And let me give you this much for your con-
ISOLATION in case you should tall from grace
The tempter is worse than the sin, and the Srea-
ter the temptation the more merit there Is IN
resisting it. The man who goes to Heaven
by the ,ray of NeW Orleans, is sure to have
twice as high place in eternal glory as he
who reaches Paradise through the quiet por-
tails of Connecticut or Pennsylvania"
COUTHERN PLOws, CORN SHELTERS, &c.
S-A. r. MA YHER d CO., No. 81, VEsEY
SraEEr, New YoRK ClrY.-A. +. NJ. Co., would
respectfully inform Southern Merchants and Deal.
ers in Agricultural Implements, that they are still
manufacturing all kinds of both Steel and Iron
Southern Flows, Plow Castings. Corn Shelters,
Grain Cradles Hay and Stalk Cutters, Fan Mills
Store Trucks, Garden and Canal Barrows, Gin
tYoar Seymcnt Castin gs &C. dc., expressly for the