The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-08-19
Plain Words about Popular Vices.

/ ton, at ST. PnuIs Church. in Cleveland,
upon tho death of MIR +. r. Sterling, who
! was u member of that Church
| Tho day before this deed was dono-oight
days ago-sitting at my own table with the
Venerable Bishop OF Kentucky, was giving
vent 20 my feelings of strong dotestation of
every thing that had the remotest sombance
to Gamblng-aud even tho experienced
Bishop seemed to think me in danger of
! taking an extreme view Tho next morning
he understood why spoke and felt as
did
Christian men and women hear the
charge give you, all, young and old, this
night: and rcmind me of it, it you will,
whom we stand together before Gods throne
in Judgment. | charge you never amuse
yourselves with tho implements OF the Gam
bier. Mover permit your children to use
them, under prctcxt of amusement; never,
never provide them for your friends.
From every pack of cards. in your Offices,
in your parlors. in your chambers, tho voice
of + T. Sterling's blood cries to you.
Touch them not except to consign them to
the flames. Every spot upon thcm is spot
/, of blood-Of soul. blood. Teach your chill
dron to abhOr them. Hero, boforo God, l
thank nv own revored Christian parents
(now in IIenven) that thoy novor suffered
mo to triio with the Gambl0r's tools. If
nv sons perish. as our loved friend has per
ishod. thor shalt not navo to charge mo with
being even tho inviting occasion of their
pordition Happy was | to hoar ono Of
YOUR most hon0rcd fellow citizens. (Sor a
Church cOmmunicanD say this week, :"
| have never played garne of cards in my
! life do not know ono card from another
/ Would that every man. in public or IN prl-
! vate life, could make tho same honorable
avowal No respectable houschold-not
! to say no Christian tamily--should ever tol-
crate what u distinguished citizen OF Ala.
bama not LONG since described as "thc well
known implements Of tho gamcster. II
heretofore you have used them thought!css.
/ ". hereafter when you would touch them,
think of T.. 4. Sterling. and lot thom alone.
/ If ono so generous. so unseifSh, so truthful.
so honorable. SO noble, could not resist the
fascinniions of evil in this form who can
safely make experiment of going 80 fnI
: and no farther
, Wo have road nothing oIse upon this sub
; ject, which so fully expresses our mind. nj
the above extract The rago for gaming
now so prevalent, and which is gradually
suporcoding al rational amusoments in oul
most fashionable society, is fruitful sourc,
of numboruss evils, whose causes arc un
known to tho majority of people. Wher
some terrible tragedy, like that recently on
: acted in Cleveland is mndo public, tn,
whole community IS startled with pain anC
! apprehension. Few, however dream tina
! they are, in any degree, responsible fo
it. The most consider it quito sufficient
if they do not engage in midnight carousal
i with low companlons,at places OF bad repute
and,a to card playing for moro amusement
. that thcy deem ontiroIy innocent Yet It i
not tho worst mCu,-thOso who fIeQuun
tho worst places with tho least shame -
whose influence is most to be feared. Al
know their true character, and thore ar
few who lay any claims to Responsibility
= men profess Abhorronco of tho most paipn
ble forms of vice; aud can Lotter me
. claim credit for tho negative virtue of doin
no more than this Tho influence of vico i
most dangerous, in its ncipioncy-boforo
is recognized as vice, and when it is owe
clothed with tho garb of gentility an
fashion.
- Take tho case of tho lnmcntod NJ
, drnnkard nor professional gambler IL
friends say that he first acquired tasto fo
D. Intoxicating drinks, by using them, as stiu
ulants, under the advice Of ply yscans. The
L al h,,N In lad
D when intoxicated and it is plain that h
J. would then have been unable to do SO, ha
< no not first acquired tho habit of card play
= ing for amusement, among those who e'
y toomed it innocent. His passion for
" popular uice endbird him 10 meet on terms 0
> t9udhty wih hr tcOrst men, lrhen The MAJ
- Geaing Influence Of intor'cGton brought The
II together. IIo did not learn to play car,
O. IN tho gambling he!ls" of Cleveland. b,
o. in refined aud fashionable circles, whor
~ card playing is often tolerated and oncou
d, aged.
e. Tho world would bo better to.da
IN it all knowledge of gaming of every kin
to were lost forever. II it has no worse tc
dency than TO multiply dIors, to dissipato Il
,is minds of tho young, and unfit thom for Il
bo sober, substantial pursuits of good and us
1t. ful citizens, it leads to evil, and to OWL alon
- What commentary upon popular vic,
ng that, among all tho idle men and boys tn
o. hfost the streets of our cities and village
p. and, day after day. squander the procio
uo hours in vain amusemen;s, and worse col
10. tcnlion about tritlus, thero aro none wi
to arc not familiar with the slang vocabuIar
ho fow who profess confidence in anything AN
SO no matter how deficient in education
d. morals, fcr trhO do mot knOtO hOtp TO pl,
H. cards Without aiming at sngularity
x. our views, aud we'll knowing that maj
friends do not think as wo do, we are fr
@. to say that We have never yet spent an hor
r where card.playing was tho ongrossir
us amusement, without feeling that tn
ty, hour was misspent and wo shall alwa
regret that wa have ever tolerated car
I'D. playing where We had tho power to prove
ho it, It's growing popularity Is an evden
L nf rho =" landaaoiaa nF tho