Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-12-14
THE DAILY EVENING STAR
w. ID. WALLACE.
APEnIrENr GAMBLER.

A PENITENT GAMBLER.
TIE CELEBRATED SPANISH GAMBLER, GARCIA,
ADJURKs HIS CALLISG-REMARKABLE CERE-
MoNIAL IN A CHURCH.
(From the Boston Traveller
Our Paris correspondent sends rs the follow
ing translation from French newspaper. The
gambler therein alluded to is the man named
Garcia, whose extraordinary winnings at the
card table they are reckoned at S4O0 ,0O0) have
been mentioned more than once:
"JAEs, Nov. 8, 1860.
"WiiI you allow me to narrate to you a sim
gular scene which witnessed at Valdepenas!
assure you do not adorn my story, neither
do / exsggerate anything. The Spanish news
papers will doubtless soon give an account Of
II, for it raises great deal Of conversation in
Spain. although il is not unprecedented here.
The hero of the adventure Is Spanish gam
bier who has won 4 million or so in the Ger
man hells." lie was born at Valdepenas.
His parents still live there. He recently
returned here to live, and with q portion
of his winnings he has purchased some ex-
eellent vineyards; you know this region pro-
sduces delightful wines. Has this gambler, like
St Paul, heard some celestial voice2 Has he
given ear to some sincere friend ? Has he sr
rtsrs BIotH, determined to conquer a passion
which might lead him TO rum as well as to for
tune9 L cannot reply-all know is be has
applied an energetic remedy to his disease.
He has not only renouneed cards for life. but
he has bound himself never to touch another,
by the most public and most solemn Oaths,
taken in a church before 1000 persons Cere-
monies of this sort are occasionally seen in
Spain, which is pre-eminently the country of
enthusiasm and religion; but as they are never
seen out Of il, persuade myself you will read
an account of one of them with interest.
II was awakened about Z o'clock in the
morning by the peals of the largest bell be-
longing to the church. 1t announced the COM
mencement of the ceremony. / went out in
stsntly. An immense crowd had already
formed in front Of the gamblers house. 1t was
composed of great many friars Of several ro-
hgiOus orders, tho dyUHt1mIefto Common
cOunciD of Valdepsnas, and the very jsfe po-
iItIco provisional GoYernor) himself was there
present. The latter is personal friend Of the
gambler who belongs to the first families Of
Spain. Besides, il is customary for the ,efe
pOLiHc0 to honor these sort Of ceremonies with
his presence, rs they make a deeper impress
sion on the populace than ali police laws. The
gambler soon made his appearance. He was
attired for the ceremony in the national cos
tune Of BldJO, which is a peaked hat with vel
vet borders, u vest embroidered in Moorish
style, a red sash around the waist, pantsloons
with alagree buttons, leather CATERS open on
the side and exhibiting tho leg The costume
instantly commanded him general popularity.
The town had with displeasure seen him bring
back from Germany the modern fashions, and
this return to the national costume seemed to
them a sure sign of a complete conversion. The
procession was instantly formed and moved to-
wards the church.
When the procession reached the church
they found the doors closed. The mace-bear-
ers knocked three times on the door. The
doors open. The priest comes out and asks
Who comes heren A repentant gambler.
what desireth he ~ Il do desire to make
solemn abjuration in this holy church, if 80 be
upon trial, be found worthy Herespon the
gambler knelt, and received the creed Of the
Church Of Rome, and then made declaration
in the following words: L do protest and
do swear, in the presence of Almighty God
that do most heartily abhor the aocursed pas
sion Of gaming, and that do renounce thii
error forever hereafter so long as l may live
and / do vow never 10 fall again into this error
and / do further vow that | will, 80 far as il
me lies, strive and labor to avert from thi
abyss the young and the thoughtless. So hell
me God and all ye His Saints"
. Thon this gambler gave TO the priest tht
foregoing cath, written in bis hand, signes
and sealed by him. Which done, the prizes
raised him gently from his knees and led hiH
within the chancel Of the church, followed b,
the whole procession. There kneeling upol
his knees before the high altar, and claspin,
the holy EvangeIists, be repeated once NOR
the sboye-reoited oath, whereupon Ts Dem
was sung and high mass eelebrated. The re
mainder Of the ceremony took place after ser
vices. a--
"A stake was erected and surrounded wit
fsggots upon the Plaza del Principe, at the en-
trance Of the Alumeda (public walk } Her
the ceremonywas to be ended by the publ
burning of the cards, dice, dominoes, &c
The basket filed with these. objects was place
in the middle of the fre by the jefe poiitte
himself, who then made an earnest and elC
quent speech on the dangers Of the passion fc
gambling. You know the proyerbial enthus
. asm Of the Spanisrds, but you cannot conceiy
the acelamatiOns and bravOs which greeted th
conversion Of this private individual. III
whole town seemed TO be celebrating holida,