Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-10-18
dNortester 9ailp Spp.
From the Cornbiu Nona1tno c--o---,

GAMBLING IN THE TIME OF GEORGE "
Arthur's, Almack's, Bottles, and Whites
were the chief clubs of the young men of FASH
ion. There was play at all, and decaved M
blemen and brOken.d0wn senators deeced the
unwary there. In Selwyn's Letters we find
Carlisle, Deyonshire, Coventry, Queensberry
all undergoing the probation. Charles Fox a
uTeaului gambler, was cheated in very late
tmes-lost 2OO,00Q, at play Gibbon tells of
his playing for twenty two hours at a sittipT
and losing 500. an hour. The indomitabIe
punster said that the greatest pleasure in life
after winning, was losing. What hours, what
nights, what health did lie waste over the dew
IL DOCKS was going to say what peace of
mind but he took his losses very philosophi
caiiy. After an awful nights play, and the
enjoyment Of the greatest pleasure but one in
lie, he was found on a sofa TRANQUILITY reading
an Eclogue Of Virgil
flay survived long after the wild prince and
FOX had given up the dice box. The dandies
continued it. Byron, Brummel-how many
names could l mention of men OF the world
who have suffered by it! In 1887 occurred
famous trial which pretty nigh put an end to
gambling in England. A peer of the realm
was found cheating at whist, and repeatedly
seen to practice the game called Sauter la conn
His friends at the club saw him cheat and
went on playing with him. One greenhorn,
who had dlscovcTedh his foul play, asked an old
hand what he should do. do" said the
mammon of unrighteousness, Back him, Won
fool The best efforts were made to
screen him. People wrote him anonymous
letters aud warned him but he would cheat
and they were obliged to find him out. Since
that day, when my lords shame was made
public, the gaming table has lost all its splen.
dor. Shabby Jews and blacklegs prow about
race-courses and tavern parl0rs, and now and
then inveigle silly yokles with greasy packs OF
cards in railroad cars but play is a dcposed
goddess, her worshippers bankrupt and her
cable in rags.
So is another famous British institution gone
to decay-the ring the noble practice of Brit
isll boxing which in my youth was still al
most Furnishing. The prince, in his early
days was great patron of this national sport,
and his grand uncle, Culloden Cumberland had
been before him but being present at fight
in Brighton, where one of the combatants was
killed, the prince pentoned the boxers widow
and declared he never would attend another
battle. " But, nevertheless, Il read in the
noCle language of Pierce Egan (whose smaller
work on pugism have the honor to possessl
-" he thought it a manly and decided English
feature, which ought not to be DESTROYED
His majesty had drawing of the sporting
characters in the Fives' court placed in his
boud0r, to remind him of his former attach
ment and support of true courage; and when
any fight OF note occurred after he was king
accounts OF it were read to him by his desire"
i hat gives one tine image of king taking
his recreation at ease in royal dressing.
gown too majestic to read himself, ordering
the prime minister to read him accounts of
battles: how Crib punched Moyneux's eye,
or Jack Randall thrashed the Game Chicken.