The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23

Life is too short TO spend In ldleness; ana
yet some men spend more than half their
lives, engaged in playing cards, or some
other game of chance. Is it not morally
wrong in an immortal and accountable be-
ing, to'mlke such q poor Improvements of
the golden moments, which our Creator has
allotted to Us, as our portion beneath the
SUM- "Hhat time is worth7 ask death
beds, they can tel" ga world of wealth,
said Queen Elizabeth, when she was dying
ga world of wealth for an inch of time" I'm
prove the honrs, as they pass;if you would
die at last in peace.
moments seize,
Heavens on their wing : moment you may want,
When wo:ld5 want wealth to buy"
8. The habit Of playing cards will lead
you into temptation, and bring you into bad
company. The majority of those, who play
cards are bad men. They are generally
profane and Vulgar in their conversation
They frequently qnarrel and fight over their
cards. Ole man will accuse another of hay
ing acted unfairly, and from words they will
proceed to blows. Two soldiers recently at
Richmond began TO play cards With each
other They qnarreled and one of them
stabbed the other, and killed him. lie main
tanned that he killed his companion in self
defence, and was acquitted on mis- trial
Playing friendly game Of cards has cost
many man his lie.
4. If you are seen playing cards with q
parcel Of idle fellows, it will prejudice peo-
pie against you. You may say there can
be no harm in my taking hand at cards,
just 10 pass away the time, but you cannot
convince pious, intelligent men, that yoa
are right IN thinking SO. They have seen
too many young men ruined, body and soul
By the course you are Pursuing, to listen to
your logic. they believe tat cards were
invented by the Devil; and they know that
his servants have always been the most cX-
pert in handling them. If you are young
man, and wish to maintain good rePuta
ton for honesty and brightness, don't play
cards. If a merchant should fad pack Of
cards in your pocket, he would not like to
employ you, as a clerk in his store He
would be afraid, that tie money would 90
from lis drawer to the gambling table. Do,
almost any thing else; read books; talk with
vise men, that you may become wiser; spend
your time in the company Ct polite and ac-
Ieomplsbed ladies; wait upon them, as muth
| as you please; play the fiddle; talk politics,
5ut don't play cards.
Do you see that professional gambler,
whom every body despses,-that sporting
gentleman, go elegantly dressed, who makes
BIS living by plnckiug pigeons-by looking
cut for greer-horns, that be may enliCe them
to the gambling tablet II began his ca
reer Of infamy oy playing cards for amuse-
ment. Be warned by his example. The SOL
diers in our camps are exposed to peculiar
temptations. They are continually in dan
ger Of resorting to cards for amusement
Their time hangs so heavy on their hauds.
They often have nothing to do, and must
have some diversions. They want some en-
ployment to kill the time, and make the
hours rass pleasantly away; bat the worst
thing they can do, or ore of the worst be-
yond oil question, is to devote their mental
powers to studying the sublime mysteries Of
card playing.
Gambling frequently becomes most alb
sorbDg passion. At the bells IN Paris men
have often staked all their money On the
throw of die, or the turning Of card, and
when they have lost their. last cent, have
gone, and hanged themselves, or have blown
out their brains with pistol. How many
men in our osn coantry have made their
wives and children beggara-have reduced
them from eiilGence to poverty by INDUCING
their gambling propensties? they were
born to wealth; bat debts, contracted at the
gambling table soon encountered their
estates, end involved them in bankruptcy.
3. Card playing cW run he souL All
oious men abhor 1t. Religion and card play
ing are generally acknowledged to be in
consistent with each other. You will seldom
find the card player engaged in reading the
New Testament. He plays at cards per-
haps inst to keep serious thoughts out of
his mind | never knew any man eminent
for bis piety, who believed it to be right to
spend his time at the card table. Profane
swearing, Incorporate drinking and card
playing go together, like twin sisters. They
are always found in the same company; while
praying, singing of hymns, and reading the
Bible are among the appropriate amusementa
and employments o! cody persons. "Is any
among you merry2 Let him sing psalms Ia
any sck2 Let him pray"
Young mar; burn your cards, and buy
copy of the New Testament. That is the
best advice cau give you. Study the mys
terry of goodness, and not the doctrines of
chances, and you will be benefited by doing
so. The gambler stakes the salvation of his
soul, as we'll as his money, en- his cards.
He risks his happiness in both worlds upon
game of chance! What madness is in
volyed in his conduct You can never gain
anything by card-playiDg; but you may lose
your time, your honor, your life
Young ladies are sometimes seen playing
cards with young gentleman, just to crafty
them, and gain their good will 1t is dan
gerOus employment They are alluring their
beaux to destruction. They had better have
no admirers, than seek them among the card
playing gentry. 1t would be wiser to en-
ploy their charms in beguiling their &C
quaintances from the paths of the destroyer.
Bright eyes and rosy cheeks lend additional
attractions to the Card-table. Let the fair
daughters Of America consider veil, how