The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1863-04-03
Society at Richmond.

as. L." the Richmond correspondent
of the Knoxville Register, draws very
disoouraging picture of society and NOR
ais at the Confederate Capital, and which,
| if not overdrawn, would suggest that the
time was near about at hand when the
Government should change its location
once more, We quote portion of S. LIS
letter:
The evils incident TO revolution are in
this city developed in their worst aspect.
Citizens of Richmond are not affected by
them. but the crowds which congregate
in the Capital, of both sexes, give abun.
dant evidence of the rapid progress OF
social Generalization growing out OF the
unhappy condition of our country. !
cannot say more, without sayirg too much,
and can give you no adequate conception
of the looseness OF morals that is beconi-
! ing prevalent among those whose necessi.
ties open the gateway to oil vices. Gam.
bling, such as would startle Aab,tueS of
European watering places Is not the worst
of the moral calamities that has befallen
Richmond Not only do the Faro hanks
attract "depositors from civil and mill
tary classes Of society, but men who stand
high. at least officially, above Congressman
and Major Generals, nightly resort 10 the
magnificent gambling hells Of Richmond,
! have visited such establishments in
| Eastern and Southern cities, but have en-
tered none in which The spirit of utter
recklessness was 20 strongly betrayed AZ
in those of this city. The vice of gaming
contracted in the army over an" limo
cent game of old sledge." becomes the
absorbing passion of the gamester in the
Faro banks of Richmond. The shope oil
sudden wealth, the insatiate love OF ex
element. the desperation resulting from
the loss of fortune by the calamities o
war. the destruction Of social restraints
and the absence of those which wives anc
children throw about men, have all com
bined to fill this city with reckless gam
blers.
Women from all the States and cite
of the South visit Richmond. The,
would reach the army, and often find !
impossible. They have not anticipated
the vastness of the expenditures to which
they would be subjected. Their very ne
cessities suggest course of conduct whicl
it is needless to portray. Penniless, help
less. unadvised. unrestrained by the pres
ence of those 10 whom they are known
tbey resort to means of securing assis
lance of which at home they would neve
have dreamed. Religion is a strange
among the floating population of Rich
mond. Sunday, in this city, is the da.
of high carnival for all vices Patriotism
might well weep when beholding this as
pect of the moral condition of the Capt.
tai of the Confederacy.
Your readers might imagine that
could not write thus, unless / knew toe
much, and "how can such information
be acquired" never won nor lost {
dollar at a game of hazard, and yet wh'
would not see the world as it is lwoulC
not undertake TO write the history OF thi
revolution. 1t can never be written bu
he who assumes the task, will omit an i'm
portant chapter if he fail TO portray it
moral effects upon social life in the Con
federate States. A man need only keel
his eyes and ears open tor two months il
Richmond to learn infinitely more c
vices, follies and crimes engendered b
the condition of the country, than hay
sought to unfold to the readers of tn
Register. When / listen each morr
ing to the fervent prayer of the Chaplai
of the House, when hear him ask Go
for the triumph of our arms, and that OF
Legislators may Oe endued with 0od-lik
wisdom, the thought ever reours thi
there is migbtier evil from which "
} should seek exemption, greater blessin