Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-11-22
GAMBLING.

a confirmed gambler Is seldom reformed.
1t is far easier to turn drunkard from his
cups, and quench his thirst from the excl
ting draught, than to establish new prin-
ciple of action in the breast of one who has
given himself up to this passion for unlawful
gain But there are some novices in the
business to whom n few words of warning
may be proftably uttered:
l. Gambling is immoral 1t debauches
the moral sense, and is the prolific author of
many crimes. A man who earns his money
in an honest calling, can look the whole
world in the face, and feel that he has given
a iair equivalent for what he has gained.
But man who invests either in stocks or a
lottery ticket simply for the chance of spec
ulatlve GAIN can never feel that he has law
fully acquired the increase it may bring to
him until his views of right and wrong are
formed on model and by standard far be-
low those principles that are eternal. This
Is of itself sufficient TO pervert his judg-
ment, blunt his moral perception, and cor
rupt his whole nature. Thus abased, he
will, as means to an end, be guilty of forge
ry, falsehood and theft, not because he de-
hberatey intends to commit these foul
crimes, but because he is infatuated in his
purpose, and thinks only of success.
?. Gambling, even in its lightest form,
is very evil example. A wealthy man
ldhcS ultT III SlOchS tiS Il mere pdStllllt.
and tor the sake of excitement, as a card
player will name a small stake to give inter
est to his game. 1t matters little to him,
perhaps, whether he gains or loses. But
the young clerk, who follows his example, is
risking, it may be, the happiness of his life
on the issue of his adventure Those who
lead in this fearful game, may be reckless
of those who follow, but they cannot. thro'
endless years, wash themselves clean of the
fatal blood which falls upon their garments
from those who perish just behind them,
following, as they thong hit in honorable foot
steps.
g. The chances are always against the
gambler For every one who draws prize
in lottery. there are thousands of silly SUI
perstitious fools who handle only the blanks.
In stock gambling the game is a little less
desperate, but even here the adverse chan
ces are always the greatest. Among those
who are adopts, and who may be said to
move behind the scenes, the game Is never
equal. 1t is not true that what one loses
another must always gain. Take dozen
jars. and filling one to the brim with liquid,
empty it inte the next and so on round the
circle; it will not be long before the bulk
will be wasted This is even more palpable
in stock gambling. We estimate that it
costs about fifteen million dollars to support
the principal operators in the New York
stock market, including their rent, clerk
hire, and personal and family expenses.
This must all be lost by some outside deal
ers before even these professionals can aceu
mulate any commission or other savings If
we reckon as much more to represent their
gains, we have a capital of thirty millions
to be sunk before the profits and losses ON
mere speculative operations can be equal.
4. The chances against an unprofessional
gambler are fearfully great. Here and there
one may be left with a full purse as a stool,
pigeon to decoy others, but the majority are
plucked in the regular way of business as
clean as scalded fowl. Most green opera
tors know less about stocks than a man who
was never in stable does about a horse !;
and yet they are led right into the game and
lay down their money with all the swagger
Of veterans. The foolish servant girl who
dreams out her lucky numbers, or finds
them by counting the grains of tea in her
cup, has far more rational grounds for.the
investment, and can give better reasons for
it, than most spectators can show for their
turn in the share market. We never knew
even professional stock gambler who con-
tinued long at the business, and died with
large fortune thus gathered But the mer-
chants, bankers, artisans and clerks to saw
nothing of the mere idlers, who play at this
game, are working always against the tide,
and are sure to go down the stream at last.
These remarks are intended to be personal,
and we hope each one of our readers will so
consider them.-Jourtal Of Commerce.