The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1865-08-05
GAMRLING IN NExICo.


Dulnsss, as far as news and business are
concerned, bat not so with the native and
foreign blacklsgs. Gambling is the order
of the day, and nothing else Is talked about.
As you are probably aWaret the Msxicans
are born gamblers, Just as they are naturally
good Catholics. Among the useful reforms
attempted by Macmillan is the suppression
of monte and rouge ct noire. But the En-
psror, although very good at decree writing
and publishing, is very weak as far as the
execution is concerned. Two or TIRES heavy
banking firms, such as the Baron and Es-
candons, went to work and persuaded the
bsWlldersd monarch that his dynasty would
go to ruin unless his faithful subjects had at
least week during which their faYorits
passion could be allowed to have full sway
and work itself into extinction. So ne have
had our gambling week, as well IS are GO
ing to have the week of the Holy Sacrament.
Halpan IS small city about twelve lsauges
from Mexico. A yearly fair Of twelve days
IS about the only industry which makes it
live during The whole year. Here fair
simply means gambling, to the fullest sx-
tent. Of course followed the crowd, and
went to judge By myself Of the results of
| such useful institution. The road was
oroWed BY all sorts of vehicles and all sorts
OF people. 1t was also very strongly guard
ed by native troops, stationed at very short
distances. For, in spite Of the crowd, and
although So very near she capital, it is not
| at all safe to venture on that road. Indeed,
the horse cars running three or four milss
out OF town have to be guarded. This may
give you an idea of the security enjoyed al
over the country. Well, We did not happen
to meet the guerillss, and We arrived safely.
The town has nothing worth mentioning
except very few 6ne gardens belonging to
wealthy but neglectful proprietors. From
ten to fifteen thousand people we're crowding
the filthy streets, all pushing promiscuous-
II to get at the gambling booths. Every
house, every room, every corner, every al
ley way, and every spot where table or q
plank could be made to stand without stop
ping the circulation, were occupied by
fellows sitting before piles of money. That
money, or about the whole Of it, belonged
to two individuals, Escandon and Baron
the two worthless who had obtained the sus-
pension Of the law. just think Of it-those
two firms are the Cresus Of Mexico. They
have money by the buehsl, still they are
jealous Of the little left to their poor, starry
ing eountrymen. It is true their fortunes
have been accumulated By just such means;
but Why not stop and say enough? Why
not allow the reform intended By the soYeF-
eignto be accomplished? Obi what heart,
what a conscience some men haTel sup
pose that myself and the French gendaFmes
were the only ones who did not Try their
luck. The fashionable gFaadins, the poor
ragged men, the young, the old, the women
and the children, we're playing. The high
est as well as the lowest risks we're accepted
I By the cool and light-fngsFed fellows who
were beating the cards or pushing tie three
colored wheel. hsze seen men put down
one thousand dollars, and I have seen little
girls, about naked, watch the result Of ven
turing their gyhols-one cent. The sans
men Who had burroWsd that he'll, had created
means to provide i with victims. Pawn
broker shops we're multiplied around.
There every thing vas accepted. Costly
EjeweIrys horses, and garments Of all descrip-
tions-I say garments; ought to say rags,
for piles Of tbs clothes accepted were literally
taken from the paWnbFoker to the paper
mill. Many fellow went on horseback aud