The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-12-18
The Gambling "HeIIs'' OF Richmond.
From the Epamfner. qFrri1

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The great fire of April last drove Ye
Tiger from his Main street Jungle, and
with a scorched skin and singed tail,
angrily switching the air, the animal
escared to make his lair elsewhere.
Broad street presented the only retreat
for the homeless beast; but his Keepers
found the exhibition did not draw, be-
ing too far up town, and removed from
the prey that floats around the large
hotels, and presents itself in the green-
ness of the "young man from the coun-
try," who comes to town periodically to
hunt and fight "the tiger for amuse-
ment, and is soonest attracted to his
haunts by conspicuous numbers bril-
ltantly illuminated, that lure the over
confident youth into a close quarter
contest with his wiley antagonist. So
the up town, exhibition was closed in
part, and the paraphernalia transferred
to the vicinity of Franklin and Four
teenth streets. Here, any fine day, can
be seen upon the street corners, the
keepers, "ropers-in" and "pimps" of
the establishments, basding In the sum
shine with coats as thick as the dreaded
basalfsk's, and like hungry alligators
| on the bayou's rim, watchful and watt
ing to catch up the unwary. Their din-
mond pins and bosom studs flash out
and glitter in the sun; their well-pol-
ished boots reflect their own ignoble
faces like a9mirror, and the gloss OF
their cloth is marvellous to behold.
Their eyes stand out with fatness, and
| their bellies areltwith fat capon lined y
They form the circle about the hotel
fronts, who are remarked by strangers
as gentlemen of leisure, with nothing
to do but to preserve their linen im-
maculate, their coats glossy, their boots
polished, and their consciencies easy
They roll hither and thither in the pub
lfc barouches, with harlots for their
companions, and outrage the decencies
| OF society upon the public thorough
fares in the blaze of MONDAY. They
Ilmake themselves merry over much ex-
eellent wine, for Ye- Tiger is no longer
fed with poor Confederate ''shucksn by
official rogues, but the rich, sweet oil Of
greenbacks has made him an epicurean
beast, and delicate of palate, and growls
| for more, as the beast that has tasted
human blood. For months has the sill
-ence of'a truculent, cowardly or sub
sid1zed presS-a silence purchased, It
may be, for the consideration of free
e1tree, sumptuous suppers and cham
pagno-secured for the gambling theIlS'
almost complete immunity from police
molestation. No guest is expected to
betray his host, SO, when. those whose
duty Is to cry ont against crime and
I gibhet vice, make themselves, pdrticepS
cTinlisas, exposure of the crime and the
criminals would hardly become them,
and Is not to be expected This it Is
that has brought upon Richmond this
inundation OF vice, to be seen in the in
creased number and splendour of the
gaming houses; this tits that has REIN
forced the harlots out of that great
Baby Ion ofthe North; this it Is that has
multiplied the drinking saloons, and
opened up.the fountains of immortality
and dlicenfiousness in hitherto respec-
table quarters. iIssdz 1I II lfitr n