The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-02
MANCHESTER, Thursday.

| regard myself as exceedingly fortunate
in possessing the friendship and counsel OF
Stranger" Besides furnishing me with
valuable material for my letters, he keeps
me informed as to the practical effect they
produce. 1t was from him / learned that
nv illusions, in a recent letter, to the
Manchester gamblers had provoked their
fiercest wrath. He urged me not to be
dismayed by their vindctive threats, and
proposed, if would prepare letter on
the social degradation Of the professional
gambler, to supply such facts as | might
need.
On Sunday afternoon he called and pre-
Scntcd me with an extensive manuscript,
which, upon examination, | find contains
startling exposure of the gambling system
as il exists in our midst. He also adds
that there are many items in the history
of this infamous profession which dclicacy
required him to withhold. He says, how
ever, that if it be necessary, he will with
his own hand tear the curtain of conceal
mcnt from these villainies, the simple men
ton of which must make Virtue blush.
There is, he tells me, an earnest desire
among the people that ] shall strike these
fiery faced and black-hcartcd enemies OF
the community another blow. Under these
circumstances, and with Strangers" as
siStancc, undertake the task.
1t seems that the gamblers were greatly
infrriated because | remarked incidentally
in my other letter that they were unwor-
thy of common respect" | shall now try
to prove that my assertion is correct.
All admit that he who utters or acts Il
lie cannot be trusted. If Il man is con-
victcd of one deliberate talschood, the COM
munty will always attcrward hold him
under an eye Of suspicion. The case grows
incomparably stronger when it can be
shown that he lies habtuahy and without
scruplc. Need say that professional gam
bling is an unbroken tissue of deception
and talSchOod Card-playing was formerly
called ga game of chance" /" and such il
would be if conducted fairly. 1t is well
known that in a contest between regular
gambler and one Of the " uninitiated,'
there is no uncertainty as 10 the result
The "raw chap" is inevitably tleeced, and
the qul,tJier always wins. How are these
successes so invariably achieved? Is ii not
because the gambler, by his arts and tricks
deccives his untutorcd adversary That
this is true many plucked victim, if not
restrained by false pride, would testify
Do the Manchester gamblers understand
the science of " stocking" cards Do they
ever adopt secret signs, by which, during
the game, they can unObScrved communi.
cate with each other? Do they ever put
one of their associates as a partner to a
novice, that he may by intentional blunder:
lose the game ! Do they ever divide the
stakes thus won with the accommodating
fellow who throws the victory into theil
hands Do they ever allow fresh hand
| to secure partial advantages in the outset
as bait to Seducc him to deeper ruin
! Do they ever use persuasion, or tiattcry, ol
whisky, to excite the unwilling and mex
pericnccd to play? Answer, yc sons .
| intamy!
Is there not in all this the very essence
of falSehood, not in the least eXtenuatec
by the ingenuity with which it is practiced
Whoever employs these manguvres ant
| wiles is no more nor less than Il common
! liar unless, indeed, from the frequency
and foulnesS Of his deccptionS, we call him
as in truth he is, an uncommon liar.
! And yet these vultures in human form
set up their claim to respectability The.
| ask virtuouS society that, while they are it
enemies, they may also be its members
Let the response Of every high-mindet
man and woman be, Never!
What | have said suggests another fac
sufficient in itself to Danish the gamble
| from respectable circles: He is not honest
| he cheats; he lies to overreach and swindle
! suppose that many are first drawn b!
persuasion or driven by poverty into th'
gamblers den. When they enter, it il
with no design of playing at ALL or at leas
of playing habitually. The result is, tina
once duped, they speedily fly; or else
fatally Smittcn with the fascination o
gaming, they ever afterward pursue it
Deceived themselves at first, they in turl
| Join the brotherhood of dcceiverS. 1t is t.
these confirmed, habitual gamblers that
refer. How do they live They general.
own little or no property, as stranger
tells me, and follow no honest calling. Ye
they flourish and fatten. How is it? q
course they get the means to dress ant
drink at the card-tablc. From whom
Not from each other, Except in rare in
stances, according to the old provcrb
Dogs are hard drove when they ca
| dogs,"0 but from those whom they cal
betool or drug, and victimize. None.
comes to other people as a reward Of use
full labor. Sometimes, as painful expert
ence has taught me, the remuneration i
not proportionate to the toll. The case J
quite different with gamblers. Even he'
! impudence would blush to say that none!
comes to them in return "for value
received" None know better than the!
the dishonesty Of the profession.
And yet these fashionably dressed ah'
highly-perfumed sharpers knock at thu
door of honorable society and demand
admission Let Honesty confront them OF
the threshold, and spurn them back to the
precincts of their infamy.
There is one reason more which compel
me to DENY the gamblers claim to respecta
bility. And that is, his heartlessnesS. Ill
has mother, sister, wife, daughter
They are yirtuous, loving, and too pure fo
reproach, They condemn the life he lead