The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-06-23
THE GAMBLER.

THE GAMBLER.
THE first principles in gambling that
ever my mind was taught were received
in taking part in that great game which
the Inconsistency of ourlegislators makes
lawful mean lotteries. 1t seems un-
accountably strange to me how our law
givers, many of whom are ministers of
the gospel, and all of whom deprccate
gambling as one of the most prominent
curses with which society is afllicted-I
say it seems strange how these men can
reconcile to their consciences and to their
preaching the numerous gamblinggrants
they have made and are making. They
would shrink from allowing the petition
lish house where cards and dice might
be used il games of chance, but they
readily grant the petition of a set of in
dividuals to convert the whole State or
wherein to play that game which is in
finitely more ruinous in its consequences
than all the other schemes put together.
! said I received my first principles
of gambling from dealing in lotteries.
l reasoned thus: If that game is not
gambling, and if that game is not un-
lawful, in which we stake sum of mo-
ney and depend altogether upon chance
for 1nfpof and II, u-binI, A
probability is much against us of our
getting back the sum we ventured out,
and where there is but mere possibility
of receiving more than the amount stalk
ed, surely, then, those games in which
the chance of loss is smaller, and which
require skill and judgment to play, can
not be gambling, cannot be unlawful.
So 1 went to the card-table and to the
dice-boX.
l remember the first game of cards I
ever played. l was sixteen years old,
and some Of my partners were aged men
linen who were old enough to be my
father, and who should have cuffed my
ears and sent me home. But no; they
praised my deXterity in handling the
cards, tlattered myjudgment, and taught
me to glory in my skill. Thus, while
they made rich my vanity, they made
wretchedly poor my pockets. Greater
men than myself may with equal truth
advance this same sentiment. 1t is true
| did not play for much; we only staked
Il small sum, just to maize tie game in
teresti2g; we scorned to cast a thought
on the loss and gain; we played for
amusement, not for the purpose of max
ing money. This was the language we
used to ourselves. But let an uninter.
ested observer look over the table at
which we were playing, and watch the
eagerness with which the stake was
seized when won, and the working coun-
tenances of the losers, and perhaps he
would put different construction than
mere amusement on the deep and in
tense interest each individual manifest
ed. The truth is, pratt and toss are the
ruling spirits of game of cards or a
throw of dice. l know not which of
the two has the most influence to keep
a young man at the gaming-table. If
we are fortunate the desire is awakened
for more, and the hope encouraged that
luck is on our side: perchance we pride
ourselves on our skill in the game, and
so we resolve to tY dg0in; and if we are
unfortunate, we will try again to repair
our loss" luck was against Us - "may
be fortunate next time" and thousand
reasons the devotee of play can make to
himself for trying again.
l was then a clerk in a store, and as
my funds failed me, l had recourse to
my masters drawer. Dollar after dol
lar of his money went that way without
his knowledge. In short time | could
toss my glass of spirit and Whit my ci-
gar with as much grace as the most jim
iShcd gentieman; and ! was perfect in an
oath. became an adept in play, and
soon played deeper games. Yet, with
all my cunning and Judgment, many Il
midnight has seen me hurrying home
with a heart terribly heavy, in conse-
HuNhNS Vi toNhct piOloiilOildbly ttyHt.
Twas the only son of a widowed moth
er, and on me her future hopes rested.
Oftentimes would my conscience bitter
ly reproach me for my conduct, when,
on entering the house at late hour in
the night, | found my aged and lone
mother sitting up, patiently waiting my
coming; and when She expressed her
fears that should injure my health by
too close application to business-for l
was SO base as to deceive that fond and
trusting parent by telling her that busi-
ness at the store kept me away from
homeland when she advised me to re-
lax a little, awfully did my heart rise
up against me and rcprovc my wicked
ness; and again and again did l deter
mine to forsake the "evil Ways" that l
had been treading. But some nights |
won; and then an intense thirst for
more led me back to the table; and