Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-03


GAMBLIxG.-We extract the following
m excel nt article on Gambling, in q
late number Of the Home Journal
The growth of this passion for risking
comparatively little in the hope of gaining
much. Is as astounding as it is alarming
We have such an unconsciOnable maniq
for unbounded intrmpersnce in the use Of
everything that panders to our constant
craving for excitement. that we reach the
ridiculous excess Of imbecile intoxicatiOu
before we begin to realize whittier our IL
sanity is leading Us; and we arc to day in
that maudIin condition in regard to our
ahuse Of gambling There are lottery
Offices bv the score, and policy shops hy
the lund ed, ali thriving upon the IL
gotten gains; there are palatial hauuts on
every hand, wh in all thn G combine TO
cutice and IN 'atuate, and their kdJitHes
pawn, borrow, teg. aud steal, that they
NAV more surely ruin themselves, and
grow hsIgard, reckless, and criminal in
their liberal contributions to sustain he
elegancies which surround them, Will
thew watch with wild ewes the yellow gold
slipping piecemeal from their tremtl ng
fingers The game Of billiards, beaut ful
and excellent as it IS in almost every re
spect, has come to be regarded by the
many rs hull. without its ''Stakes, tIifiing,
or otherwise, and even croquet playing or
card PLAY ing at home gather an intenser
interest from laughing. but no less serious
wagers rs to which shall be the winning
side
How all the beauties and attractions,
the genial influences and desirable effects J
Of boating, ball playing, hnrse-racing. ands
kindred amusements, are defacsd AMI de :
strOyed by tue paudemOnlum of betting,
which engulfs all classes and both sexes :
and what a bitter misfortune it is that the
uoblest and most healthful sports are thus
wickedIy demoralized by a hungry and
uncomfortable greed. What countless
MISUNDERSTANDING millions-of dollars
have been sent blindly to the unprinci-
pied conductors of every species of Gift
Enterprises, which have sprung up like
poisonous mushrooms on every side, and
how often the money thus squandered up
on heartless and unmitigated swindlers,
has come from those least able to afford
the outlay, no one of whom has ever re
ceived an adequate return therefor. 1. is
one Of the most pregnant comments upon
our national criminality of thoughtless
impuIsiveness. that day after day these
gigantic frauds are hatched, prepetrated,
and discovered, and that the deluded fools
who know Just what they have been and
are still sustain and encourage them.
Religion, benevolence, friendship, love
ali the nobler attributes of our natures
are tainted by this spirit. Gro into the
brilliant and rich fairs gotten up for the
benefit of religious or phiIanthropic objects
and YOU shall find that they are establish
ed and conducted almost exclusively on
sort OF aristocratic lottery system.
1t is impossible to get beyond reach of
the passion for gambling; 1t will follow
YOU wherever you 60, if it has not pre-
ceded you. It's encouraged alike by re-
ligious and secular newspapers and peri
odicals, which hold out to their prospec-
tive subscribers all kinds ofingenious and
bewildering aIIurements, that promise to
give them at least double their moneys
worth. 1t is pampered and elaborated
BY merchants of every class, who are con-
tinually on the lookout for some such in
vention as that recently adopted by to-
bacco company, who noise abroad that
they place hundred dollar bill in one of
every certain number of papers of TOT
bacco put up by them, and thus entice,
BUYERS by the hope of drawing prize,
rather than by the quality of their wares /;
andIwe all know only too well, what tn.
muituous, Grazing whirlpool of hazard the
STOCK, gold, note, and bill speculation of
Wall street IS.
The tendency is to make life itself lot
terry, with money, OF fame, or position, or
influence, for its grand prizes. 1t would
scarcely astonish US to hear Of mans
rafting with father for his daughters
hand, or cutting cards withIhis undertake
er IS 70 whether he should be buried in