The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-09-05
$500 PER ANNUNH I'm ADVANCE
Gambling at Hombourg.
NUMBER IA.
"A Description by Rev. DIR. Believes.

Description by Rev. DR.. Bellows.
Rev. DIR. Bellows has had view of tn
gambling houses at Hombourg, and in ,
letter to the Liberal Christian, of New
York, describes what he saw. He says
"Deep playing is sure to attract crowd O
spectators, and commonly at any given time
there will be only one person at each table
who IS playing for stake of FIVE Napoleons
about $2O-for each COUP that is, each
deal OF cards or turn of the roulette Most
OF the players pledge two.forin piece
eighty cents) on every comp. Even at this
rate, as the deal occurs once iu a minute OF
two much money may be lost or won in
half an hour; and for the heavier players,
who begin with five NapoIeons and double
stake every time, it is plain that several
Thousand francs may be changed from the
private pocket to the bank, or from the
bank to the private pocket in ten or fifteen
minutes. l have seen men and women
both going away minus two or three thous-
and francs after half dozen coups, and
some others carrying away as much after
ten minutes successful playing. Usually
however large players are too fond of the
excitement to leave because they are fortu
nate. They stay more COMMONPLACE shift
their fortunes and leave their winnings with
the bank. If every gamester left tho table
when the chances were in his favor, the
bank would soon be out of capital But it
reckons too surely upon the appetite which
success stimulates.
PRESENTATIONS OF GAMBLING.
Il have tried to analyze the fascination
of gambling by watching the faces and the
play OF those engaged in it. A moee seri-
GUS company it is hard to conceive of than
the one gathered around these tables ST.
lence, gravity, unsmiling attention, absorp-
ton in the business in hand, strained com
posture and fixed expression, neither moved
by success nor disturbed by ill-luck, are the
prevailing characteristics. You look in
vain for the nervous, impassioned, suicidal
expressions of countenance you are taught
to expect. Most Of the company at play
look beautifully uuconcious of anything un-
usual, disgraceful or sinful in their occupa-
tion They are simply intent upon the
game, each man Watching his stake with
unfeigned interest," but with practiced
knowledge of the risks, feeling that he may
gain at the next turn what he lost i'll the
last. The possibility Of success is always
before the player, and he sees success at
tending his neighbor. The fact that in one
minute by sinking form you may make
two, presents an excitement which to those
without more scrupes on the subject must
be very fascinating
Nothing but we'll considered and estab
lished conviction of the public and private
decentralization and peril of gambling could
prevent persons from dipping into its de-
celttul waters here where sort Of excep-
tional license covers gambling from repro
baton; where all its concomitants are deco
rous; where drinking and carousing and
the more common forms Of dissipation are
suppressed; where people of excellent social
position and general spectability
and barons, bankers, and countesses gentle
men and ladies Of fixed standng-are found
amusing themselves at the gaming table,
and where it is open and legaized. and con-
Quoted with unquestioned fairness. Then
it is doubtful whether the lockers on are not
really participants to the extent of lending
the countenance of their presence to the i'm
moral game.
Curiosity and desire to study human
nature under a powerful passion, has drawn
me very often iuto the saloon; but | confess
| never felt quite innocent even in watching
this beguiling and perilous fountain of ruin
and corruption. The chief evil is not done
here at Hombourg,o or at other public tables.
1t is the passion which is first awakened
under the comparatively innocent circum-
stances of these public and honestly
Quoted gambling rooms which leads thous-
ands of young men, and old ones, too, to
private play, until it becomes the business
of their lives or the ruin of their fortunes
and bodies and souls. The more habitual
players here seem to be old men and wom-
ell. Byron calls 'avarice a good old gentle
manly VICE Certainly the love of the ex-
element Of gambling seems to survive most
other passions. No form of Gambler how
ever has appeared SO truly disgusting,
as the old woman. A young count
ess, lovely in person, aud dignified and self
possessed, whom | saw now losing, now
winning, considerable sums, did not lose
quite all her charms in the atmosphere of
the gambling table, but several old hags in
lace and jewels, who sat hour after hour at
the board. seemed made up to disgrace their
sex and their age.