Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-07-29
Editorial Correspondence.

| tipping it over to Europe on the Atlantic cable,
after the fashion of the tight rope dancers in the
circus; and have no doubt that ho and tho gutta
percha sea serpent will manage it most excellent
ly together. DR.. Dovore and his party are look
ing ut the sights and shows of Philadelphia, Bal
timore and Washington. And we arc left alone;
SOLITARY and alone in Doodedom!' Even the Ger
man friend who conducts US to the bad places
defending us from oil attacks Of men, dogs, and
.-women) has quit the grit and gone to Chicago.
We feel very dcsolate. And notwithstanding that
we inflicted such n ponderous letter upon you yes
terday, the spirit moves US to. the evil deed of
writing another.
And We begin with still another iniquity. We
had our German friend in harness again Inst
\ night-the final expedition !-and this time be
/ showrl US
FARO AT MIDNIGHT.
4 A short walk brought us to q lurge brick build
ing, with handsome trout, in the centre Of
block. The first floor Of this building is occupied
4 by three ball bankers" Three brass balls COM
pose the sign Of n pawnbroker. Convenient es-
tablshment to be situated at the entrance of q
fashionable gambling hell Having entered the
house through large double doors of mahogany,
we climbed one flight of stnirs, and touched the
spring bell at another door. Hero, after 4 brief
examination by very grand and gloomy person
age, We were admitted. The grand parsonage
closed tho door gently behind us, and left us to
ourselves in large, silent brilliantly lighted,
| ia
others by folding doors. Tho social games, played
4 here at an earlier hour, had given way to themore
! exciting game of NIL games; now in full but mys
| toriously silent blast in an adjoining room. We
pass into that room through doors whose hinges
are noiseless as down, and come into full view of
1 the immemorial contest between human credulity
and the god of Chance, dubbed in these days
I" the Tiger" The beast is showing his teeth to-
night with vengeance Huge piles of ivory
besde the bankers elbow attest his prowoss The
Glitter, Glitter Glitter of these little ivory checks
Ills the only sound. The crowd, three ranks deep,
(which surrounds the table where the banker turrs
the cards. is of the approved imperturbable cali
bre. The stiffness and intensity are fearful; one
holds his very breath! The crowd stakes, wins,
Eloses silently and gracefully. 1t is a most gon-
tlemanly and elegant-looking throug. Our Ger
man friend whispers to us that merchants, mil
lonaires, brokers' ox-judgss of the supreme bench,
men of family and high reputation, and young
men of position and wealth, 'nre its composites.
The social atmosphere of the European gaming
table is revived. A largo oak sidcboard, glitter
Il u, it'll
the finest liquors, sits close Mt hnnd To this al
tar derotee occasionally steps to refresh himself
and then returns with new energy to the battle.
The smoke of n cigar softly curls upwards over
the heads of the players. By that'tokcn, know
/ loser. He who wins has no need of such stim-
ulnnt What dangerous, devilish, nlmost-irre-
sistble fascination the scone possesses It con-
1lcentrntes thought so that we can sec nothing;
think of nothing, but the table and the money,
Land the hands and foroa rms that reach down to
I back tho cards or claim tho winnings! No won
| der so many men are ruined here Over the elc-
| CANT supper, served to guests in an adjoining
room-but not here where the game is in process
may man wrench faculty or two apart,
whcrewith to reflect upon the hideously -alluring
influence of the Faro Table upon its frcquenters,
of whatever class or intelligence they may be.
And now we are going to leap from the Faro
Table to
HENRY WARD BEEcHER AND HIS CHURCH.
Not so incongruous leap either as itmay seem:
for old Henry and his people arc, In our opinion,
about as mischievous as the faro dealers and faro
players. Henry Ward Beechcr's church is very
famous one ; it isin Brooklyn, and known as
plymouth Church." The organ is the largest
and finest perhaps in New York at all events,
one of the finest in this country. To reach Ply
mouth Church from the uptown hotels in New
York, you must jump aboard Of the 3rd or End
Avenue cars, make your way to Fulton Ferry,
cross, Jump again into other cars which you will
find ready at the landing, and invite the cOnduc.
tor to put you off at the nearest point to DR..
Beecber's church. The trip requires about half
an hour. Plymouth Church is large, but plain
in fact, so plain that it looks blue and skinny. A
large gallery runs entirely around the building.
in this gallery, fronting the entrance, right over
the pulpit, stands tho great organ. Neither screen
or curtain hidosths organist mud singers. Pulpit
did we say? 'Tis not pulpit, but.a platform Of
considerable height and length, ornamcnted with
simple stand for bible and hymn book, and
another, upon which sits huge vase of superb
flowers. Behind the bible-stand sits father Beech
or, arrayed in severe black. Every thing is repul-
sively plnin. There is no warmth, no coloring.
The orgnnist rises aud taking his seat at tho or
gan, plays cold and skinny prelude; simultano-
ously, two skinny young women advance to the
front and sing skinny anthem in skinny man
ner. After this, father Beecher risoS and gives
out hymn, and says "sing without lining" And
now the music Is better, for the whole vast con-
gregation sings with one grand accord. Seldom
have we heard finer congregational singing. And
then father Beecher prays-a cold and skinny
prayer. And then takes his text. He is tall,
broad -shouldered, museularIooking, full in habit
without being corpuleut, of rosy and healthy
complexion, of benevolent countenance, and dcci-
dedly handsome looks about fifty five years Of age.
His this evening "Thou shalt not steal and
he applied it in many respects most felicitously to
our national affairs. We give synopsis. Stealing
was going ou III eTery conuil'oh VI ooeie'y, "nu
fraud seemed to to be the the rule in almost every
business and profession. In some occupations it
had become a thing TO be expected, and no one
was surprised. The railway management of the
country was especially corrupt. He honestly be-
leved the majority of the Railroads of the United
States 10 be corruptly used for the purpose of
cnriching the managers at the expense of the
stockholders and that those concerned in their
management should be called nothing but thieves.
Subordnatos were also dishonest, and railway