The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-03-26

hoop after her.
At oncot the stores Albert Land.
man met some Of his friends.
'Halloa, Albeftl What's up?
Nothing in particular
'What do you say to game of
billiards, Alberl2'
Good; I'm in for that.
And away went Albert to the
billiard hall, and had glorions
time with his friends. lie liked
billiards; it was a healthy pretty
game, and thekeeper of the hall al
lowed no rough scuffs upon his
premises.
They had played four games
Albert had won two, and his op-
ponent had won two.
That's two and two cried Tom
Piper. What do you say to play
ing them off, Albert?
'Ali right, go in, said Albert full
of animation.
So they played tho fifth gamc,
and be who lost was to pay for the
FIVE games. 1t was an exciting
contest.
Both made capital runs, but in
the end Albert was beaten by three
points; and with light laugh be
went up TO settle tho bills Five
games-twcnty cents a q game !;
just one dollar. Not much for such
sport; and he paid the money with
grace, and never once seeming to
feel that he could not afford it.
Have a segar?' said Tom.
Yes
They lighted their segars, and
then sauntered down tho hall TO
watch the others play.
Albert soon found himself scat
cd over against table at which
some This friends were playing,
and close by stood two gentlemen,
strangers TO him, one Of which was
explaining to the other the mys.
terics of the game.
1t is a healthy pastime, said he
who bad been making tho expla-
nation; 'and certainly il is QUO
which can have no evil tendency
Albert heard tho remarks very
plainly, and he had curiosity to
hear what the other, who seemed
unacquaintcd with billiards, would
say.
i cannot of course, assert that
any game which calls for skill aud
Judgment, and which is free from
tho attendant curse of gambling, is
of itselfan evil, remarked the sec
ond gentleman, Such things are
only evil so faP as Trey excite and
stimulate men beyond the bounds
OF healthful recreation
That result can hardly follow
such a game, said tho first speak
Ell.
But the other shook his head.
You are wrong thcrc. The re
suit can follow in two ways. Firs
rIt can lead men away from theil
business; and, second, it can leac
men to spend money, who hav'
not the money TO spend. You vii
understand me. L would not cry
down the game Of billiards, for j
understood it shLuld certainly
try your game now; but wheneve
| visit a place OF this kind am Ice
to reflect upon most strangean'
prominent weakness of humanit,
as developed in our sex. For in
stance, observe that young mai
who is just settling his bill at tn
desk. He looks like a mechanic
and I should say from his manner
and from the fact that he feels
his duty 10 go home at this hour
that he has q wife and children
I see by his face that he is kind
. hearted and generous, and | shoul
Judge that he means to do abou
as near right as he can. He ha
been beaten, and be pays one dol
t lar and forty cents for the recreu
) tion Of some two hours duration
0 II you observe, you will SEQ tina
he paysit freely and pockets th
. loss with smile. Happy faculty
But how do you suppose 1t is i
that young mans homcl Suppos
1 tkhis wife had como to him TIL
{ morning and asked him for a do
lar to spend for some trifing thin
I some household ornament, {
q some bit Of jewelry to adorn ht
Q person land suppose his little chill
q had putin plea for forty cents
!; buya paper and picture book wit
8 what do you suppose ho would hay
It answered. OF fifty men just IN
d him, would not forty and FIVE ha,
& DECLARED that they had not none