New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-04
CLERKSI GAMBLING CLUBS.

"Men are but children of larger growth
morazed the great philosopher OF the Sixteenth Centu
~. But great As Shakespeare's knowledge OF hu>
mainly cannot but think that he would have been q
little puzze To describe certain class Of Lads, only toe
ubiquitous NewYork City, generally known Young
Amerca-hOys who copy the vices without oMulatlng sAa
virtues of their fathers and who to be men when
they ougt be tie school roOm-nay. almost before
they well away from their mothers apron strings
One habit common among them would be almost ludi
it not alarming lis fact that large nun.
bers Of them even thus early in life confirmed
gamblers. Young gentlemen whose mathematical
education goes no further than the Rule Of
Three or Vulgar Fractions, and whose salaries
average the modest q s. Is per week, will risk
forsnghts subsistence with as much sang JrOid as
though they the prOqretors Of millions in the pract
cal attempt work the theory Of chances-a problem
which learned mathematCians rank with the Dierenal
Calculus optics and the other higher branches OF
themauos In quarters Of the city there several
socacd Clerks Clubs, which, as is well known arc
nothing more or less then clerks gambling houses The
entrance varies from $50 So and the subscription
is S. or $40 year. with the right To introduce friend
Each member provided with a pass-key Of the clab
roOm which is the only means OF admittance. The pro
petors themselves generally m situations in some down
town store but finding their salaries inadequate to meet
the many expenditures Of fast life, they have opened
" bells" for the purpose Of making money out Of the
enterprising younger members OF their class.
i ibme! drnmmer whose business h is - 'rope
in" young lads He dresses well, and frequents
young clerks be found. lie ingratiates himself
with them by his fascinating manners, and soon per
suades some OF them 10 accompany him 10 his den In
this he is often assisted by the successful kabues Of the
club AT the cub young man finds himself IN large.
welwarmed, wen.furnshed, brianty'lighted room.
much more enjoyable and comfortable than his own
pOky little halbedr0om, where often over hundred
persons assembled from the plaulyclad clerk, who
has Just LETT school, to the gorgeOusly son and
future partner OF the merchant his or Two acquaut
more aristOcTatc habItues OF the place. He hears the
click OF the farOchecks and sees bills flying about in all
directions: drinks and cigars ad lbitdm pressed
him without his going through the unpleasant process Of
paying for them; and, above ALL there Is the unhealthy
won Side by side with the Older hand who. with iaded
looks and bOodshot eye, mutters deep curses &C the
provoking and persistent run Of illluck which has
taken from him his last dollar sits some young boy is
II years or age. goatrg over bis first winnings like
the young saval from the Pacific islands who iudulg
ing for the first time his propensity for human blood
lad making his debut at such den all this tho
knowing crOwdlpg round the table Fastening
back the youngsters luck BY stalking where he stakes; is
nsduogsV piled with strong liquor by some tool OF the
proprie Tor aud, his scrupes vanishing under the in
uence OF drink, he soon throws himself mady into tho
excited thrOng aud puts his money the table For tho
first few nights he IS allowed " Win just enough 70 give
him that taste for gambling which lac never can get rd
OF. And then, when he is thoroughly imbued with the
passion he is robbed merclessly aud with impuny for
the thieves know well enough that ne VIII not dare to eS-
pose thc as disclosure must inevitably END IN disgrace
and In his dismissal from his employment To ruin ho
must CO. l Will take no long time 10 make nm either
disgraceful Gambling sharper or a dishonest clerk.
short time ago OF our merchants detected two OF
his employees entering one of the gaming clubs aud in
medaely communicated the fact To the police who lost
mo time in making raid The police were Of course
refused admission but they soon forced Their way In and
succeeded arrestng the proprietor and 3 merchants
and brokers, clerks and apprentices, who were ali
gagged In playing the game OF sweat" They also
red on goOdy stock OF dice, faro checks cards money
etc OF this pretty little party two only Is years OF
age three 15 l6 the eldest Of them all only TO- On
another occasion the police broke into house In Fulton
ST., Brooklyn, and arrested less than 10 boys the
youngest Of whom Only TO- and the eldest only ls
years Of who playing faro for stakes
ing five cents, and limited to dollar BUT these
only instances. Our readers gather idea Of
prevalence or TINS vice among young clerks IRON the
fact that during the past years the Association for tho
Prevention OF Gambling reported no less than 3i young
clerks frequenung gambling houses their employ
erS IL Is certainly taf 70 assume that large number
escaped being reported.
This fact dselOScs very state OF thngsOne
which produce aInentabe consequences N allowed
nunty especially consider, order to prevent
generation Of merchants from being generation Of
gamblers. Every young man who becomes "A gambler,
becomes from that moment prey upon society and %
probable candidate the State Prison. for II uhsucees
u at farO.table lie is almost certain rob his en-
make good his losses What would the straight
Democratic ticket voting hquOrseer, whose vote last
Fall contributed To the reelection to Congress OF
who VIGOROUSLY the proprietor part proprietor OF
eight gambling hells ia this city, IL he found
his young bartender paying his losses faro the
TIL lie would doubtless make distinctions without diff.
ferences and while only too glad To shake his sporting
representative by the hand, would commit his deuded
clerk To the safe custody Of the TOmbs. Would Of
the wealthy politicians who throw all the influence VI
Tammany into the election OF corrupt Judiciary which
iciH lind means TO let the gambling hell.keeper
escape the punishment which is his due, pardon a de-
faugg clerk who had used his bonds to pay his own
gambling debtsi Certainly not He would SIT on tho
bench by the side OF his friend The Judge during the trial