Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-03-21
LIFE IN DENVER.
A Dark and Peculiar Phase-How
the Miners Lose their Money -
Gambling without any Disguise.
Il. wHITMORE,
Publisher and Proprietor.


Right in the center of this town, says
a Denver correspondent, stands "The
Cricket" And lively cricket it is, too.
But its ways are far from innocent, and
its chirp, instead of the gentle piping
heard in the quiet hours of night, is the
rattle of gaming appliances rising above
the din of a hundred vociferating
tongues.
The public gambling house is a recog-
nized feature Of border towns, and it is
among the first Of institutions to
herald the approach of civilization in the
far West. 1t is the iEseparable compan-
ion of the star of empire, and its effects
may be observed anywhere along the
line of that luminary's march. But no.
where does it assert itself more success
fully than in such places as owe their
existence to their proximity to mines.
Miners are little given to that class of
diversion which we of the quieter walks
of life are content with. They are for
the most part a turbulent set, in whom
(if not naturally, then by force of asso-
ciation) the animal propensities develop,
to the exclusion of the better qualities;
and of consequence their conceptions
Of enjoyment are realized in such amuse-
ments only as afford gross or absorbing
excitement. Gambling houses, with
their accompanying quarreling and
drinking, are perfectly adjusted to the
miner idea of pleasure, and they con-
stitute means of gratifying his inclina-
tons, as compared with which, in his
judgment, all other means are insignif-
cant.
The Cricket, it would seem, has
struck a paying lead 1t works like a
beaver from morning till night, from
night till morning; and then, not over
come by its unremitting labor, it COM
mences afresh, and does the same thing
over again. It's an enterprising fellow,
you may rest assured, for it makes hay
whether the sun shines or not, and by
virtue of its industry and the grabbing
facilities it possesses it is gradually but
surely garnering an abundant harvest.
The gaming establishment under con-
sideration stands in Denver, in its prin
cipal street, and upon one of the most
nonspicnous and desirable sites. Lo-
Gated within the very heart of trade, it
announces itself with all the assurance
of legitimate business, and its claims
20 patronage are responded to in the
mos. liberal manner. 1t enjoys an i'm
munity from espionage unaccorded to
kindred establishments in the Eastern
States, and its scope and publicity are
as untrammeled as if its efforts were de-
voted to the best interests OF the commu-
nitv. Admission into it involves neither
the scrutiny of faces nor the traversing
of dark passages. One simply opens
the door as though entering an ordinary
house, and with single step he is IN the
midst of most extraordinary scene.
The room is very large and its sides are
lined with tables. The proprietor, from
a spirit of accommodation, restricts
each table to distinct game; so that
there are as many different games going
on at once as there are tables in the
room. Consequently, the peculiar tastes
or preferences of every one wishing to
play may be INDUCED, and an individual
has only to take his choice, and he forth
with pays his money. Then the assem-
blage gathered herel One might fancy
he had dropped into Bill Sykes brother
hood.
Nowhere in any civilized portion of
the earth could there be q more repulsiye
collection of physically sound human
beings discovered. 1t is a conclave Of
unkempt, hard featured, brutalized crea-
lures, cursing and brawling, and making
the place very penfold of the lowest
beasts
The room is disgustingly foul II
could hardly be otherwise, considering
the occupants. The croupiers, or deal
ers, are correspondingly begrimed, and
the tables, ignoring the asthetio eombi-
nation of ornament and utility, subseryeI
the latter purpose solely, and are in
keeping with the general filth. In fact,
TO an observer whose habits Of life have
associated him with cleanliness and de-
cency, this den, this hole, has all the at
tributes Of pigpen, and exhibits num-
berless other characteristics which pow
erty Of language precludes a description
o.
The dealers are eminently fitted for the
positions they occupy. Didany Of them
ever experience disposition toward the
honest callings Of life, ! an confident
that under the most favorable ciFcum-
STAGES such vagary could be nothing
more than mOmentary and spasmOdic.
They look as though they had been in
tended for q stated mission and that
mission they are fulfilling 70 the best Of
tha;- iflftv I nofioed one in uarficu-