The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1876-12-08
THE WICREDEST CITY on THE Pa
CIFIC SLOPE.

AAe sensation or a stranger on entering
Virginia City ere novel in the extreme,
and his astonishment increases hourly
for several days-if by virtue of being
well supplied with coin he is enabled TO
remain that long. There is certainly no
other place in the universe. This may
be said, on the whole, to be fortunate for
humanity; for-excepting always Chica-
go-this is the Uickedest place in the
world. There is no Sunday, although
there are church edihces; there is little
religion, though several preachers. The
streets, night and day, are a surging mass
Of human forms The men are the larg-
est, finest looking, best dressed and most
intelligent that l have ever seen. They
come from almost every quarter of the
habitable globe, though of course in
limited numbers from each section,
They are, as rule, generous and lavish
in the expenditure of money. They
seem to have no conception of the real
value and legitimate blessings of wealth
They live for to-day only, and literally
take no thought for the morrow; conse-
quently it not infrequently happens that
man who is flush to-day will be found
penniless tomorrow. But he viii not
remain so long, especially if he has many
acquaintance, for he will soon raise a
stake" either by the assistance OF friends
or at the gaming table, and, with light
aud joyous heart will join the reckless
throng that sweep the streets. 1t is at
night that Virginia City appearsEin her
most dazzling aspect. The thoroughfares
are then even more densely packed than
during the day. c street, the main av-
enue of Traffic, is then in a blaze OF glory.
Brilliant chandeliers illuminate the in
Vulnerable saloons, billiard halls, gaming
houses, restaurants, etc, etc. Many OF
these establishments are fitted up in
gorgeous style, rivaling the most famous
and attractive dens in New York and
Chicago In the gambling rooms espec-
| tally the appointments are supreb. Cost
ly mirrors, elegant furniture, velvety
carpets, render the place luxuriant, while
upon the table-a verit&ble least for the
| eves--may be seen stacks Of gold and sill
yer. On a taro table Of one of the saloons,
2 few evenings since, / saw at least a
peck of gold twenties, piled up symmet-
really, and the dealer thus prepared to
''size the pile" of any adyenturer into
the Jungle where the tiger reigns. There
/ are ALWAYS crowds in attendance at these
mighty seanceS of the royal Bengal. As
many az can find room at the table stake
their money; others patiently wait their
turn. Many are there, however, for Gu
riositys sake, or because they find a
comfortable lounging place. The reader
must not imagine that the way OF the
faro table here l. up two or three dark
/ and winding stairs-cases into a dismal
back room guarded By vigilant 'hounc-
ers," whose business it is to keep out
Suspicious" characters q. e., 6ycoPs).
Oh. no. In this state everybody gam
ble=. Not all of them at faro, Of course;
but, if not ct faro, in stocks, which Is
just as unsatisfactory and uncertain.
Gambling Is not only tolerated by socie-
", but protected and authorized by law
For example, in regard to faro, it is pro
yided by legislative enactment, that pro-
prietors shall pay uniform tax Of $500
per quarter 20 the state. Then the mu-
inequalities, of course, come in Tor a lib
eral share of the gamblers spoils in the
shape of local taxes. Thus each faro
table Is compelled to pay between two
and three thousand dollars per annum
for governmental expenses. How they
/ must bleed their customers to make ends
meet can be imagined by the average
citizen. Gambling in stocks, as init
mated above, is the universal evil. It's
nature Is well understood in the east IL
well as in the west Stock speculation
here IS practically the same as it is in
New York There is an essential differ
ence, in the character of the operators.
Capitalists and brokers deal mostly in
eastern stocks, while here facilities are
provided and every encouragement given
to persons Of small means to invest their
savings in mining stocks. The modts
oDerqndj whereby the big fishes swallow
the small ones is pretty generally known.
Yet people do not learn from experience,
and the consequence is that they are con
tinually being squeezed and are kept
poor perpetually.-Letter to 81. louis Re-
] U3tJlicun.