Smyrna times., 1876-08-30
Morals Of Gambling.

Chambers Edinburgh Journal gives the fol-
lowing facts, which are quite as valuable at
Saratoga or Newport, as at Aldershot.
During the steeple-chase week at Alder
shot some years ago, was induced by a
young friend, in whom 1 took great in
terest, but over whom l unfortunately pos
sessed but little control, to accompany him
to see some roulette played.
"My friend, whom l shall call Herbert
B., was an impetuous, warm hearted
lrishman, generous to fault, and as fine a
young fellow as you would see in a days
walk. He was, however, like many of his
countrymen, thoughtless to degree, and
seemed always quite unable to resist tho
impulse of the moment, whatever it might
be. Knowing him to be in debt, and de-
pendent almost altogether on his pay, l
tried my best to dissuade him from going.
but it was no use and so l determined to
go along with him, to try and keep him as
much as possible out of harm. For all l
could do, though, as it turned out, might
| ttb well nave renamed away.
Every one, | suppose, knows what rou-
lette is; but in case this should meet the
eye of the exception l will endeavor
briefly to describe it.
Four things are chiefly necessary for it's
performance. First, board of peculiar
and complicated construction, of which
more hereafter; second, a cloth half.red
and halfblack, with sundry numbers and
cabalistic characters painted on it; third, a
professor OF ledgerdemain, to manipulate
the wheel; and finally the flats to be pill
laged.
Herbert B represented the last item
to perfection, except that he had very little
to be pillaged Of In few minutes all his
available capital had melted in almost
equal proportion on both the red and the
black, which colors he backed impartially,
but generally with the same result, for he
nearly always lost. His last coin having
vanished, he rose to go, remarking Incl
dentally that he had brought no more
money with him.
"' Won't you take glass Of champaign,
sir? said an oily voice at his elbow; and
turning round he beheld sleek, close
shaved, Methodist parson-like individual,
who was rubbing his hands in an appar-
emily nervous manner, and smiling abjectly.
s. Well, | suppose l may as well,' re-
piled Herbert, as he followed the other to
the sideboard
90 We'll be happy to lend you any money
you like, Capting, to 60 OH WITH insinuat-
ed the greasy owner of the oily voice, as
the bottle was being opened; adding, as
the liquor foamed into the tumbler; Your
luck has been dreadful bad, 10 be sure {;
but 1t is safe to turn and with the steady
game you play, you stand an uncommon
good chance of winning. | can tell you,
though | say it who shouldn't, if consult.
ed my own interest,"
" But why dwell on my poor friends
folly. He gulped down the stuff they call
champaign, borrowed ten pounds and re.
turned to the table.
when he left the house some hours
later, he had written cheques for five hun.
dred pounds in favor of the oily one, and
to meet these cheques he told me he did
not possess five hundred farthings
81 was, unfortunately, poor myself, and
could do nothing for him; so, advising him
to go homo and try and get some sleep,
and come to me in the morning to have a
talk about his affairs, we separated; he to
his hut in the North Camp, and to my
quarters.
~ never saw him alive again.
"The following morning when woke,
I saw my servant standing by my bedside.
"'You know Mr.. B., sir, said he.
{ He shot himself dead last night
"' 'Shot himself Impossiblel What on
earth are you talking aboutT 1 exclaimed,
jumping out of bed,
GO It's quite true, sir, his servant is here
"Yes, it was true. Ny poor friend, in
moment of desperation, which, as the jury
truly said, was temporary insanity, had
committed the rash act for which there was
no remedy.
"About fortnight afterwards, heard
at mess the following story which l will
give in the words of the narrator:
"' What about the roulette blackeuardsP
Haven't you heard2 Oh, I'll tell you with
pleasure.
you know Blan's billiard.room, sup.
poser Well, the beggars had established
themselves there, and carried on their little
game on the billiard-tablo, from which
they had removed the cushions. One
night ! strolled in by accident, and found
the room crowded with fellows, some sit
ting on the table itself, and more standing
round it, but nearly all dropping their coin
like smoke. In the middle stood the rou.
lette board, hanked by heaps of gold and
silver; and on each side of these were
cloths, with the numbers and zeros painted
on them in the usual manner. French of
the 9th Lancers was being bled to fright
full extent. He would persist in backing
the red for fvers; so, when tell you the
black passed four.and-twenty times, you