The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1876-11-22
MISCELLANY.
Il WESTERN BABYLON.
SKETCH OF WESTERN cfTY-rHE wIcKEDEsT
CITY OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE.


The sensations of a stranger on entering
Virginia City, writes correspondent, are
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
suck other place in the universe. This may
be said, on the whole, to be fortunate fer
humanity; for--excepting Chicago--this is
the wickedest place in the world. There is
no Sunday, although there are church editices;
there is little religion, though several preach
ers. The streets, night and day, ara surg
ing mass of human forms. The men are the
largest, finest looking, best dressed and in
telligent that | have ever seen. They come
from almost every quarter of the habtable
globe, though, of course, in limited numbers
from each section.
They are, as a rule, generous and lavish in
the expenditure of money. They seem to
have no conception of the real value and
legitimate blessing of wealth. They live for
the day only, and literally take no thought
for the morrow consequently it not unfre-
quently happens that man who is flush to-
day will be found ponniless Tomorrow But
he will not remain so long, especially if he
has any acquaintance, for no will soon ''raise
stake either by the assistance of friends
or at the gaming table, or with light and
joyous heart will join the reckless throng that
sweep the streets. IL is at night that Virginia
appears in her most dazzling aspect. Tie
thoroughfares are then even more densely
packed than during the day. c. street, the
main avenue of traffic, is then in blaze tf
glory. Brilliant chandeliers illuminate the
innumerable saloons, billiard halls, gaming
houses, restaurants 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 especially the appoint
ments are superb. Costly mirrors elegantly
furniturei velvety carpets, render the place
iuxuriant, while upon the tables--a vertiable
feast for the eyes-may be seen stacks Of gold
and silver, on faro table of one of the
saloons, a few evenings since, l saw at least
peck of gold twenties piled up symmerticaly,
and the dealer was thus prepared to " size
the pile " of any adventure into the Jungle
whore the tiger reigns. There are always
Of the Royal Bengal AS many as can find
room at the table stake their money others
patiently wait their turn.
Many are there, however, for curiosty's
sake, or because they find comfortable
lounging place. The reader must not inn
agine that the way of the faro-table here is
up dark and winding staircase into a dismal
back room guarded by vigilant "bouncers,"
whose business is to keep out suspicious /"
characters H.. g. hy-cops) Oh, no. In this
State everybody CANDLES. Not all of them
at faro, in stocks, which is just as unsatisfac-
tory and uncertain. Gambling is not only
tolerated by society but protected and au-
thorized by law. For example, in regard to
faro, it is provided by legislative enactment
that proprietors shall pay a uniform tax of
$500 per quarter to the State. Then the mu-
inequalities, of course, come in for liberal
share of the gamblers spoils, in the shape of
local taxes.
Thus each faro table is compelled to pay
1000 and $4,000 per annum for goyernmen-
tai expenses How they must bleed their
customers to make ends meet can be imagined
by the citizen. Gambling in stock is as init
mated above, the universal evil. It's nature is
we'll understood in the East as well as in the
West. Stock speculation here is practically
the same as it is in New York There is an
essential difference, however, in the chamber
of the operators. Capitalists and brokers
deal mostly in Eastern stocks, while her
facilities are provided and every encourage.
ment given to persons of small means to in
vest their savings in mining stocks The
modus operaadi whereby the big fishes swal-
low the small ones is pretty generally known.
Yet people do not learn from experience, and
the consequence is that they are continually
being squeezed and are kept poor perpetually