National Republican., 1877-02-05
Gambling in Hotels.

Tie Hotel World points out the evils and
abuses Of the American hotel system in the pre-
yalence of poker.rooms and gambling -dens In the
hotels. It thinks few men will attempt to Justify
the countenance given to these practices except
upon the plea that their customers demand II,
and that they must cater to their demands and
desires whatever they may be, and to refuse them
is to lose their patronage. This, of course, is
more plausible than Just, and is very weak de-
fense Of a bad practice, and we are glad that q
representative organ Of the hotels has the courage
to take the stand It does againsta practice that
ought not to be countenaneed by any respectable
The Inn, for centuries. has been n sort OF sub
stitute for homo. The more homelike IL can be
made, SO far as comiS't and security are con.
community. But no family cares to send out any
Gifts numbers, especially It's young men, to en-
counter the perils and seductiveness OF tho gam
bler's profession. II such dens are kept In the
background and made less accessible the num-
bers enticed into them will be less-although
other hand, they are made an adjunct OF every
hotel tin the land, they multiply teniold
the temptations Of young %en who ss CONNER:
The Hotel World, in discussing this subject, is
subject we are aware Of the fact that We may be
striking some Of our own patrons hard blows, but
u these gentlemen do not know their respons.
our own responsibility 10 tho travelling public, to
warn them against the seductions Of the poker.
room, which is, In many instances, established
and maintained by the landlord, ostensibly for
the amusement Of the guest, but in reality to rob
experience is that the banker holds full hand,
and tho young hedgling goes out with empty
pockets to borrow money to take him to the next
Town or pay his bill In the Office" In illustration
own experience, which will repay perusal;
"On one occasion, recently, during short trip
from home, we were obliged to walt until late In
the night for a train and, not wishing to retire,
spent the great portion Of the night In the otfcs
and readiDg.room Of leading country hotel;
having read everything at our command, we were
attracted by voices and hllarity In rooms djoln-
ing the biliard-room, and noticed several passing
out and in. Attracted by the voices we entered
and found q door opening through an apparently
within not apparent from the outside. Tho room
was elegantly carpetcd and fitted, warm and
cory. AT q table sat the barkeeper Of the house
as banker with his box Of chips, and playing with
i've years, and another not out Of his teens.
"A few moments gave US the entire drift Of the
game. The chips passed out Of the bankers
hands TO Immediately return, and soon the
younger, perhaps In this his first experience, wa:
borrowing from others In the vain attempt to re
game. During all this time tho banker wal
coolly raking In the pot" as matter OF bust
ness, for which he was placed there and paid O
salary.
know the condition Of loneliness and oheerlcssne,
into which the traveller Is likely to fall, and how
the plea OF little amusement, little recreation
to drive away the monotony OF such homeless
life, comes with more than q woman's wiles Z
take the proper stand upon these subjects, tn,
opportunity would not occur, and many q man b,
saved from loss and possibly utter ruin"