Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-01-18

mountain and sable night claims the
earth her own, labor ceases and busy
trade relaxes her cares until another
day. The air OF business that per-
vades the streets abates, and the la
borer seeks a remission from his daily
toll. The time intervening between
the cessation of work and the hour OF
retiring is devoted to recreation, and
each n seeks the phantom pleasure
according to bis W peculiar bent.
The fortunate few who have happy
homes and bright firesides gather their
little ones around them and listen to
their innocent prattle, for get the cares
of life or acquire renewed courage for
the future toll. Unfortunately for the
bulk of our population, there exists
in memories of happy boyhood homes,
or anticipations of "A vague future, in
which realm they build castles in the
air and people them with domestic
joys to come, that will recompense
them for their present forlorn con-
dition.
Generally speaking, there is no home
for the bachelor except the cheerless
room in a lodging house, where high
prices are the rule and homelike accom-
mediation the exception. There they
stay, dependent on the sufference of
the landlady, who looks upon her Gus
TONERS AS merely created to occupy
the rooms and pay their rent, and the
one who is the least trouble stands the
highest in her favor. Surely there is
nothing attractive about the best of
them To entice a man to spend his leis-
ure hours i'm them. a single bedstead,
with a washstand and a common
chair is the usual complement of fur
niture, and the only comfort to be ex-
tracted is a hasty plunge under the
bed clothes, seeking the oblivion of
sleep with all possible dispatch. Man
is a gregarious animal, given to coc1-
panionship and seeking it where east
est obtained. In cities there are amuse-
ments of various kinds, thcaters, read
ing-rooms, libraries, even a walk on
the streets with it's bright show-win-
dows, and varying panorama of faces
is a recreation, and furnishes "A relaxa-
liJIi NUN tllf % vi ifiG. II 81 III
ing town none of these obtain. An oc-
casional strolling troupe OF play ers or
"A bali are momentous Incidents break
ing in on the monotony for the time
being: but their time Is brief and the
town soon relap,es into it. normal dull
condition, leaving nc resourc but the
saloons, which, with their bright
lights, cheerful fires. cosy rooms and
attractive games.draw the crowds from
the streets as soon as night falls.
An observer will find food for
thought in watching the crowds and
their different occupations, on these
cold winter nights the landlord keeps
the stove al n red heat. Comfortably
ensconced in arm chairs, with feet ele-
waited ON the ratings that guard the
stove from too familiar approach, a
choice circle discuss the affairs of the
nation, gravely argue on the critical
condition of affairs in Louisiana, and
dispute oyer the merits of the last bar
room rencounter. An occasional inter
view with the barkeeper, at the en-
pense of some generous member of
the ring, pleasantly varies the time,
until the warning hand of the clock
forces the necessity of retiring on the
reluctant loungers. To Others this Is
too tame, aud they seek the excite
ment OF the card table as an indispen-
sable means of filling up their leisure
time. A game of pedro for a trifiing
stake aud an incidental round OF
drinks furnish IA mild entertainment
for the participants, and at the same
time is a pleasure TO the lockers on,
who take a great interest in the game,
r%ewarding a well-pl.yed hand with
their unqualified appreciation, and
grunting out their disapproval OF the
blunders of some unskillful player.
The refined get up quiet games of bill
lizards, and the ivories chase each other
merrily over the green cloth, propelled
by adopts at the art, to the qualification
of another set of idlerS who occupy
the chairs placed at the side OF the
room for their especial benefit. Tie
faro table draws its crowd. II, to use
the slang of the professionals, a club
hing game is in progress, very little IN
terest is manifested, but If some reck-
less player is "setting them in" the
table is crowded with spectators three
and four rows deep, and they look
over each Others shoulders, craning
their necks to catch a glimpse of the
cards, and watching with bated breath
and eager ewes the fluctuation of for
tune i'm favor of the bank or player.
In the keno room the devotees of the
blind goddess cheaply try their for
tune, and the reward is proporIionate
To their luck. 1t is a novel scene, and
one can study humanity in all its
phases. The eager look OF the en-
tranced player who has a chance on
his card and listens for the call of that
one number that makes the pot his
own; the vexation OF another who has
a bad card: the disappointment OF All
but the lucky man when keno" IS
finally called; the rush OF h impe,
cunious to the winner, in the nope hat
his success will induce him to stake
them to- a quarter; the listlessness o.
the habitue who plays a card Tor fun
and invariably makes keno when ne
has not paid for il; all these incidents
are part of the game and worthy OF q
passing glance. From across the street
the sounds of music float out OF the
air and entice the callow youth ano
amorous teamster to the allurements
of the hurdy-house. Here the lui
grows fast and furious. Catching ms
partner-a painted siren-ln firm EN-
brace, he whirls away in voluptuous
waltz, or in the mazes of a cotillIon
relieves his overcharged feelings byai