Daily Republican., 1882-10-04
Tho Onrsa Of Gambling

What the Rev. T. DE Witt Talmage
knows about gambling was fully and
freely told to congregation which
crowded the Brooklyn Tabernacle
on Sunday morning. The preacher was
In his happiest mood. His countenance
never writhed 70 better advantage, his
voice never piped in tslriIler keys, his
body, wrapped in broadelotb, was never
more elastic, nor his legs more inspir-
ingly nervous. New blaCk-rimmed
spectacles adorned the modest ministe-
rial nose. He rushed directly to the
fray. The gambling evil In our times,
he said, has taken on imperial airs. IL
has attacked and outraged the people,
and is sending thousands of victims to
financial and moral ruin.
The time has come to put 1t down, and
down 1t has got to go. The one absorb
ing question of to-day Is the question of
this monsters destruction and how to
insure it. The gamblers vile establish
ments are raised all around US, and the
proprietors are insolent. They dictate
to politicians and vaunt their power.
Men trim to please them and profit
themselves. In Long Island City the
Coroner provides one gambling shop
with accommodations. That Coroner
has an eye to business. II walked
along the streets OF Cincinnati one day
last week, ;" said MIR. Talmage, "and the
sounds of rattling dice rang loudly
out from the saloons. / stopped in a
country village, and in front of the lit
tie hotel gambling was publicly car
ried on. Che evil is everywhere. Il
boasts of its strength. An iron hook
has got to be plunged into its nose.
Christianity has got to prove that it Is
stronger than crime. For every man,
woman and child in this congregation
the fight involves three words earth,
heaven, and hell. The preacher
dwelt long upon the extent of gamb-
ling and its grasp upon the public, AMI
with his graphic rhetoric told all about
sumptuous saloons with their rosewood
roulette tables, gaudy paintings, liveried
servants, free drinks, free lunches,
marked cards and loaded dice. He
also described the pretty vernacular OF
the pool room and policy shop, though
again and again he intimated, as he
winked his left eye toward the cushion
cd seats Of the Tabernacle, that there
were scores of his hearers who needed
no Instructions. Betting on three num-
bers, he said, was a "gig," and betting
oR four numbers a "horse." "You
know all about it," calculated the
preacher, as he swept his glass over the
congregation, "and there are men with
in the sound of my voice who on that
gig and behind that horse are riding
swift to perdition." He told how mony
was made by betting on the ace, and
related pathetic stories OF young men
among his acquaintauces who had mis-
sed the ace and lost. Mr. Talmagt
seemed to have no respect for people
who played cards and could not win
i He remem bered his friends of theStoCh
Exchange, and more earnest warming
against the sinful customs of Wal
street never fell from the lips Of Deacon
Russell Sage MIR. Talmage explalnec
that the region round about the Stool
Exchange was filled with vile gambling
saloons. 'The broker who gets up I
corner on stock and so forces dowI
prices" exclaimed the eru0lte divine
"must have other amusements and eX'
elements when the bedlamit!sh gold
room closes its business for the day.
Mr.. Tamage concluded his diScouTs
by arraigniug gift enterprises Of ever!
sort, and unhesitatingly averred tina
he had no respect for charity Whlol
thus lurked behind the vice of gam
bling.