The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1883-12-28

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bear what the other who bad no
acquaintance with the game would
have to say.
"I cannot. OF course, assert that
any game which calls tor skill and
judgment, and which is generally
tree from tho attendant curse Of
gaming, is in itself an evil,n re.
marked the second gentleman.
Such things are rarely evils, except
in so tar as they excite aud stimu.
late men beyond the bounds of
healthful recreation.'
"That result can hardly follow
such q game as billiards. said the
first speaker.
But the other sh0ok;his head.
"You are wrong there. The re-
suit can follow in two ways. First,
IL ean lead men away from their
business; and second, it can lead
men to spend money who have not
the money to spend. You will IN.
derstand me, wouhl not cry down
the game OF billiards, for If l m.
derstood it should certainly try
you game now, but whenever |
visit place of this kind, l am led
10 reflect upon q most strange and
prominent weakness Of human ma
tnre as developed in our sex. For
instance, observe that young man
just now settling bis score. He
looks like a clerk, aud woald say
from his manner that he feels it his
duty to be home ut this hour, that
he has wife aud children. From
his face l should judge he was both
kind hearted and generous, and
means 10 do as near right AS he c.in.
He has been beaten, and for some
two hours recreation he pays q dol.
lar or two, perhaps u days wages.
You will observe he pays it freely
and pockets the loss with q smile.
Happy faculty. But how do you
suppose it is iu that young mans
homei Suppose his wife had ask.
ed him this morning for u dollar or
two to spend for some triflipg thing,
some household ornament, or a bit
OF jewelry Tor the adornment OF her
person, or suppose bis little child
had asked him for q few dimes to
buy doll or picture book, what
would have been the RESULT OF
fifty men just like him, would not
forty eight of them have decided
positively that they did not have
the money to spare, that the times
were too hard, and business too
dull, and they would have said so
feeling they were telling the truth.
Am not right"
"Upon my soul,n responded the
man who understood billiards, "you
speak to the point. Ab, it is we'll
for such wives and children that
they do not know where all the
money goes.'
The game was finished, and the
two gentlemen moved on, aud En-
gene Elmer arose from his seat aud
left the place. Never before had
he just such thoughts as now pos
sessed him, ho had never dwelt
upon the same grouping of ideas.
That very morning his own true,
faithful and loving wife had been
sad and heartsick, becaue he bad
harshly aml unkindly met her re.
quest for q small sum of money,
and his little Pearl bad crept away
from her playmates with pride
crushed, and almost broken.heart.
ed for the want of % Simple toy such
as they had. And the whole sum
to make her happy was not one quar-.
ter the sum be had that night play.
ed away Oh billiards. Indeed, be
thought l am not able to play bill
lizards all pleasant aud harmless as
Is the game. He wanted to be an
honest husband and father, and the
lesson was not lost upon him. Co.
ing up Dauphin street on his way
home, he stopped at Bromberg's
and purchased the best and pret.
tiest hoop to be found, with a dri-
wing stick painted red, whito and
blue, aud in the morning when he
beheld his child's delight, and re.
ceived her grateful happy kiss, the
question came to his mind which
was the best and happlest result,
this or the five games of billiards.
We are not finding fault with any
one playing billiards, but ask your
self this question:: Now the holi.
days will soon be here, II my money
goes for my individualpleasure will
my family be without anyi Am l
selfish or not in these things, or am
/ able 10 do sol
A few mornings after this as En-
gene arose from the breakfast table
be detected an uneasy wistiul look
OH his wife's face.
"Lillia, what's itf'
"Engene II you could spare me q
few dollars this morning.
'sCertainly, my darling, anything
to make you happy - and out came
the purse aud the money was baud
ell over with q warm and genial
smile.
WHAT tears at that! was 1t pos
sible she was 80 little used to such
scenes on bis part that so simple nm
act Of loving kindness thus affect
ed. How many games Of billiards
wonld be required to give such sat
isfaction as Eugene Elmer carried
with him on that eventful morning
tn bia hueinaaa a vary aintnIn