Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-03-26
GEO. H. BLAKE, Publisher.


pie see cards in the possession of a
youth, they look upon him with more
or less of suspicion.
Several years ago I had charge of
one branch of the business of large
wholesale house in New York. [ had
for my assistant young man who
was admitted by all to be the most
efficient young clerk in the establish
ment. He was living with his wild
owed mother, and had been morally
and religiously trained. In that line
of business there were several months
in the year which were called the dull
season, and during that period there
were very little to do on the part of
the junior clerks, so they resorted to
all sorts of amusements to pass away
time. Games were prohibited by the
firm; nevertheless they were accus-
toned to conceal themselves in out
of the-way portions of the store and
play cards. I one day found a party
of them playing ''faro' with cards,
and among their number was my as
sistant. | was surprised, but as
there was little work to be done could
not prevent him. / tried to dissuade
him from such amusements, but fail
ed. The appetite for gambling soon
became fixed upon him, and from be-
ing one of the most promising and
efficient young men, he gradually be-
came careless and dissipated, and
few months ago / met him on the
street, out of employment, and his
appearance showed him to be drunk
ard. He wanted to borrow money of
me, and claimed to be in want. If
he had kept himself from cards, and
the associations that they led him to,
he would have ranked as first-class
business man. Fortunately he never
married, and his mother being now
dead, the disgrace only falls on his
sisters.
In this age of speculation and haste
to become rich it is very important
that young men acquire right views
of what are and what are not helps to
real and permanent success in life
The chances are only about one in a
hundred that success in making and
retaining money is the result of gamb-
ling in stocks OF futures in wheat.
cotton, etc., and games of chance are
generally the beginning of a passion
for acquiring wealth at the cost OF
some one else, or, rather, getting
money without the giving of proper
equivalent.
l know of some protesting Chris
tains who play cards, but I never
knew of any "card-playing'' or ''danc-
ing" Christians who were very credi-
table to the Church of Christ.
Card-pIaying is no help either NOR
ally or financially to any young per-
son, but it certainly is an appearance
of evil in the minds of most Chris
tains, and many business men. So,
as it is only pastime at the best,
advise all young people to select sucl
games as have undoubtedly harmless
associations, such as chess, checkers
etc.
1t may not be in itself positively
a0rOng for me to play cards, but
neither would it be wrong in me as s
Sunday-schools superintendent on com,
ing out of Sunday-school next Sab.
bath to 90 into the liquor saloon OF
the opposite corner from the cburcl
and drink glass of water. | may
be thirsty, but have no business tC
let my scholars see me put myself
under obligation to rumseller, no
to mingle for one moment with Sab
bath breakers in a saloon. So, if
want amusement, / have no business
to seek it in channels principally oc
cupied by gamblers, fortune-tellers
etc.
If we desire to be trusted, honore(
and respected we must never be founC
engaged in any questionable amuse
ment or occupation.-A ChristidI
Merchant.