Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-06-07
GAMBLING IN THH PARLoR.

"While am writing, the children,
'ith two or three of their young folks
re at play in the parlor. The word
play does rot mean what it did when
was in my teens, Is my children arc
low. Now will undertake. TO say, that
he plays Of my younger days were more
innocent and less dangerous than those
now enjoyed by young people. / was
brought up to regard the ;gamc Of cards
with decided aversion, a. always assccia-
ted more or less intimately with gam
bling. II every one playing cards was
not actually gambling, it was supposed to
lead to it, and if boys and girls became
fond of the game, there was every reason
to fear that they would fall into that vice
by and by. But it is now common to
see card playing among the amuscments
of the evening in the best families At
summer hotels all sorts of people, which
must include good people, play cards all
day long, especially when the weather
keeps them in the house. l observe that
they play for small sums of money, SO
very small as not to make it unpleasant
to lose, and not large enough to cause
any great anxiety to win. The young
p oplo in the parlor at home, or in little
circles in one another's houses, are in the
habit OF playing for tavors, ::triding arti-
lies which they freely give and take in
other social rastimcs. My children and
their young friends are playing for favop
now while ! am writing; am very anx-
ious about it; they have grown so much
wiser than their parents, that they are
sure that there is no harm in it. They
t II me that the children of minister's
play in the same way; and what | say
seems to be Of no use. Do you think it
is right? Win it be too much to ask
y ~ to give your opinion in one of your
letters?"
In answer to this letter DR.. Prime
published the following opinion. II is
well worthy Of the prayerful attention
of parents and young people in these
times:
at is wrong to play cards or any other
game, for any stake, prize, money, goods,
or anything of value, however small. Ii
is not the amount lost or Won in ply
that makes the game right or wrong
Only very s.na min led perseA would
think Of playing for sixpence, and wrong
for shilling. The difference is not in
the stakes; the only question is the
right or wrong of playing for stak Is at
any time.
"A clergyman riding in the country
saw a packet lying in the road, and upon
dismounting picked up pack of cards.
He was putting them in his pocket to
take them home and amuse the children,
when he said to himself, if | were to be
thrown of aud killed, and this pack Of
cards found in my pocket, it would not
nd well in the newspapers. He threw
them over the fence an rode on"
"As | was brought up with the idea
that playing cards is in itself wrong, l
have never looked up the game with any
favor whatever. | have all along in life
noticed that it is in the line that gambiine
takes from the first game where the play
er seeks to win cent or favor, or a
shilling, up to the game or down to the
game, where q fortune Is the stake TO be
lost or won. Up in the country
the boys used Ito play cards in
the barn, hiding away from the parent
who would forbid and punish them il
they wcre found out AMI | know tLa'
such habits Of secret gambling were th,
beginnings Of evil courses that had sac
endings. IF we could trace THOUSAND
instances Of wrong doing by clerks, bank
tellcrs and cashiers, treasurers, speeulator
and others, We would find that in MIN
cases cut Of ten, perhaps nineteen out o
twenty, the first step was a game of card
for mere trife. 1t may be total nlisa,
prohension N my part, bu, / think card
have wrought more evil in the world tha
any other device of the evil one to temp
men 70 their ruin. All games Of ehanc
have the dangerous c mcnt Of gauhlin
in their nature, and should be avoided
while games Of skill if played for III
sake of winning anything are also wrong
1t is hard to make young people see tli
distinction clearly, but it is real and import
ant. To take from another his rropcTt
against his will and without rendering a
equivalent, violates the eighth and tent
commandments The gamblers occup
tion is comnosed of coyetouSpass and rnl