The Hazlehurst signal., 1884-01-24
GAMBLING.

HOW nalnDliilr o'''n 'HIS ~ lillslra-
cd by the recent suicide Of ayoung man
of high social standing who was well
known in the sporting circles of New
York. Tampcring with cards aud the
roulcttc.iablc had aroused in him the
same insane luror which tampcrng with
the bottle arOuscs in the victims Oi
strong drink. We art told that this
wrctclcd young man married; but
"cvcn marriage did not curc him Of
what had become u positive disease.
Little gaming parties In his rooms ut
the hotel, and reckless plunginy at the
public tables soon ran away with all his
winnings. and with the greater part of
his fortune besides. At last, n few
months ago. he found himself ruined.
His former friends fought shy of him:
and in n pitiably depressed frame OF
mind. he said: III go to Philadelphia.
and either make or break myself To
Philadelphia he went, with revolver
in his trunk. lie played nearly the
whole time that he was there. The
record was monotonous. His old luck
had deserted him; and ono night he
went 10 his room ut the hotel and put u
bullet through his braih"
Such is one Of tho latest tragedies
pcrpciratcd under the insane infallia-
iion Of the gaming table. But their
number il legion. Many Of tho mystc.
riouS suicides which fill the records of
the morgucs, or haunt the depths Of the
rivers around our cities, would tell the
same story. Gambling Is prevalent to
degree which sober, quiet people
never dream Of. II is practiccd-Oftcn.
indeed. in small way and for modcr-
ate stakcs-by thousands of young men
in all our cities; practiccd in the pri-
yacy of their rooms ut their lodging
houses, as well ,aS in houses for 'prO-
fcssional' play. Employers little slls-
pcct-alas! fathers ant mothers little
suspcct-what dcvilish mischief II go
ing on under the cover Of secrecy.
Many OF the larccnics committed IN
stores, counting rooms and banks (somc
of which arc ..hushcd up" in order TO
save rcputations) arc committed in or
der to cover up the losses at the card
table. On the other hand, tho illcgiti-
mate winnings at the same tables will
account for the fine cquipagc or snowy
turn.ollts of certain fast men whose
legitimate income is too slender Ia
maintain such extravaganza. Gambling
il n moral pcstilcncc that 'walkcth IN
darkness" and therefore its terrible
prevalence escapes public observation.
II is not decreasing
This pcrilous practice, which so often
becomes fatal To character and To the
soul, begins, just rs drunkenness be-
gins. with playing with fire. Al the
bottom Of the first glass of wine which
the tipplcr tampcrcd with lay m adder.
Underneath tho first dime that IL ever
thrown down in u game Of chance Is
concealed q serpent. When . young
man makes his first bet, or puts up his
first wager on match or race, oI
when no risks his first penny ut u card
table, he puts coal Of fro into his
bosom which is not easily cytinguished
il may kindlc into conllagration
which, in the tremendous language ol
Scripture. "will burn into tho lowest
hell" Tho step that costs Is tho first
step. Gambling for penny Is rs cs-
scntially sin as gambling for thou
sand pounds. No sin is triflc. My
young friend, tho moment that yOul
conscience excuses tho slightest de-
parturc from absolute right rs q ''mcrt
triile," that moment You have let the
enemy slip In his little finger. 1t vii
not bc long before you are In his grasp
When YOU lay down your first stake
even II il is only "in fun," you art
actually gambling. Remember thai
there Is always first inch at the top o
every prccipicc.
am not addressing these "plair
talks" to young men rs an extremist ol
a fanatic. l do not affirm that every
one who ever plays game Of cards Is {
gambler, any moro than every one who
drinks a glass OF wine Is tipplcr. Bu
1t Is equally true that he who nerc'
touches an intoxicant can never become
a drunkard, and he who never plays {
game of hazard can never become 9
gambler. My own personal practice, a
school. college, etc.. was one OF entire
abstinence from cards rs well as from
wine cups; and have never repentet
II either. All games Of chance, wher
played In earnest, have dangerou
fascination. AS Canon Farrar wei
says, "there Is gambling element II
human nature" and we havo got Il
watch against it just as WI
watch against Unborn sensual ap
petites. With the excitement OF {
gamo Of hazard comes tho strong
temptation to risk a stake on the game
Us soon rs the first stake Is laid down
conscience goes with 1t. and litcrall,
the Devil has u hand with You In tn
game. So strong Is the fascination Of thi
spell OF sorcery that have secn-in tn
public "Conversazion.halle" Of Baden