The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-25

The Demoralizins Effect 1T Has on the Col
Ored Population of Cities.
Times.

Philadelphia Times.
Policy" said a colored minister of one of the
large downtown colored churches yesterday. lis
doing more to ruin the colored people of this city
than all other evils combined. You can have no
conception of the large number of people who are
looked upon as respectable and laW-abiding that
buy policy. The evil has worked its way even
among church members, and it is bought by
hundreds Of worshipers who appear to think
there is no sin in it. Why, only a few days ago
l visited an Old sisters house, and before leaving
L offered to have prayers, as is usual with me
when visiting the members Of my congregation.
| asked for a hymn book that we might sing,
and she handed me a well worn little volume,
and in turning over the pages l found n policy
slip. Examining the little piece of paper
critically | said: NV dear sister, do you play
policyF She looked confused for q mo-
lnent, and then said: No: but the old man does
You can imagine my surprise when l tell you
that the old man held a very prominent position
III my church: Why, policy-paying is so com
monty carried on by my people that we never
think of bringing that matter before the church
when 1t is learned that a member is INDUCING IN
that species of gambling. | have preached
against this evil time and again, and have
thought Of trying to get all the colored ministers
in the city to come together and organize for a
crusade against it.
Little children are being educated as policy
writers by the hundreds, for they are often sent
to the Offices to buy slips when their parents are
too but y to go. | have found among my Sunday
school scholars little boys and girls who could
talk as learnedly on policy as a professional
writer. The superintendent Of my school was
telling the children the story of the children of
Israel one day not long ago. When he came to
the part OF the story where Pharaoh had plaques
sent upon him and his army, two of the boys had
grown tired, and l could sec that they were bad
boys. When it was told how the river was
turned into blood one of the boys said:
WI en- it was told how the frogs were
to come upon Pharaoh and his children,
and his servants the other boy thought a mo-
ment and said. 4, ., 4 plays for frogs, ana so
on all through the story they talked policy.
They said: 'lG, GO, "a played for the golden calf;
l. =, 8, a, 5 played for feas: 8. 5, 8 for flies; IA,
81, 56, go, y for hail, and >, 1G, % for locusts.
Everything that was mentioned III that story re-
minded them Of policy.
'To see if they were really being schooled in
the sin Of their parents Iasked them to again go
over the numbers for me while | put them down.
They did so without any hesitation, and | have
since learned that these are the numbers that
are played when the things just named are
dreamed of. tell you it is a curse that should
be wiped out. | know men and women who
were once in fair circumstance and were honest.
Through policy they are in want and are the
daily companions Of thieves. When the desire
to play is acquired even the bed is sometimes
sold for a few cents that one more chance may
be played
Policy flourishes best in the slums. 1t is
there it grows and. spreads on the one chance
out OF a million for its dtvotees to get a hit"
An old col0red man who sells fish at Seventh
and Lombard streets, has for years done a pay
ing business III selling points for the policy buy
ers. Uncle Polk used to be the dreamer of
the slums, and whatever he dreamed was sure to
be followed by numbers next day. At least this
is what the players Of that neighborhood be-
lieved. Uncle Polk does not dream a great deal
now. He has grown old and his nights are
wakeful, but his son Joe dreams.
The dreams of Joe have been q source Of reve-
nue. to his father for two years, and dreamland
appears not to be exhausted: Every morning
the boy tells to his father the dream of the past
night. The father consults the fate book aud
finds out what rows will play for the dream, and
when his customers come TO MIN he sells them
points for a smali cash consideration.
Every night. except Saturday night, Joe is
hurried to bed at Z o'clock for the purpose of
dreaming. lie is always given a heavy supper
of catfish and corn cake before he retircs, and
on this diet often dreams some terrible things.