Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-04-15
WHAT IS GAMBLING 2
TCommunieated.l

r,.rs is gambling and gambling; that is,
=, gambling that is innocent in itself,
4 .mbEng that is amenabls, and justly
= ,1nishmeut and prohibition. Where
4 = he line be drawn? To arrive at an
-, to the question the further question
4 !, be asked, what's the spirit and object
n : law agaiuS gaming in sll its forms ?
4 answer is easy aud obvious; it is to pro-
n nsrbers of society from being dupsd
Il ,,55ed by sharPsrs whose business it is
.-sv uoou the unwary and, by holding
islse promises of gain, defraud
H. Of their money. Against
n schemes and devices the
n l.,srv of the law has been
.,e8 and is set in motion from time to
ny courts AID grand juries,
h The indictment and punish
:. a, men whose business and only osten.
means Of livelihood it is to pray upon
-1ssry and lure them to loss, is q
A some and necessary thing. Let the
Il Ess,;sral gamblers, and al who make it
!. occuparion to cheat and swiudle
4 -res OF chance, suffer all the penalties
he law presCribes.
=, there is s class of games at cards
4 while It may be within the letter, is
Il Thin the spirit of the lAw. Four or
a = more gentlemen meet in a private
ID : IN s hotel or elsewhere, and for mere
4 T-e indulge in a game Of cards, it may
a ,s;s,. or euchre, or cribbage, or poker.
;, are not gamblers in any proper sense
4 10 term, Notwithstanding sums OF
Il ..sv hanging from FIVE cents to twenty
,;r,s NAV be wsgered upon the game.
H :. certainly true that these men
>, within the letter of the
and are guilty of misdeneanor, but
4 ,ry sane citizen suppose that the law
4 . rambling was intended to reach
lenses, if indeed they may be called
\ .,:.s 5, sll2 Certainly not. The law is
A ) % protect the well being Of society
4 ,lsrs is no well informed man outside
\ j.. school and classification of the
i /, who does not know that no harm
= 10 society from such amusement as
Il zen mentioned.
suppose o grand Jury dominated by
-. should resolve TO Indict every per-
4 +, he community who has ever in the
4 .ap Of his own room and family
4 ! game Of cards for any stake, as
4 ..auce who should bring bucket o
4 4gn the cellar, or who should kindls
in the morning, or who should pay
4 b cigars or the beer, is it not easy to
,7e that the regular and pro-
\ %, gambler, the keeper
tiger den, the man
trade Ills to impose upon the cred
4 q. strangers and rob them of their
.er IS thus placed upon par with gen.
-,n and citizens Of good repute who
+, gsmblsd, in the proper sense Of the
+ n all their lives and who scorn and
:, gambling as much as the yerlest
1 -,sn in the community Instead Of
sr. a deserved stigma upon the busi-
[ ss Of gambling, the wholesale indictment
rs /, respectable by drawing into the
\ ..liIe5s Of prominent and respectable
d who never bearded the tiger
lis den, nor wagered FIVE cents
throw of the dice. And
/ her thought occurs in this
E,sctiO1. 1t is the purpose Of law to re-
ss.a and reform the men whose conduct is
-.csl TO The general good. Suppose that
,..1g man who Is by no means a con
I'd or habitual gambler, but who has
/ /, once enticed into the grotto where
ta,sOh iwells," is indicted for gambling
bis name paraded in the newspapers IN
a-e lis, and on 8 par with the names
10 professional and hardened
rs what effect will such publication
cpcn The life Of such young man?
T. 70, have an influence incommen-
, BE- With his fault ana cast upon him q
g-a which il will take a whole life time
yire ont. and so lead him to accept the
lM5ca,ion and consent TO the belief that
a1 never rise above it2 These are ser
questions and ought to have some
"a, 10 the minds Of men, who By their
60 nav control the lives and reputation
|-s1v citizens of the State.