The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-02-10
a PROMINENT SPORTING MAN
Delivers a Few Philosophical Observa-
lions on Gambling and Its Devotees-


lions on Gambling and Its Devotees
New York World
Said a prominent sporting man stand
inc in the door of well-known saloon on
Broadway: "From early boyhood was
much interested in and generally success
full in all games of chance, 50 that the
gambling spirit was to certain extent
born in me- believe card playing and
all games of chance come to me intui-
lively. / seem to understand anything
instinctively. My home teachings were
good and all right. and have no one 20
blame but myself for drifting away from
the paths of my forefathers and rushing
headlong in the snare a wicked fatality
had set for me- AS in Wall street, those
who resort to the gaming table generally
win at first, and elated by their cursed
luck and misled by senseless belief in
their good luck, they seldom get out OF
the invisible mesh that epcircles them any
oftener than the legendary moth es
capes from the traditional candle.
"As Billy Deutshe said the other day in
one of his interviews in the paper
money won at the gaming table never
stays by you; it is bound to go the same
Wav it came. How are the prominent
gamblers of five years ago fixed today
It is true nearly all of them went out of
the business and took hand in the game
in Wall street; but nearly all of them are
broke now, along with the rest of the
brokers. Right here let me say that faro
and roulette are fair games compared with
the deal they give you in Wall street. If
you play against a brace you know
what to expect; but in Wall street you
don't know who is dealing and only find
the brace when you lose. which is every
turn when the stakes amount to anything
YOu see, New GOrk, is crowded with
strangers Now the gentle stranger is
our game Patrons of gaming houses
come from the floating population.
Residents seldom frequent gaming houses.
excepting on rare occasions for the
supper, because they can't afford to be
place Now the stranger does not care
about this, arguing that no one knows
him. Gen. Grant once made a very true
remark in my hearing which l often
think Of He said that those living in
New ork had nowhere else to go to in
this country; whereas those living else
where had the visit to New \ ork always
in anticipation. He further said that in this
city in the course of the year one will see
all the distinguished people of the
country, as everybody sooner or later
comes to New \ ork. The truth of this
remark impressed me and l have never
forgotten IT.
Thousands come into New York every
day from all parts of the world. They
have money or they would not travel,
and on the theory that they may never
get here again they spend freely in enjoy
ing themselves. Gambers-by which !
mean the proprietor of the game as well
as the dealer and the capper. and in the
mutations of this mundane spere you
never know how soon they will change
places-naturally become hardened in the
course of time and Indifferent to the
qualms of conscience, and come to re
gard their fellowma as natural prey. 1t
is often, however, only stern necessity
that keeps them up.