, 1888-06-21
AROUND THE TOWN.

GAMBLING AND THE GOINGS ON GEN
ERALLY.
1t is 0 O'Clock bp standard time.
1t is hard to tell whether it is daylight
or moonlight, or electric light, so com
mingled are the colors from the rising
orb, the western sky and the artificial
streams that glow from pendant lamps
swinging in mid air. Great blocks OF
superb buildings, standing giant.like
in all the glory Of superb architec-
ture, the strains OF martial music from
passing bands, crowds of pedestrians,
brilliantly lighted theatres, the cry ol
itlnerant pedlars, the screams of ar
riving and departing locomotives, the
roar OF the waters over the falls, these
are some of the scenes and sounds
that greet the ears and bewilder the
eyes OF the REVIEW reporter AS he
hight his fragrant Havana
and starts out TO take in
the town. The corridors of the hotels
present an animated scene. Here
and there are groups OF capitalists,
some planning mining deal,
some figuring on railroad pro-
ject, some talking Chicago con-
vention. Out in the billiard room
the click of the ivory balls is never
ceasing, while around the whist tables
were gathered the disciples of Hoyle
and their admirers. Out in the street
and over to the city council chamber.
The lobby is only hall full, the clerk
is spreading out to the gaze OF mem
bers some maps while they gather
ne
some jokingly-about the matter in
hand. Once more on the streets.
What music is that that greets the
ear2 what crowd is that that attracts
the eye? Vexation at the loss of an
incident, on discovering that the tray
elling tooth pedlers are the Richmonds
that occupy the field, gives place to
the demands of nature, and the repor-
ter concludes to hit the lunch coun-
ter lick. Restaurants everywhere!
All full too to overilowing! At the
counter and in the boxes are all sorts
and conditions of mortals. Capital
lists, laborers, politicians, reporters
and loafers. Brains and brown but
ter, buckwheat cakes, coffee and cream
on the side--that is not bad for man
who works for %20 week and glory.
Once more on the sidewalk, and the
crowd is growing thinner. 1t is
eleven o'clock, time for every
man who loves health and happiness
to be in bed. The churches are out,
the theatre is out, but the varieties are
in full blast. In goes the reporter
dead head) takes in the clog and
dance men on the stage, and the boys
and the goddesses in the gallery
smokes two-for-a-quarter, buys five
cents worth of peanuts and departs.
1t is midnight, crowds OF men passing
in and out of various Railways, over
which are brilliantly lighted lamps
induces the reporter to enter one of
these places, to find room crowded
with eager, anxious faces. lhe het-
ting is not heavy, but there is plenty
of it. Faro, roulette, twenty-one, red
and black, stud poker. all arc there in
all their seductive glory wooving the
votaries of chance, and the fools Of
fortune. The reporter takes out his
last four-bit piece, puts it for mo-
ment ION the high card"-it
is gone and gone forever. Seats
nv WV stiu pohcT tNDic
which at 8 o'clock commanded a
premium are now at II o'clock offered
at liberal discount, with no takers.
1t is the old story. Only q question
of time when all hands, players and
dealers ego broke" then go broken
hearted to the grave. Once more in the
moonlight. How fragrant the air,
how cool it feels after the heat and
glare of the gambling saloon. Now
for stroll to the falls. Down by the
river bank watching the majestic flow
of the great flood that never ceases to
flow, watching the spray as it leaps
into the moonlight and dissolves In
air, listening to the roar OF waters that
has gone on for ages and will
go on forever, peopling in fancy
the vast plain upon which our city
stands with the dead warriors and
hunters and fishermen of II race that
lis melting away like snow upon the
hillside when the sun is warm, the re-
porter lolled and dreamed until the
gray OF morning began to crowd him
into life. Once more on the streets.
Now only policeman, or the news
boys going for dailies, or the rumble
of hacks ready to catch the eastbound
train, or the sleepy clerk, or the still
sleepier waiter is to be seen or heard,
save an occasional group after
nights debauch or visit to some
den of vice breaks the solemn and holy
hush of day by song OF laughter, or
loud and boisterous talk as they hur-
ry home. And now to bed.
"Oh blessed rest
a. A..