Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-01-04
Gambling Dens of Mexico.


The gambler, like the night-hawk, usual
ly seeks his prey after dark, and the allure
ments used by the former are as numerous as
the emotions OF the mind and as varied as
the desires OF the human heart. If the good
| and pure in heart desire to look upon rich
landscape paintings, many of which may
recall the scenes of other days on the farm,
with the customs Of his own country, he
will find them here. If he desires to hear
the familiar airs OF Scott's Wo-ha, The Bells
of Shannon, or HGil Columbia, all rendered
By able musicians on wind and stringed in.
struments, or listen to the lullaby songs his
mother sang, he will hea. them here. If he
desires to look upon and breathe the per-
fume of the most beautiful flowers Of the
tropics, he can look upon and inhale their
sweets here TO his hearts coutent. If he
| would like &c enter an ideal grotto as near
a. rustic art can make it, where he will
find goldfish and frogs in sparkling foun-
tains, rustic walks aad ceiling draped in
long gray moss, from among which the dew
drops and violets peep out in all their natur-
al beauty, and where bveeZes always blow,
even when the wind without is still, where
the birds sing ct night and roses bloom in
"
Or If he is 3 stranger, far from tho land of
his own language, and unable to speak to
those around him, ne will find to his great
Joy that his own mother tongue is spoken
here, and the words of which will now seem
swee;er than ell the music. In short,
such are . few allurements that
appesl to the nobler sentiments OF
tbs SOUL and by them many who are pure
q. heart are first drawn from The rule of
right, and begin their downward course iu
| these gilded halls of night AL this is but
toe bright mantle which hides an enemy
vorse than tie seven headed hydra, aud 10
! be Influenced thereby is to follow bright
/ shadows and be- led into dark despair, or to
! be lured on By g bright show without regard
/ 10 results, which follow after taking the
second step in which we behold men aud
women of every class seated around tee
card and roulette tables. They have a seri-
ous cast CT countenance aud rarely speak
while tho game goes on and the money flows
| iato the Golfers Of the keeper Of the place.
AT every turn of the wheel or deal from the
deck one helf ere made to rejoice Of their
gains though received ct the cost Of others;
all the while the novice by turns listens TO
tho rh0 music. looks at tne fine paintings
and watches the game. De observes that
it is an orderly place, there are no pistols By
the money piles sud 10 dagger that he can
| see of being robbed, so he concludes that O
| gan, hing place ia not so bed after ell; and
;.s all has been runde SO pleasant for MIN, no
/ feels duty bound 10 take :. hand in s0o1e
game. so tie is sented ct the table conscious
| be is taking wrong step. GOOD and evil
emotions are Ut war for tho mastery Of the
! 10y. bat all is banished by the first turn of
! thu wheel or dea from the deck which turns
to h;s gain, and the stakes are pushed over
| to MS side OF the table. Now excited with
/ joy aud bouyed up by hope, he Loses 6scre-
ticn, forgets tae warnings of conscience, bis
| mother's parting aGvice. and never thinks of
what the result will be if he loses when he
risks bis months, years, or, perhaps, his
| ife's ssvings Hc only thinks of fortune
to be made without work and how he may
break the monte bank The end will justify
any means, as all their gains are i'll gotten.
But the deluded youth never thinks that it
| is Ear easier to break his own bank than
theirs, and that his gains are only the bait
| that is thrown out to catch the salmon. But
| it's make or break with him, end he puts all
down and breaks. He beholds bis all swept
| to the other side of the table and bears it
rattle into the big drawer. where supplica
tions, cries, threats, curses, or the laws OF
tue lauO eau never IedCu vi UiibB ~ p1Sh'
Half crazed, he rises from the table, lashed
By remorse, with self put questions asking,
why was he deluded; why he had not quit
when he gained why did he not obey the
warnings OF conscience, the advice of friends,
and the promise to his mother, and the sad
thought now comes, what will he do now
/ financial credit ruined, moral strength
broken. prospects blighted. his proud spirit
humbled and hope gone. Thus, stung with
remorse, he staggers out of the room, while
the game goes on in the same quiet, orderly
way as when be entered.
Thus by day, in brilliant and what are
called holy places,
We find this awful curse.
Which dethrones the mind
And feeds on the purse.
Yet tits monster OF such horrid mien,
To be hated needs but to be seen.
But if seen too frequent in this
It's brilliant lurking place,
Too oft We learn to countenance,
And then embrace RAMBLER.
EDvICE TO MOTHERS