, 1889-06-19

bouest and decent people. IF they break
the law they can be punished, and must
be punished, and the law distinctly fOrbidS
keeping and using a common gaming.
house or hell. 1t does this, however, in
the interest of the pigeons whom they
pluck, and of morality generally. If
hawks would prey on hawks, if these
worthless and crapulous members of
society would only ruin and abolish each
other, it might be possible to put up
for some time longer with such an in.
S@titution as the Adelphi Club in Maiden
lane.
Where, however, the great evil is done by
men like the prOprletOrS the of Field Club
al evil that can never be repaired, and
which is felt long and mOurnfully in many
homes and families-iS in the case of young
men, not over. strong by nature, but with
no doubt, excellent qualities, who have
Just Joined the Army or Navy, or the learn.
ed professions, and who have only at com.
mand limited incomes. The sort of young
gentlemen about town whom we. have in
mind may possess twelve or fifteen hun
dred ii year, being the son, perhaps, of
some country squire or professional MAI of
limited means, having it may be, a few
thousands a year, and with a family to
bring up. Such young men are tempted
into these bells, and find after a few hours
play on a saturday night that a whole
YEARS. income is gone, and that though
they may have for the moment to borrow
the money, they are ultimately in debt to
the extent of two or three thousand pounds
These sums must be promptly paid, or
their good name and that of their family is
lost. The father or mother has to come to
the rescue, and in order to meet the de.
mands the household will be compelled to
pinch for years; perhaps even the position
and advancement of the other members Of
the family may permanently suffer. 1t
matters not, however everything has to
give away to this one debt, ironically
styled ga dept of hOnOur,". which ::never
could have arisen but for an impudent de.
fance of the law on the part IF those who
trade upon such folly. 1t is the duty of
the Home Secretary to search out and
put an end to these schemes for de-
tying the law-SchemeS worked cOldly and
cleverlY by men who pander to the week
neSSeS and vice OF young men, acquiring
therefrOm great profit to themselves and
and very often procuring absolute ruin
to their victims. 1t may be asked, per.
chance. why high play at q vulgar club
like that in Maiden-lane, or i'll q fashion.
able haunt like the one in Park place,
should be condemned, while nothing ia
said on the score of morality or decorum
about the heavy stakes frequently made in
respectable clubs. The difference, how.
ever, between a professional hell aud
a WeSt-end club where whist for high
points prevails, is that the members of
The latter, it they choose to play fOrseri.
Gus sums, do it, as it were in the light Of
day that the clab is under the control of
a committee of distinguished ana respOn.
Sible men that the members are known
to one another: and that no self respect
ing gentleman among them would sit down
to play with an antagonist who he believes
would not be able to pay his losses, should
he lose, without much regret or incOnveni.
ence. On the other hand, the design of
professional gambling clubs is to duce
the unwary, to fleece lambs with very little
wool, and to gather together men of differ.
emit means and positions, some as victims
and some AZ piunderers. at the green
table-men not known to each other, nor
even tempo arily linked except by the
common danger Of defying, the law and
the common passion for unhOly and For.
tuitous profit. The distinction is obvious:
ly fundamental and, while all high play
must be condemned rs bad in origin and
demoralising, it is clearly very different
when wealthy members OF an open club
chose so to spend their time and super
fuous incomes, from the scene where
fashionable sharpers arrangea sham club
70 plnoE thn foathorc Of whut ora farrnd%