The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-18
ONLY AN EMPTY PRETENSE
YOUTH MAY CONTINUE TO PLUNGE
ON THE RACES. JUST THE SAME.
An Evil That Abolition OF the Poolrooms
Only Can Dispose OLA Pawnbrok-
er's Story OF How That Fraternity
Shares in the Fruits Of the Business.

Inc protest oil 1HE APPEAL against
longer permitting the poolrooms to drag
down to ruin and disgrace the youth Of the
city, has resulted in an official movement
to test the legality Of the claim under
which the gambling is carried on.
Another result was the barring Of beard
less boys from the poolrooms, and the
stationing Of police officers at the respect
i've doors TO see that only matured insan-
ity indulge in plung!ng.
1t is not yet decided when these test
cases will come up for tril. 1t may never
take place. Like the other species OF
ga milling carried on in Memphis itaflords
handsome revenue TO city, county and
State, the only chance TO get it back being
through the possibility OF another Salt
marsh. The process OF blighting fair
flames and fortunes goes on with unceasing
regularity. There are ways and ways OF
killing an animal without severing its
head from its shoulders. There are many
ways OF catching a sucker without har-
pooning him. Apparently youngsters are
kept out OF the poolrooms, but so
long as poolrooms exist within hail
ing distance, just SO long will the
expelled class find way TO obtain
representation in the business. Horse
racing is fine art the kids understand as
well as the elder heads. They can plunge
| from tho outside as well as when on the
inside. Odds are easily obtained, so is an
agent to place the lucre. II isn't the click
| OF the telegraph instrument, detailing how
the horses get around the track at some
distant point, winner, place, animal, etc.,
which catches old and young, but the
prospect OF placing the money where it
will do the most good. With this view OF
the case, and the facts contemplated, the
work OF devastation, financially and
morally, among the beardless boys is not
checked in the least by the pretense Of
police regulation. II will only stop with
the abolition OF the poolrooms.
II is not only in Memphis, and by THE
APPEAL, that the protest against pool
rooms has been and is being made. II
follows almost without exception wherever
the blighting agencies spring up. The
reason is well stated by st. Louis pawn
broker, drawn out on the subject by a
Republic reporter
"Derby week is always the busiest OF
our year." said the man OF the golden balls,
"and il never comes without bringing To
mo a reminder OF man who, only few
years ago, was a prosperous contractor in
81. Lonis with an income OF say -, 1000 or
$4,000, and fine prospect Of future for
tune. lie fell into gambling on races. He
was not rich in this worlds goods, and you
may say he had nothing TO lose but his
business, and he has lost that eilectually.
lie could not take a contract now because
he can neither buy material nor employ
labor, and, II that were possible, he could
not give bond for performance. In spite
OF all this, however, he remains the victim
of the gambling habit, and every return-
ing season brings him here 10 pledge
some trinket or article OF furniture on
which to raise money 10 bet on the races.
lie is only one OF anumerous class, but he
is tho mostsiriking representative Of 1t who
has come within my observation. II is
my opinion that he is incurable."
''Oh, they will pawn anything that we
are willing to take" continued the pawn
broker in reply TO the reportorial question.
"You must not look for sentiment In a
pawnshop, for il never gets here. The
people who suffer the pangs OF hunger
sooner than part with family treasure or
a memento OF old associations don't part
with them, and consequently We know
nothing Of them, for those who are capable
, OF such a sacrifice are those who will never
tell Of IT, Your genuinelrace horse sport,
though, will part with anything he has,
not, perhaps, because he has less OF hu,
man feeling than other people, but be-
cause he newer takes into consideration
the chances OF losing IL In that respect
the gambling OF the racetrack is the mos
dangerous OF all gambling because those
who indulge IL, or a great many Of them nj
least, lose sight OF the elements Of chance
which operate either for or against the
player. Men arc more cautious with tn,
cards than with horses for they realizl
that the element OF chance il the FREEDOM.
mating influence In deciding the fortunes
. OF the game. In race they either imag
inc that they are better acquainted with
the records Of the runners or their riders
, or they have better knowledge OF thu
track, or have some inside information,
. the possession OF which is 10 make then
! sure winners. / blioye that the Zip" o
the race-track has made more linancia
wrecks In ST. Louis than the worst bfac,
= game OF faro that was ever played here
y Ii IA only this week that man partot
4 company here with a watch which wa
u the gilt OF his mother, 10 raise money 70
. betting on q mud horse. lie knew tn
condition Of the track and the record 0
the horse, but Il turned out that there wa
' another horse there that was muddier thai
" his. lie will redeem Il, think, bccaus,
"A lao Is n now beginner in the business. Til
h il his first season. can always tell ney
4. hand. They part with their offerings will
= more reluctance than the old ones do. Thl
n racer OF several seasons always feels tina
h he has sure thing There Is no doub
r whatever OF winning with him. lie hand
c over his property with the air OF q ma
who Is renting H. and taking your none.
for the use OF H.
'The men largely outnumbcr the wome
10 In the ranks Of the inycterate horse gam
10 blers," said the broker, replying TO a que.
n ton as 20 sex and morals. although Their
:. has been great increase In the number {
I women gamblers the last two or three SCI
:, sons Most Of the customers OF the pawn
70 shop are not exemplars Of the morals {
others Of their sex who have caught III
fancy. As TO the men, they have all th
vices Of would.bo sports, but, rs TO th
actual crime, most Of them have had a
In carly training which withholds them iroI
H. Tho detective police, however, kec
an eye on them when thoy are known
be down, particularly during the seaso
when betting runs high, and every ma
who has Il will risk everything TO get
the pool. know this from the inquiri'
made nj such times rs 10 whether one
a number OF well-known sports have bee
borrowing money, and II 40, what on. III
officers are right In supposing that men