The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-09
in the pursuit Of health. As q natural

consequence, the smoking room becomes
the scene Of display of violent pas
sions, foul words, quarrelsome outbreaks
and even unseemly brawls. Nor is this
the worst. Many an emigrant to this
country has been plundered of his little
all by these harpies who are careful to
be in no way distinguishaple from the
respectable majority Of passengers either
in dress or appearance. They have little
fear Of being detected. The number Of
ocean steamships is so great that they
can make their haul on one and immedi-
ately transfer the scene of their depre-
datons to another and another. It
would seem that it is not even necessary
for them to take this trouble, for they
are under no dread of expulsion or ex-
posture, though their presence is known
to every official on board. It is no un-
common thing for young men to be in
weighed into playing and of course losing
to such an extent that they are indebted
to the generosity (?) Of these rogues for
the means Of leaving the quay whore
they are landed. This is bad enough in
all conscience, but if this we're all it
might be argued that the fool must pay
for his own folly, and that the steamship
companies are under no necessity to
play the part of guardians to men
whose own wits and common sense are
not sufficient protection. But it is not
all; the respectable passenger pays his
money for certain returns, among which
is the requisite accommodation for his
comfort during the journey, and that
accommodation, according to the admis-
sion of the steamship companies them
selves, includes smoking room. How
can they be acting up to their contract
when such resort is absolutely barred
to any respectable individual by the vile
language and quarrelsome outbreaks
that are tolerated there? And the com
panies do tolerate them. The practice
has been a glazing nuisance for years
past and no effectual attempt has been
made to crush it out. To put up a
notice, as one line did, to the effect that
gentlemen were requested not to play
for high stakes, was simply to toy with
an owl that demands determination.
Complaints have been made of course
by indignant parents and guardians, and
even by the victims themselves, but 80
far to no purpose, for the evil goes on.
1t cannot be that the nuisance is toler-
ated for the sake of the passage money:
every one who has crossed the Atlantic
knows that on board of any of the
famous liners the demand for accommo
dation at this time of year is always In
excess of the supply. The only possible
reason for the continued liberation Of
such scandalous state Of affairs must
lie in the fact that the gambling habit
implies and encourages the drinking
one, and that the latter is too fruitful ,
source Of revenue to be discarded except
under stronger pressure Of genera
feeling that has yet been applied. 1t il
high time that public opinion should
make itself felt in the matter; if tn
patronage of travellers were entirel.
withdrawn from the companies tina
overlook and ignore the existence Of tn
evil, there would be little fear Of thei
not coming rapidly to their senses an
putting down with the strong hand
state of affairs which is crying nui
sance and disgrace.