The sun., 1891-06-15
A Gambling Era.

Betwocn fifty and sixty years ago tho
religious people o; this country were greatly
agitated over the question Of gambling. An
association was formed at Philadelphia for
the suppression cf lotteries, which at thnt
time and before were numerous and we're
used to rnise money for the purposes Of
religion and charity. public improvements,
and various beneficial enterprises. An AS
sault on gambling practices generally fol-
lowed. and tho gambler was assailed with
tho utmost violence by tho rcvivalists and
other preachers Of the day.
The result was the suppression OF iotter-
les by the law OF nearly all the States. and
tho formal dcnuncation Of oil gambling by
the churches. SO strong was the sentiment
against betting In NIL its forms as inherent
ly vicious ami disgraceful. that attendance
upon horse races fell lcto disrcpute among
good people. Cards were driven from pious
households Us implements of the devil.
and every man who cambled was
looked upon US a reprobate. Tales
depicting the terrible fato OF gamblers and
the ruin their wickedness brought TO families
were published and circulated widely.
Gambling was treated rs in itself SIM and
III the books OF discipline OF nearly all the
Protestant denominations 1t Is made
ground for exclusion from the communions.
At the last General Assembly Of the Presby-
terians the overshadowing importance Of
the revision question and the case Of DR..
BRIGGS did not prevent the discussion OF the
wickedness of gambling as sin and vice
against which the Church must especially
array ITSELF
Yet, during the last generation gambling
has extended rapidly among the people. and
more especially with the growth of the
enthusiasm for outdoor sports. Horse
racing remains under the social stigma no
longer. The raco tracks are crowded with
people OF all conditions OF life. men and
women. including those Of the highest social
responsibility and the most conservative
religious associations. Even Col. SHEP-
ARDS paper prides itself on the fu-
ness OF its racing intelligence and its
discussions Of betting chances. The baseball
games. the various intercollegiate contests,
and all forms Of athletic competition st mu-
late the pas sion for betting and multiply the
number OF those who yield to 1t. The preju-
dice against card playing IL now confined to
small part Of the religious public. Betting
on games at cards Is not 80 general here
as In England. where everybody bets
at whist, but it is very extensive and
Is on the increase. The professional gam
blers and the illegal gaming houses have
lost nearly all their business because OF this
prevalence Of private gambling. Men can
crafty their passion for gaming elsewhere
in many ways. and under conditions which
insure fair play. Poker Is played by thou
sands Of men Of the highest character and
In private houses distinguished for rcspec-
liability. There must be ten times as much
gaming and betting as there was even ten
years ago. 1t Is q gambling era both at the
exchanges and at the places for sport.
In England also, as a writer In tho last
number OF the Westminster Reuie,p remarks,
gambling, which once was the exclusive sport
OF the rich. has now become q popular pas
sioh. Hemaintains the incontestable proEosi-
ton that the great majority OF Engilshmcn
look on gambling with no aversion, and the
actual gamblers include the richest and the
poorest. Horse racing without betting Is
impossible. and horse racing Is tho great
English passion. Card playing, so general
among oil tho classes Of English society, Is
:hcrc almost invariably gambling game.
Men and women, Bishops and priests play
whist Tor money as Ill habitua! practice. A
game OF carls in England without stakes is
unknown. Outside of tho strict Dssentcrs,
practically everybody bets.
1t may be that the revelations MS to the
baccarat gambling Of tho Prince O; WALES
may 8: art a new religious movement against
gambling in both England and this country,
but it cannot be successful without revolu-
tionizing sports and destroying tho present
tendency TO engage In all sorts OF athletic
contests and competitions from which bet
ting Ia inscparnble. 1t must also extend to
the modern methods OF doing bu,iness 80
provocative OF the pass.on for gambling.
Over in brooklyn.