Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-05

4 RICHMOND MAN ASKS THIS PERT +
NENT QUESTION.
RcDly of tho New YJrl. journal Of Com
mercc-D emoraiiziuG as t" Character
Legally and Morally Wrong.


Our recent article on tho passion for
gambling has drawn out large amount Of
correspondence, most of It containing ex-
pressons Of gratitude for what seems 20
have been regarded a. a very timely utter
ance. 4 gentleman Of high standing i'll
Richmond. Va, has addressed US brief
communication asking q question not dill
cult to answer. lie writes;
"Can YOU give me the reason WHY gam
bling is vronE whore there IS no assOcia-
ton with what are known a professional
gamblers. and whore there i no chance #
any persons being deprived Of anything
they should have on account of II? Quote
scriptural laws against it If there are any,
The assumption that there may be IN
stances of Gaming where the stakes are 50
small, or the fortunes Of the players 50
large. that whatever is los; viii not de-
priye the loser of food, raimcnt shelter, or
means Of usefulness, IS undoubtedly true.
The chief objection to the act is not IN the
amount at stake or because of any DIS
comfort small loss il l.kely 90 cause any
one of tho players. bat IN the spirit that
leads to IT and the result which Is almos;
sure % follow.
DEMORAIIzING HAaIT.
There il nothing more decisive Of the
tendency OF any course Of conduct tuan
the universal testimony of human expe-
rience. in regard 10 the effect Of gambling
on the character and life this has spoken
in al the AGES with no uncertain sound.
The habit of gaming for "a stake 10 be &C
Quirod by the winner has been demorail-
z.ng always and everywhere, both as to
individuals and to communities. II YlO-
lates the essential law written in mans
present constitution Tho requirement
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat
bread, till thou return unto the ground d"
il Of universal application. There
are four ways of acquiring bread; ;
earning il: begging it; stealing II,
and gambling for It. Any but the
first Is IN its very nature demOralizng.
HE efforts of charitable people 20 supply
the needy poor with the bread they do not
earn, without paupewZlng them or 50 far
undermining Their proper sense o. selt-de-
penGclce FIR their support a % lnJure the
NOR. ! ibrc of true manhood. have never
been wholly successful The sick and
helpless NAV live on the bounty of others
without a sense of degradation when Their
inability To earn Their own support - not on
their procuring, hut the stalwart boggar Is
classed bv one of the greatest morallsts as
no better than thief. lie writes: " Let
him that stole steal no more; but rather
let him labor, work NJ with his hands the
thing which il good" This refers wholly
to the man Gblo 10 work who lives on
charity.
no TITLE TO WINNINGS.
In the same way the thief aud the
gambler are often classed together because
neither gives on equivalent for that which
he receives. The robber takes his booty
by stealth or violence, the gambler equally
stretches out his hand for an acquisition
he has not earned. When one man must
lose all that the other gains the latter has
been CATHERINE that TO which he has on
moral grounds no valid title The laws of all
civilized nations recognize this, and IN
nearly every country under the sun
a gaming debt cannot be collected
hv legal process. In most countries the
man who pockets the money he has won
at the gamlng-tabie can he compelled by IL
suit TO surrender It, the common sentiment
embodied in the statute beng that lie mas
gained 10 proper title It. This itself would
be- q sufficient answer TO the question,
WHY is gambling wrong 7" IL shows
that the sense of equity Ia every human
breast denies the night OF the winner to
the money he receives, SINCE not onIV the
act of gaming is contrary to the law enacted
bv most civilized communities, but the
keeping of the money that has been won
can be prevented If the loser insists on Its
return.
EFFECTS on HABITS.
The further evil of gambling is seen in
its effects on the habits of the players
THIS is especially true OF games OIL pure
chance. Every one who has used ms eyes
10 rood purpose must have noticed that
the moment q man begins TO buy lottery
tickets, or engages III pOllcy-playlng, or III
pools. or IN betting on hOrse-raclnE, or on
6all-playing he becomes III some sort mat
tentive to regular, legitimate business The
man who looks 10 any acquisition, large or
small. bv means III which u wise tOres ght,
careful planning. skill. and mental or mus
cular energy are of little or no account, be-
comes thereby IN the nature or the case
moro or less careless III the conduct OF has
legitimate occupation, An ancient writer
whose sound philosophy has been widely
accented declares that the excitement OF
rambling is one Of the most unwnolesOme
IN ms effects upon mind and body 10 which
mon are ever subjected" Our observation,
extending over half a century 81 mature
manhood, fully confirms this statement
FRAUD AND CHEATING.
The spirit of gaming encourages the
common desire, SAID TO be Inherent In the
race. to get something for nothing. When
skill or luck, one or both are wanting, ana
tho piayer Is losing, or when the greed III
cain Is not satisfied with the measure OIL
success obtained. there - present the con-
slant temptation TO turn the tide or aug
ment the receipts by dishonest means.
The statement OF the writer We have
quoted that this desire " shades OH into
methods OF accomplishing the same end,
such rs fraud, cheating. and stealing" de-
scrIbes nothing new under the sun. rom
neil. buried from sight more tnan ,SJOyeafS
400. wns quite familiar With tins truth, ana
recent excavations have turned up the IA
nlomepts with which the gamblers or thaS
day illustrated this propensity. inc dlce
ware loaded" and tho victim was neeced.
Ancient Egypt has sent down To our ume
the method by which the thrower could
present the SIX spots at In pleasure. In
fashionable circles Of the current year the
cheating is not confined TO Oaccafat az
Tranby Croft. A whIst-player ave know,
Who is very fond OF the game because OF
his own rare skill, has not only LETT several
small clubs. one after another. but now
yefnSes absolutely to play whoro any money
i staked and TINS because no WAS satisfied
,Lat cheating was altogether too common
among those wko played in tho hope OF
carrying of the winnings.
IN TIE COMMANDMENTS.
Our correspondent need only TO look on
the tables of stone to find the Scripture
ouotat.on for which he asks. Thou SHAFT
not coyet" is the law violated every time
a man seeks TO obtain his neighbours pro-
merry without offering him far equiva.
lent for il. Every writer on the closing
commandment Of the decalogue has men
toned tho vice Of gambling as Que OF Tue