The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-06-12
Interesting Gossip.
q. Y. SUM

"The non -conformist conscience"
which, when aroused, Is n powerful factor
in British politics, is already finding
voice. At the conference Of Welsh CAL
whistle Methodists which closed on
Thursday this resolution was passed I'M
anmously and solemnly entered OH the
minutes:
"That this meeting learns with regret
from tho proceedings In the High Court
of Justice that the Prince of Wales took
part in game of baccarat Mt Tranby
Croft on Sept. last, and gave his coun-
tenancc to gambling in one of its insd-
ious and ruinous forms by the force OF
his example, thus encouraging this vice
among the people. We would also res
pectfnly submit to his Royal Highness
that by conduct such as this he offends
the religious sense of the people; he
drags down the royal house from the high
position in which it has for a heightened
period stood and tends to lessen that low
ing and devoted affection to the throne
which, as religious BODY, has ever been
cherished by US and We still desire to
cherish"
This resolution was passed before Sir
Edward Clarke had elected the truth as
to the ownership Of the baccarat coun-
tiers, otherwise the adjective would have
been much stronger. Other protests ore
being prepared but most of them will be
prudently withheld until next week, when
the jury will have passed judgment on Sir
William Gordon Cumming and his p0cu-
liar plav. 1t is open to argument whether
the Welsh Methodists have not been
guilty of contempt Of court in formulat-
ing publicly an opinion III connection with
the case while in progress,
Meanwhile public opinion Is again be-
ing called to the evils Of gambling. The
London City Mission, which labors chiefly
among the very poor Of this metropolis,
sorrowfully reports today: Gambling
appears to have greatly increased of late
years in all classes of society. 1t seems
to peryadc every neighborhood and the
missionaries testify to its existence to an
alarming extent among men,, women and
children. They have warned both old
and Young against the consequences Of
this vice and not altogether without sue
cess"
If the missionaries were to pay visit
some afternoon to fashionable Bond street
they would find a woman who processes to
tell fortunes installed in sumptuous rooms
which are crowded daily by men and
women whose names may be found in the
Court Directory. Many of the men
doubtless visit the places because the
sbyl is young and handsome, displays a
beautiful pair of bare arms and casts
horoscope while holding the inquirer's
wrists and gazing into his soul with a
pair of the eyes described as "gazelle
like" But the women who throng this
impudent gcromancer's luxuriouslodgings
60 there with superstitious intent and the
mpostor bids fair to have realized COM
potency before she is laid by the heels.
At Oxford man has just been heavily
fined for tempting UNDER graduates to bet,
and the magistcrcd Investigation proved
that gambling prevails in the university
to scandalous extent. Ministers Of all
religious denominations who, as recorded
in the Sun, started crusade few
months ago against gambling, arc appall
ed by the accommodating evidence of wide
spread existence of the evil and the var
iety OF its forms. They fear, and with
good reason, that the publicity given to
the baccarat scandal will add to their diff
ficulties, for people who have read yer-
batim reports of the evidence will by this
time be able to play the wicked game,
and they have also learned, thanks to Mr..
Stanley Wilson and his ingenious young
friends, how to improvise an orthodox
baccarat tobe out Of the most unpromis-
ing and homely materials.
Sir William Gordon Cumming, by the
way, has authorized denial, which was
yesterday published in almost every news
paper in Europe, of the statement that
he is engaged to Miss Florence Garner of
New York. Nevertheless, it was only
Yesterday afternoon that an application
was made to the Archbishop of Canter-
bury for special license for marriage
between "Florence Josephine Garner,
spiuster," and "Sir William Gordon Cum
ming, Bart. Lieutenant-Coonel Scots
Guards, bachelor, of age" 1t is proba-
bic that the wedding will take place on
Monday or Tuesday.
1t is understood that the marriage OF
Mr.. Parnell and Mrs. O'Shca will take
place some time this month, and rumors
are in circulation, for which there is
probably not the least foundation, that
he will signalize the interesting occasion
by retiring from public life. Politics in
Ireland are fast degenerating into person.
al squabbles Of the most ignoble charac-
ter, and moderate men, unblinded by par
tisan passions, are yearning for the re-
lease of Mr.. Dillon and Mr.. O'Brien, who,
it is hoped, will lift the national cause out
of the rut into which it has been allowed
to fall.
Press Comment.