Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1892-03-25
BOSTON LETTER.
Gambling Taught in Our Schools
--"Sheeny"- Queer Ad-
vertiSing Methods.
The Late Storm--JudiCial Rot.
tenness--NoteS, Etc.
Teaching "thc Young Idea" to Gam

Teaching "the Young Idea" TO Gam
BILE.
While the authorities are Just now engaged
in spasmOdic effort to suppress lotteries.
faro banks and policy shops, the puzzle
schools Of Boston are de iberately training
pupils in that more inSidous and subtle evil
which causes the entire realm of finance and
commerce to rest upon such unstable
grounds that the slightest exaggerated rumor
may cause the loss OF fortunes and the un-
settlement Of all values. 1t Is wise and
proper that the boys should be taught the
main principles and the system of business.
the use of checks, drafts and 9th agents
involve! in commercial transactions, but all
good citizens must deprecatc the instructions
being given in the Montgomery Bmk" at
the English high school, at least that branch
OF the financial course which instructs the
boys in that species of gambling made re-
! spectacle under the name of speculation :"
but it does not stop here, and the 22S boys
who are engaged in this study" are said to
be uShing into the work with an infatuation
which but too clearly demonstrates the in.
herent tendency of youth to engage in game
| of chance or skill. In his report regarding
the working Of this innovation in the public
schools, Mr.. Seavy, the instructor, says:
They have so far exhibited the most COM
mendab'c prudence in their operations.
| This morning, for instance a number OF
! them thought certain provisions a purchase
at the price quoted at the opening OF the mar
ket but evidently the rest thought 50 too, for
not one of the holders Of those commodite.
would sell, so the bank had to supply the
wouid-bc buyers under an agreement by
which it engages to sell stocks, bonds and
provisions at the market price TO those in.
! ending purchasers who cannot get what
they want from their fellows. 9. ND one
can be absolutely SIRE OF exactly what the
Young tinancicrs have been up To, as trtd.
| Ing among themselves has been
pretty lively, and j. encouraged rs much rs
pOssibl' by the Instructor. Doubtless the
lay Of settlement viii bring to light good
many curious and unexpected dcnouemcntS.
Whether it will reveal the existence Of the
combinations, deals and attempt, at corner
ing the market which are so usual in or
iinary business Is one ofthOsc thing, which.
u the words of Lord Dundreary, no fcIlah
eau be expected to know anything about "
This wi be a pleasant thing for mary
oarents to contemplate. Their sons are
earning to linancier-to strugGe and fl ght
over Il few pa'try dollars, squeezing their
ncighbors Of their money and Themselves OF
what generosity and kindness may exist in
heir natures, undergoing n training which
8 to tit them to deceive, to plan, to scheme.
20 grind down some one else for the enrich
mcnt of themselves St the expense of the best
part OF Their live, In the mad rush Of ai
fanccment would it not be we'll for the
school boa d to ask and the teachers to in
1uire Of themselves. Whittier are we tend
ngT' And should not the parents give a
moments thought to the kind OF education
which Is being given to their sOnsE If this Is
right let us 90 on. Let us teach our boys the
.cims and uses Of the roulette wheel and the
etiquette of the faro bank. They will meet
wing and corruption in the world. Let us
hen teach them how to become skilled In
.hese accomplishments SO that they may moi
be left behind in the race. Let us teach
hem how to pull wires and work wards in
political camp ign, let us give them broac
education in every branch of worldly dis
honor md disgrace, and let us do it in the
public schools.