The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-24
The Ffhica of Gambling.

Inc great increase IN recent times IN the
amount Of open and notorious gambling has
elected many expressions Of opinion con-
corning the evils of this vice, and there is
no doubt, among right-minded people, that
IL 10 dangerous 70 the wel-being OF society.
The Nedie poem, q translation Of which Is
given in Max MilleTs physical Religion"
containing the apOstrophe Of n Hindo0
gambler, addressed 20 his dice, Is striking
illustration OF the antiquity OF the fascina-
ton and the dar ger Of, ana the ruinous con-
sequences OF yielding 10, this type OF moral
insanity" as ethical optimists would term
IT, Cotton, the gifted author Of Lacon, re-
formed, exposed, with inimitable skill, the
fallacy underlying the gamblers logic, then
again came under the thrall OF the tyran-
nical passion which seems 10 subdue its
victims with an evil spell. A few years ago
the editor OF one Of the most scholarly and
widely circulated periodicals published in
the English language won nearly a quarter
Of a million dollars at baccarat III a single
evening, and the mention Of this game
brings % mind the fact that incipient royalty
does not give immunity from temptation 10
this vice.
The ethical question, where gambling is
concerned. has been treated mainly from
utilitarian point Of view. The evil conse-
quences have been fully set fOrth-the
temptations 20 dishonesty, to obtain the
means % crafty the master passion; the
eQuandering Of hard-earned money for a
mOmentary pleasure; the wasting OF sub
stance by fathers OF families, or others upon
whom helpless ones are dependent for sup
port; the crimes Of deeper dye, robbery,
murder. suicide, where ali has been lost at
play-all these are familiar topics-and on
the other hand, gambling has not been with
out its advocates. IL has been asserted that
the deepest play Is found on Wall street, or
At the leading Exchanges" where differ
ent commodities are dealt in on contract,
and with various elements OF uncertainty IN
the outlook, which may seriously a1ect
prices on the day of settlement. According
g. many Of these ap0logists, the gambler Is
n man with more courage than his fellows,
"Nothing venture, nothing have" the same
high spirit which induces him 70 risk his all
on a single throw is q quality which, under
proper guidance, can achieve the best re-
suits In war or in commerce.
To this il has been replied that the spirit
is, at best, sordid; that it is the desire 10
get something FOR nothing, 10 pocket Gun
earned dividends" This leads us 10 the
question (more frequently asked than an
swered): What precept of the moral law is
broken by the gambler? The fact that
where the game or wager is fair the risk OF
loss is divided, and in many cases is nearly
equal, has 0bscuFed the answer. The
gambler breaks the eighth commandment.
Let III DC kept III uillu budI thtu 0lSucS ~
take from the other valuable consideration
without a corresponding quid pro quo, and
he fact that the risk Of loss is common TO
both will be seen in its true cOiOrs-it is an
aggravatiOn rather than palliation OF the
oGense,
The duellist is not deemed innocent be-
cause he risks at one and the same moment
the commission Of murder aud virtual
sSIcide. Rather Is this rightly held 10 be
proof Of double guilt. The gambler, no
matter how fairly the game Is conducted,
or the wager is won, stands in precisely the
came relation 10 the eighth commandment,
as that Of the dueliist TO the sixth.--New
York Churchman.
Legend Concerning solomon's Temple.
There is tradition that the site upon
which the temple OF solomon was built was
owned in common by two brothers, one Of
whom had a family, the other none. On the
evening after harvest, the elder brother said
10 his wife: "My younger brother is unable
TO bear the burden and heat Of the day, |
will arise, take some OF my shocks and
place them without his knowledge with his
shocks" The younger brother, being &C
tuated by similar kind motives, said within
himself: "My brother has a family and |
have none. 1 will contribute 10 their sup
port. will take of my shocks and place them
with his, without his knowledge" Great
was the establishment Of both when next
morning they found their shocks undimln-
ished. This happened several nights in
succession, when each resolved to stand
guard and solve the mystery. They did so,
and the following night met halfway be-
tween their respective shocks with arms
full. Upon ground hallowed by such asso-
Citations as these was the temple OF Solomon
erected-that temple so spacious, so mag
pifceut the admiration and wonder of the
world. 1t is only upon ground hallOwed by
love that any enduring structure can be
built. On no other basis can peace and
goodwill, righteousness and justice be
permanently placed. Other foundation tor
all the interests OF mankind can no one lay
than that which is laid deep and firm In the
best affections Of the heart.