The Indiana State sentinel., 1893-07-05
GA5sBLING.
An Essay on One of the Greatest
Evils of the Period
Secretary.

An Essay on One of the Greatest
Evils of the Period
KIND HOWARD FRIENDS-Glancing
through the many avenues of life and
seeing the effect gambling produces on
society, we are led to assert that it ranks
among the greatest evils prevalent
among the human family, though not
withstanding it appears to be the great
est opposed.
Singly it will be found in many forms.
10 suit the particular occasion, but col
lectively they make up mighty mon
ster. going forth sapping the vital of So
ciety. Gambling. intemperance and kin
dred evils are closely connected. Where
their influences are tolerated virtue
self-respect and moral love are not
known They are like oil and water
will not mix. Some seem TO have adopt
ed the strange idea that there can be
no wrong in the indulgence in a harnt
less % game merely for pastime. Alas!
too often we mistake the wolf in
Sleeps clothing as harmless. There
can be no particular harm in the sip
from the wine glass, but il is the step
ping stone leading to shame and disap-
pointment- When we participate in those
harmless" paStime games who can tell,
we may be sowing the seed for harvest
When we are continually coming in con-
tact with the rough edge Of society we
are apt TO become of the same tenn
perament- And this is the case when we
frequent the gambling dens. We there
become associated with the worst char
acters known to earth When we are
participating in a course that may lead
US 10 the slums where satan in all his
hideOusness will be found. let us remem-
Der we are treading on the verge of an
awful chasm. In most cases it is an
avaricious tendency that actuates the
tolerant to sacrifice self-respect and
5eopardize what they may already pos
sess; a desire TO acquire wealth in op-
position 10 all rules of right and justice.
Man is ever seeking after gain, in most
cases too much so. Where this is the
main object that grand theme do unto
others as we wish TO be done by Is
sure 10 be lost sight of.
In our accumulation OF wealth We
should be positive that our course Of
procedure is in strict conformity with
positive that the dollars and cents that
find their way into our purse are not
taken wrongfully from some helpless.
needy child. How can we do this and
follow the course Of the gambler? 1t is
visible that If those who follow scheming
and deception (for gambling is such)
were put under the standard they would
come far short of what man in his ex-
alted sphere should be. AS 1 returned
from our county seat not long since in
an adjacent neighbOrhOOd 70 the one in
which / live, beheld the youths Of the
neighbOrhoOd gathered at a farmhouse
gambling. I have since been told that
even the small hours Of the night viii
find them there gambling. AS the sight
was unusual, IT put me 20 thinking
hence this letter. When the characters
of those who gather there from time
TO time are placed before the moral
camera, they leave a dark impression
they are not strangers to the law. Hence
we must be associated with the coarser
element OF society If we follow gambling.
Our characters will be darkened by the
shadows reflected upon them Gambling
is wrong from three standpOints: First
To engage in IT, In most cases, wrecks
the morab~- Of man. SecOnd-It rObs the
innocent Of what rightly belongs 10
them. To sustain this let me give you
an example which came under my own
observation. Some years ago. in a town
in Indiana. was acquainted with man
who was respected by all who knew him.
He and his wife would indulge in a
game Of cards ''tust for pasttime," but
ere long this lost it's fascination for him.
One Saturday eYsE.nk after receiving