The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-15

1
/ reer. He passed into eternity win no
| Thought of the future, but thinking only
~ otbe tiger" that he had Rugged to
| bis breast for SO many years past, and
| feeling the misery and pain or one de-
| serted IN his dying hour: ..,.
| Could Mr.. Pat Sheedy gaze upon tnis
| NOR lost soul, worn and emaciated ny
/ disoaso brought on by excuses and ex-
nosure and contemplate the grand possi-
| huitiss of seventy years we'll ana noDly
| enent and then knowing that this mis-
| cradle wreck Of humanity could be laid
! IN the account of the gambling vice. give
| voice 70 such a sentiment as this; "These
| mon do more good than any Christians, De
| thev preachers or laymen, in this big uni
verse" and still feel honored that he Is
/ one Of the guild!
c,hot &c occurring right here in our midst.
| 7 would have you stop right here and ask
/ Yourself the question, Who Is responsible
/ for this state of ahairsF
We have paid guardians OF the peace TO
unearth and bring to justice violaIors OF
tho law Are they doing their duty? You,
] yourself as n part CT this community,
| hava n voice in the administration Of the
| citv's government. Are you exercising
| that right for the purpose OF putting men
| I'm office who will do their duty and main
| tain rho sovereignty VI liz anu Oiu't
I might 20 further. and tell you Of bust
moss mon who have wrecked their reputa-
| ton. broken up the happiness Of their
homes and fed in disgrace. or who have
been laid in a suicides grave, as result
| of their passion for gambling. | might
tell you OF the misery and want that
| dwells in the home OF the victim or this
mania, or / might point the poor devil
out 10 you as he goes along the street,
seeming pauper, ragged and carewor1,
stunning all of his old companions and
| friends, and only intent on getting money
with which he may play play! play"
and so satiate the beast which has taken
| possession Of him. Talk about the thirst
Of the drunkard. Why II is as nothing
beside this fierce demon. who knows 10
law. but the rules OF play; no love but
the love of play; who for the privilege 0f
playing, no matter how small the stake
will 20 without food or clothes.
But leaving sentiment and the high II
feelings. let us consider this matter on the
basis Of dollars and cents. Young man, II
you are going TO the gaming tables 10
make money, / say don't 80. If you lose
you will risk more In order to win back
what you have lost. and If you win, why
it's an old rule that money that comes
easy goes easy" and In a few days after
you have won all that you are liable to
win. when your luck has left you it will
have all gone. and the probability is that
you will not be able to account for It.
But the winnings usually go back into
the strong box Of the dealer, and your
losngs always remain there.
Young man. did you ever stop to think
what il must cost TO equip and furnish
one of these gilded places, where the
tiger" lies in walt for its victims where
liquors and cigars can be had for the ask
ing. without money and without cost?
Did you ever stop and ask yourself the
question, Who pays for the costly ap-
parel. the fine linen. the brOadcloth, the
diamonds, with which these gamblers deck
themselves" Someone must pay for
them; who is It?
A sensible person can answer this with
out any hint from me. Those clothes snd
jewels were bought with the price Of
your degradation, perchance your shame
and misery. Ofttimes the money that
makes the gamblers wealth has been
stolen by the gamblers victims. Outlines
the poor. miserable wretch has hidden his
shame in the suicides grave, and then It
was the price Of blood that paid for the
splendor Of the enticing gambling rooms
for the wines that you there drink, and
yet MIR. Sheedy would have you believe
that It is an honorable calling.
II your chance for gain was equal to
that of she dealer these games would never
be run but the fact that they are run, at
enormous expense, in open and direct yio-
lation OF the law, and in sumptuous Aid
splendi1 style, proves conclIsively that
the gains are all for the proprietor, and
that there is but little chance for the
player.
All faro banks have a fixed limit above
which no player can bet, and when this
is considered. in connection with the fact
that the dealer has always at his COM
mand a large bank roll" while the
ordinary player has but a small stake"
upon which TO draw, it can readily be
seen that with the percentages which
accrIes to the dealer for splits. the
bank has largely the advantage.
l need not dwell further upon this UNI
pleasant subject. | believe | have said
sufficient to put any sensible person on
his guard against letting the tiger once
get his fargs upon him.
/ would say. just here. that / am
actuated by no i'll feeling to any Individual
member OF the gambling fraternity, among
whom indeed / have occasionally found
men Of splendid qualities, but yet the
fact that the gambling tendency is on
the increase; that it is productive Of the
most evil consequences; that many Of
the crimes and much Of the suffering Of
cur city can be traced indirectly 10 this
source to say nothing of the daily viola
ton OF the law In permitting it to be
carried on in our midst. should be n suf-
ficiert reason TO cause the people OF
Richmond TO arise and cleanse its bor-
dars OF the unclean thing.
Permit me I'm closing to quote the last
paragraph In the article published In your
Sundays issue, which bears more truth
upon is face than all OF the rest OF the |
article combined. Mr.. Sheedy saws:
ITO epitomize the sum total Of my OBJ !
servations it may 10 some good 20 the |
rising generation. Gambling is not a |
profitable field to venture in Even the |
most successful gamblers have rcaped |
but poor harvest for the years OF trials |
and tribulations they have passed through |
before they reach the goal Of prosperity |
The same amount of mental assiduity and |
physical industry applied TO any other |
calling would have brought in ten-fold |
greater returns" Y. Y. q.
Richmond, Va, February 10, 1898.
Death Of Mrs. Thurman.