The Bossier banner., 1894-01-18
UNDERMlNES CHARACTER.
The Belief That Something Can BE Had
for Nothing.

Tho bellef Eh3G something Gan BE HaC
for Nothing.
The desire to realize enormous re-
suits from small investments has been
productive of more evil in this world
than any other phase of financial or
commercial life. The possibility of
putting down a penny and taking up
pound is to many persons a chance
too alluring to be passed by unim-
proved. So down goes the penny. If
it brings no result, the loser comforts
himself with the idea that, of course,
he could not expect to win the first
time, and tries again and again, and
sometimes with a shilling. Losing
this, there cones the very natural de-
sire to keep on ,,ntil something is won.
This desire is carefully fostered by the
owner of the gambling plant, who
coaxes and encourages the victim, tell
ing him of the many who have at last
won large fortunes from grudging and
reluctant fate.
Year after year this goes on, the de-
luded loser spending good money in
the hope, which in his mind soon be-
comes certainty that, sooner or later,
he mast win, that it is long lane
which has no turning, and some day
he will regain all he has lost and so
much more, that he will be able ever
afterward to live in luxury and enjoy
the pleasures of life for which he has
always yearned, but thus far vainly.
And as such desires always grow by
what they feed on, the time comes
when small sums cease to satisfy him,
and more is invested. With the feeling
that there must now come turning
point, he becomes more reckless and
seems to delight in finging into the
jaws of this monster evil every dollar
on which he can lay his hands.
Especially is this true of buying lot
terry tickets. If one ticket will not
win, surely out of ten tickets there is
almost a certainty that something must
come. There is no more deadly fasci-
nation than that which takes posses
sion of the buyer of lottery tickets 1t
soon gets entire control of him and
dominates every action of his life and
every sentiment of his soul. Nothing
is safe from his greed, his own treas
ured possessions are sacrificed, and
soon the property Of others is coveted
to furnish means to satisfy his over
mastering passion.
To covet soon means to forget the
boundary line which separates his from
another's, and deceit, theft and their
long and disgraceful train of evils and
iniquities follow fast upon the heels of
the first misstep. The penitentiary,
the gallows and the suicides pistol are
the step-children of the lottery-ticket
and the gambling game.
1t seems strange indeed that those
who waste their money in this absurd
and reckless fashion do not realize that
gamblers and managers of lotteries
must conduct their business on money
making basis, and that however much
they seem to favor the public, they are
in fact but deluding and binding their
victims, leading them to the belief that
there will be ultimately fair division
of spoils and the most satisfactory end
ing to the investment as a business
transaction.
And SO there will be, as far as the
gamblers themselves are concerned;
but those who throw away their sub
stance in this fashion need never ex-
pect any honest return for it. Well
would it be for them if repeated de-
feats, disappointments and failures
taught them the much-needed lesson
that there is as rule, no such thing
as getting something for nothing, un-
less they count their waiting and their
unrealized hopes as a sufficient equiva-
lent for their money.
Everything in life must have its price,
and for most things the price is labor
and study and hard work. That which
is gained or earned in this way has a
value far beyond its intrinsic worth or
its market rating. 1t represents steadi-
ness of purpose, intelligent effort and
well-directed methods. 1t is not alone
the tangible value of our possessions
that makes them worth while, but the
discipline involved in their getting.
The old adage, Come easy, go easy
means much more than appears on the
surface, and sermon on everyday en-
deavor might be preached with an
amended or amplified text which should
read, ITO him that hath patience and
diligence shall be given the ability to
accomplish wonders, and from him who
hath not patience to do these things
shall be taken not only his present pos
sessions, but the ability to gain and
rightly enjoy the good things of life. "
The youth or man who allows the
desire to get something for nothing to
enter his mind has harbored destroy
ing and disgacting element which will
not fail to sap all of his good inten-
tions, paralyze his energies and end in
worthlessness and dishonor, if not in
actual crime.-N. S. Stowell, in n. Y
Ledger.
| To Reckon the Meter.