St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-28
THE GANiRI.IAG MANIA


climate part of the strife for existence.
or course, he early learns various
games OF cards. He is warned against
them by his parents, but stolen apples
are sweet. and the pleasure he de-
rlveS from his furtive games of euehre
or seven-up are intensified In proportion
TO the risk ne runs of detection and
punishment. As lie growsto manhood
he finds every congeniai company with
deck of cards. He travels on the rail-
ways. where he sees gentlemen and
ladies Willing away the tedium of
travel by social game. THERE'S gem
orally something at stake--the suppers
or refreshments. They play in the sight
OF everybody OH the train, and their
banter and good-natured laughter keep
the passengers in the best of SD rits.
they lose and they win with equal sang
froId. Sometimes tue close observer
sees that there is money at stake, which
is passed surreptitiously from hand 10
hand. These people staud high socially,
intellectually ana i'll the business world
They are excellent teachers for wide.
awake American boy, and lie is an apt
pupil. He has taken one more lesson
in gambling, and his bark will soon be
FULLY launched upon the sea of hazard
whose waves are tumultuous, and be-
meath whose surface many rocks lie
hidden and menacing to the precious
freight OF hope, of ambition. or of love.
The young man enters upon busi-
ness career. He is early impressed with
the Importance of sagacity in his deal
lngs with others, and he sees its fruits
all about him. This successful merchant
made his first start in business by a
lucky investment in wheat, or bought a
few options in a bucket shop that
brought him small fortune. He natu-
rally thinks he is as smart as they, and
perhaps has all advantage over them in
that respect He never thinks of The
wrecks that surround him on all sides
men who have Speculated and lost not
only The money they possessed, but their
ambition and their honor. He plunges
into the vortex that has swallowed uD
millions before him, and ten chances to
one lie follows the great majority into
the abyss OF ruin. He may succeed for
time. Luck NAV favor him by fits and
starts. Each winning arouseS in him a
desire to win still larger stakes. He
risks his all upon the turn i'll the market
and he loses it. In a few days he is for
gotten. He is as one of the countless
derelicts i'll the ocean of humanity.
But business ventures are not called
gambling. The name is not a pleasant
one, and the merchants on boards of
trade and on exchanges of vario us
sorts resent being called gamblers. Yet
they are such in as legitimate a sense as
the men who risk their money OH the
turn OF card or the hazard of a die.
But there are few men who do not in
dulge in the latter vice. They seldom
acknowledge it outside of their own
circle. They will admit that they play
cards, but ''only for amusement. Of
course the game would be insipid if
there were no stake, and '.just to make
exciting they wager dollar or two
ON the result. The habit is growing
one-never stationary. Winner or loser,
the tendency of the average man is to
increase the size OF the stake, and the Sit
tlngS become more frequent as time
progresses. A little game of draw
poker is such pleasant means of pass
ing the tedium of long winters
evening that it may be pardoned occa-
slonally. 1t is pardoned-or Mt least the
persons participating pardon them
elves ana each other with ever-increas-
ing frequency and freedom. The pas
tlme frequently becomes mania, and
all other business is abandoned for the
allurements of the gaming table,
Few appreciate the eXtent-the al
most universality-of this great and
growing vice. 1t is not confined to any
particular class or condition of society.
The day laborer no longer thinks of
buying the glass of beer with which he
refresheS himself after his days toll.
He shakes dice for it, and runs the risk
of having to pay for the drinks of 9th.
erS as well as his OVID The church
members are not exempt from its con.
tagion. The clubs are convenient re-
sorts where gentlemen can indulge in a
game without interference from the
vulgar multitude. The horse races, the
billiard tournaments, the prize fights,
and all other sporting events give am
pie opportunity to bettors, and every
| year there are additions to the list
Games designed merely for diversion
become popular fads, like base ball and
football, and for a time maintain re-
spectability. but ultimately they relapse
and become as disreputable as the brace
faro iay-out-games that are thrown
whenever it suits the interests of those
having money at stake upon their re
suits.
Here is the giant evil of the century,
a constantly growing and menacins
| evil, which threatens to destroy the
fabric of society. Who will devise ano
1 ap1,lU fha ronadvq