The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-28


all the states OF our Union-except one or
fwo-and the United States Government
pnts heavy penalty on any lottery
tickets or proposals sent through the
mail. We have made progress in some
things, but not In all. The vice OF gambi-
ing has come back upon us with new force
of late. 1t is felt in our little state from
end TO end. We may we'll consider this
subject, and both pray and fight for deliv-
erance.
History of Gambling.
We ought to learn from the history OF
the past. Italy and Austria have impover-
ished their people by this vice. They
have tried 10 make revenue Of it-as
have many OF the dukes and petty princes
OF Germany, and they have suffered the
Just vengeance OF their doings in poverty
and debauchment that have reached
through all classes OF society. Many
years ago, when spending winter In
Italy, my heart was panied by seeing the
crowds OF poor, ragged people around the
lottery booths hoping With anguished
hearts for some prize or part OF prizs
drawn from their portion OF ticket. L
congratulated myself then that our happy
country never saw such sights, nor has it
as yet, but who can tell what may be-
vices grow like weeds-indeed they grow
as in hot houses. They know no winter.
Let us be warned by the evil consequences
that have befsllen other nations. spoke
of Franco, the history OF her court from
the time OF Louis XIV TO the revolution
is full OF instances. Historians will up
hold me in the statement that gambling
was one OF the causes that brought on the
French Revolution while the laws forbade
its practice among the lower classes. The
court carried it on unhindered to a terri
bic extent. In the days OF Louis XIV,
when despotism was at its height, there
was no restraint. The sums staked by
his favorites are almost incredible. There
was no decency of form or time. One
Xmas day Mime. De Montespan lost 7O0,-
600 francs. Small loss, however, for sne
had previously made million, and both
she and the King frowned on any who
refused to play.
When we come down to the days OF
Louis XVI and his beautiful Queen
Marie Antoinette the sums staked were
much reduced. Indeed money was grow
ing scarce, and necessity imposed re-
straints, that wouldn't otherwise avail.
Marie Antoinette, the unfortunate, lovely
woman whose beauty has been celebrated
by Burke in one OF his most noted bursts
OF eloquence, and whose heroism and cal
amity in after days has made her almost
martyr in our eyes, was, at her marriage,
q gay and spirited girl, 20 years old, ready
for all delights and not likely TO see the
evil of play, which had so long been the
common custom of the court. The
wretched game of Faro, named from the
hard old Egyptian King, whose figure was
originally on the cards, was much In
vogue. The Queen played Sundays, We'd
nesdays and Saturdays and often the whole
night through, to the distress OF her So
berer hus band and the anxiety OF her
brother the Emperor OF Austria. But
il was too late, the mischief was done, the
crown was impoverished by this among
other excesses, and when new taxes were
laid to save IL, came the deluge. "After
US the deluge" is the phrase ascribed to
Nine. de Pompadour at an earlier time,
and the deluge came, not in subsiding
waters but in blood, whose spots will
never wear out. 1t is vain to say that
these evils are exaggerations, that can
not be repeated. They may be exceptional
In form or the exact consequences; but
other results may be just as grievous.
Gambling Ruined Them.
Our own English cousins have felt
them, and il, by Gods grace, they have
been drawn back from reaping the full
harvest, they have Him TO thank for IL.
Gambling ruined some OF the most brill
liant orators and poets of England. Z. j..
Fox was victim Of Ii, even Pitt had been
at one time fascinated by 1t. There has
been great reform In England from the
days when the nobility and clergy were
all addicted to gambling in some measure,
to the present, when its evil is more
clearly seen. Fifty years ago, 1t was re-
garded very lightly. In the memoirs of
Charles sumner you will find letter,
written in 1S3S-wben he was visiting
Lord Fitzwilliams: ~ had good oppor-
tunity," he says, "to see how the young
men of the aristocracy pass their time.
l observed strong habit with them all.
A remark could not be made without an
cffer to support 1t with a bet. II they
were walking in the garden, and one
observed on the distance OF a
tree, straightway a bet was offered and
taken. At cards they always made the
stake quite high. One evening played
with young Lord Scarboro' and clsr-
gyman. / won and the clergyman paid
me shillings. "I confess" says Sumner,
81 disliked all this very much. do not
fancy cards in their best estate, and es-
pecially when allied with gaming" He
adds that at that time In England q man
and his wife always played CO. partners for
the simple reason that there would be no
gain in winning from each other. There
has been great reform in England since
Charles Kingsley. the generous, free heart
ed, wrote so sharply to young men against
the folly and sin OF gambling or betting
in any form. But vices are most easily
caught, and our young men in college and
IN trdue are greatly teulptcu. 4 ne eVli
has broken out of late to an alarming ex-
tent. Athletic sports are defiled by this
soil, and knaves come in to dcbase and
tempt our young men by pool selling and
by Offering every means OF pursuing this
vice. In Shakespeare's phrase, "They
commit the oldest sins in the newest kind
of ways" 1t Is not easy to escape from
the passions and vices Of humanity. We
speak OF the degrading habits of the
Chinese, and yet they are not so far of
from even those in the highest stations.
England had a lesson four years ago
that will not soon be forgotten. Even
the military profession, famed for courage
and courtesy, has been contaminated
by this vice. The trial of Sir Will
liam Gordon Cumm ings, in 1890, an
officer OF high rank, who had
cheated at play, reused the excited inter-
est OF both hemispheres. The dramatic
scene will not soon be forgotten, when, in
the midst OF the trial, a bold juryman
arose and questioned the Prince OF Wales,
who was on the witness stand, in these
words: Are the jury to understand that
you were banker on these two occasions
and saw nothing OF the alleged malprac-
ticesY' The Prince hesitated for moment
and then answered the plucky juryman:
alt Is very easy for banker when dealing
IL - A. INN