The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-06-27

anyone who has in him the gambling
spirit. Men who want to gamble viii
find places just suited to their capaci-
ty, not anly in the underground oyster
cellar, or at the table back of the cur
tain, covered with greasy cards, or in
the steam boat smoking cabin, where
the bloated wretch with rings in his
ears deals out his pack and winks at
the unsuspecting traveler-providing
free drinks all around-but in gilded
parlors and amid gorgeous surround
ings.
young man having suddenly in
herited a large property, sits at the
hazard tables and takes up in dice box
the estate ron by fathers lifetime
sweat, and shg s,cs 1t and losses it away.
Intemperance soon stigmatizes its
victim kicking him out, a shaving tool,
into the ditch, or sending him, with
the drunkard's hiccough, staggering
up the street where his family lives.
But gambling does not in that way
expose it's victims. The gambler may
be eaten mp by the gamblers passion,
yet you only discover it by the greed in
his eyes, the hardness of his features,
the nervous restlessness, the thread
bare coat and his embarrassed bust
ness. Yet he is on the road to hell, and
no preachers voice or startling warn
ing, or wife's entreaty, can make him
stay for moment his headlong career.
The internal spell is on him; giant is
aroused within, and though you may
bind him with cables. they would
part like thread, and though you fasten
him seven times round with chains,
they would snap like rusted wire; and
though you piled up in his path Heaven
high Bibles, tracts and sermons, and
on the top should see the cross of the
Son of God, over them all the gambler
would leap like a roe over the rocks, on
his way to perdition.
The whole world is robbed! What is
most sad, there are no consultations for
the loss and suffering entailed by gam
ing. If men fail in lawful business
God pities and society commiserates;
but where, in the Bible or society, is
there any consolation for the gambler?
From what tree of the forest oozes there
a balm that can sCothe the game
ster's heart? In that bottle where
God keeps the tears of His children,
are there any tears of the gambler?
Do the winds that come to kiss the
faded cheek of sickness and to cool
the heated brow of the laborec whis-
per hope and cheer to the erraciated
victim of the game of hazard? When
an honest man is in trouble, he
has sympathy 'Poor fellow!"
they say. But, do gamblers
come to weep at the agonies
of the gambler? In Northumberland
was one of the finest estates in En-
gland Mr.. Porter owned it, and in
year gambled it all away. Having lost
the last acre of the estate, he came
down from the saloon and got into his
carriage; went back; put up his horses,
and carriage, and town house, and
played. He threw and lost. He started
for home, and on side alley met friend
from whom he borrowed ten guineas;
went back to the saloon and before
great while, had won 100000. He died
at last a beggar in st. Giles. How
many gamblers felt sorry for Mr.. Por-
ter? Who consoled him on the loss of
his estate? What gambler subscribed
to put stone over the poor mans
grave? Not one!
Furthermore. this sin is the source
of uncounted dishonesty. The game
of hazard itself is often a cheat. How
many tricks and receptions in the deal
ing of the cards! The opponents hand
is oftimes found out by fraud. Cards
are marked so that they may be desig-
gamesters have their accomplices,
and one wink may decide the
game The dice have been
found loaded with platina, SO
that doublets come up every time.
These dice are introduced by the gam
blers unobserved by the honest men
who have come into the play. and this
accounts for the fact that 90 ont of a
100 who gamble, however wealthy
when they began, at the end are
found to be poor, miserable, hag-
gard wretches, that would not now
be allowed to sit on the doorstep
of the house that they once owned. In
gaming house in San Francisco a
young man, having just come from the
mines, deposited large sum upon the
ace and won $4,000. But the tide
turns. Intense anxiety comes upon the
countenance of all. Slowly the cards
went forth. Every eye is fixed.
Not sound is heard, until the ace
is revealed favorable to the bank.
There are shouts of Foul! foul!" but
the keepers of the table produce
their pistols, and the oproar is ilenced.
and the bank has won sos. 900. Do you
call this game of chance? There is
no. chance about it. But these dis
honesties in the carrying on of the
game are nothing when compared
with the frauds that are committed in
order to get money to go on with the
nefarious work.
Gambling, with it's needy hand, has
snatched away the widows mite and
the portion of the orphans; has sold
the daughters virtue to get the means
to continue the game; has written the
counterfeit's signature, emptied the
bankers money vault, and WELD
ed the assassin's dagger. There
is no depth of meanness to which it
will not stoop. There is no cruelty at