The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-11
THE SIN OF GAMBLING.
DR. STARR TELLS THE SAD HISTORY
or a RfCHMOND ROY.
How He sank by Degrees. Until He STAKE"
and Lost His Old Home on tho
Turn of Card.

SUNDAY night Rev. DR.. Starr preached
IN Broad-strcetchurch upon the subject
"A Richmond boy who s;aked the Old
old home on the toss OF card, ana ioS'
H." The discourse was addressed 10
young men. and IL dealt with gampil"s'
The text selected was II. Corinthians. IT,.
IL: Lest Satan should get an advantage
of us: for we are rot ignorant OF his &c
vices
+ The fact that gambling Is one OF the
most CONSPICUOUS vices OF The axe.
?. The results OF these games OF chahce
whether they are cOHducteG IN me pr
waite pa,lor or In the down-town deh'
z The responsibility OF each separate
act. aud of a lifetime spent in the ncia-
rious practice OF raidng IN profits by the
easy process OF gaining, rather Than 10y
the slower methods OF honest industry.
These were the main points under dis
cussion during the delivery of the dis
course
a RICHMOND BOY.
THAT Richmond boy" said the speak
er-~the scene transpircd in 1861, Just
thirty-four years ago. was on my way
South. Prom Montgomery. Ala. went
TO Selma by the steamer route down tht
OF entertainment. known as the Gee
House IL was a very gentcol hotel
None OF its rooms were set apart for the
benefit of The sporting fraternity. but al
o'clock that night | was asked by
friend, who was travelling with me. n
I would like 20 sec twhat | had never
seen before gambling establishment in
full blast I consented. and together We
went TO large double room on the upper
floor
There were as many as twenty men
there. the most OF them seated al tables
where rapid gambling was silently going
on, and piles OF money were passing 10
and fro from the loser TO the winner and
firm the winner 10 the bank.
''Oue face attracted me. / had seen
II before. II was the fair. pale face of
a young man who went from this city
South before the late war, with the cx-.
pectation OF making his home IN one
OF the Southern States. lie never set
tied anywhere. FOR the reason that he
soon became regular sporting man,
having been captured by a gang OF
sports on a Mississippi steamer I'm the
ante-bellum days. when some OF those
floating palaces were nothing less than
gambling hells
STAkED HIS HOME
From loss TO loss he went on unul
after the death OF his parents Che was
not an only child. when he turned his
steps toward the State Of Alabama with
the expectation OF making il his perma-
nent abiding place. If he could dispose
OF his Virginia homc-fhat portion OF
the estate to which he fell heir That
fatal night when ] met him In Selma he
staked the old home on the toss OF a
Garland lost II,
There was a lull I'm the gaming when
the white face Of the ruined man seemed
20 call halt. But II was a pause OF
only a moment. The winner was heart
less. and turned from the table TO find
another victim.
THE Richmond boy went down the
river next day From Mobile he set
sail in sloop. and steered straight for
the Mexican Gulf The craft never came
back. Between sunset and dark. the
white sail was seen for the last time,
standing out 10 sea.
No one has ever been able to solve
that mystery of the deep. In mute de-
SPAR he floated away TO an unknown
doom-that brave young man who might
have been hero I'm the battle OF life.
Sleeping waves. after storm is over,
never tell what became Of the dead
the missing ones that sank out OF sight
under the silent sea.
do you ask me TO give you that name
tonight? am pledged never to repeat
IT, The honor of a noble family is AT
stake. II you think you know. your in
formation il your own. but my lips are
sealed. Brothers and sisters mention
that name with tear. for no tidings
have ever yet come I'm. telling OF the
destiny OF that soul. for whose salvation
many prayers were offered during long
years OF painful solicitude.
Never until the sea shall give up It's
dead will the fate of the missing one
be known"