Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-04-04

The gambling spirit has not stopped
for any indecency. There transpired i'll
Maryland a lottery in which people
drew for lots in a hurying ground. The
modern habit of betting about every
thing is productive of immense mis-
chief. The most healthful and innocent
amusements of yachting and baseball
playing have been the occasion of put
ting up excited and extravaganza wagers.
That which to many has been advan-
tageous to body and mind has been to
others the means of financial and moral
loss. The custom is pernicious in the
extreme, where scores of men in respect
able life give themselves up to betting,
now on this boat, now on that; now
on this ball club, now on that Betting
that once was chiefly the accompani-
ment of the race course is fast becoming
a national habit, and in some circles
any opinion advanced on finance or pol
itics is accosted with the Interrogation,
Chow much will you bet on that, sir?'
This custom may make no appeal to
slow, 1ethargic temperaments, but there
are in the country tens of thousands of
quick, nervous, sanguine, excitable
temperaments, ready to be acted upon,
and their feet will soon take hold ON
death. For some months, and perhaps
for years, they will linger in the more
polite and elegant circle of gamesters,
but after awhile their pathway will
come to the fatal plunge.
Career of the Gambler.
Shall I sketch the history of the
gambler? Lured by bad company, he
finds his way into place where honest
men ought never to go: He sits down
to his first game, but only for pastime
and the desire of being thought socia
BILE. The players deal out the cards.
They unconsciously play into satan's
hands, who takes all the tricks and both
the players souls for trumps-he being
a sharper at any game. A slight stake
is put up, just to add interest to the
play. Game after game is played. Larger
stakes and still larger. They begin to
move nervously on their chairs. Their
brows lower and eyes flash until now
they who win and they who lose, fired
alike with passion, sit with set jaws
and compressed lips and clinched fists
and eyes like fireballs that seem start
ing from their sockets to see the final
turn before it comes; if losing, pale
with envy and tremulous with unutter-
ed oaths cast back redhot upon the
heart; or winning, with hysteric laugh
Ella, ha /! I have it!''
A few years have passed, and he is
only the wreck of a man. Seating him
self at the game, ere he throws the first
card, he stakes the last relic of his wife
the marriage ring which sealed the
solemn vows between them. The game
is lost, and staggering back in exhaus-
ton he dreams. The bright hours of the
past mock his agony, and in his dreams
fends with eyes of fire and tongues of
flame circle about him with Joined
hands, to dance and sing their orgies
with helliSh chorus, chanting, "Hail,
brother!" kissing his clammy forehead
until their loathsome locks, flowing
with serpents, crawl into his bosom and
sink their sharp fangs and suck up his
lifeblood, and coiling around his heart
pinch it with chills and shoulders unut-
terabIe.
Take warningl You are no stronger
than tens of thousands who have by
this practice been overthrown No
young man in our cities can escape be-
ing tempted. Beware of the first begin
ningsi This road is a down grade and
every instant increases the momentum.
Launch not upon this treacherous sea.
SpliEt hulks strew the beach. Everlast-
ing storms howl up and down, tossing
unwary craft into the hell gate. | speak
of what 1 have seen with my own eyes.
To gamblers deathbed there comes no
hope. He will probably die alone. His
form er associates come not nigh his
dwelling. When the hour comes, his
miserable soul will go out of a\ miser
able life into miserable eternity. AS
his poor remains pass the house where
he was ruined, old companions may
look out for a moment and say, "There
goes the old carcass-dead at last,'' but
they will not get up from the table. Let
him down into his grave. Plant no tree
to cast its shade there, for the long,
deep, eternal gloom that settles there is
shadow enough. Plant no "forgetme-
nots'' or eglantines around the spot for
flowers were not made to grow ON such
blasted heath. Visit it not in the sun
shine, for that would be mockery, but
in the dismal night, when no stars were
out, and the spirit of darkness come
down, horsed on the wind, then visit
the grave of the gambler.