The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-24
Cards in the Home.
Editor of The Tribune:

spOnSlDIe tor opinions here expressed
Cards in the Home.
Editor of The Tribune:
Sir: The question of playing cards FOR
amusement in the home has been dis
cussed for several years. No apparent
results or benefits have been derived
from those discussions until the lest few
years. Formerly people regarded card
playing as a necessity. Fathers and moth
ers would argue that their sons and
daughters must be kept at home evenings
in some way, and 1t may be truthfully
said that they found no indoor amuse-
ment that would attract the young peo-
pie like a social game of cards. In its
attractiveness lies the great danger
Many yong men have learned in their
homes to love a game which has after
wards caused their ruin. There are many
young men who are strong enough 10
withstand temptations associated with
card playing but one never knows who
it Is that may be ushered into a gamblers
life while spending his evenings about
the card table at his own home or at the
home of friend. There is a peculiar
fascination about the game. The more
one plays the more one wants to play.
Once under its deadly influence ii is hard
TO break away until too late, many times,
to save ones manhood and character.
reasons why l believe that card playing
even for amusement is dangerous. / will
not speak so much from the standpoint
Of an officer in the Volunteer movement
| as from the standpoint Of a personal eX-
perienCe which is the best school for proof
Of Gods word when it says. BE not de-
celved God is not Knocked for whatsoevera a
man soweth that shall he also reap" And
from that reaping from the results of that
sowing / say that card playing is dam
gerous and destructive amusement. The
Rev. Sam Jones has truthfully said, Sow
cards and reap gamblers" Now for some
| reasons why card playing is wrong:
First-It is not the last game OF cards
| that makes the gambler, but the first game
of cards he plays. The most inveterate
gambler who is dead to all moral cOns!d-
erations and human feelings, whose
sWindling operations are carried on upon
a gigantic scale commenced his career
| by playing a social game of cards with
| his friends, then a game for a small
amount OF money just to give interSt to
the game lie perhaps laughed at the
| idea that he should ever play except &C.
ca casionally for amusement, or to crafty
| his associates. No man reaches the low
est depths of vice at a single step. His
progress is gradual-step by step he ue'
| scends: one restraint after another is re-
moved: one moral principle after an
other is shattered. The process of hard
| ening the heart and blishting the sensi-
| bilities goes on from day to day. Con-
| science is gradually hushed until the
| mind, bereft of any virtue. lost TO all
honor and neutrality-suspicious. of the ma
! ture of a fiend.
| Second-The serious effects of gambling
| are sure to follow from small beginnings
| because the inherent vital principle OF
| the system is itself wrong. Gambling Is
| based upon the unjust principle of taking
| the property of another without an equiv
alent being rendered. 1t starts openly
| with this design. 1t does not pretend to
| give a just remuneration for what is re
ceived. ''It il virtually robbery" The
| fact that each party acts voluntarily does
| not take away the injustice of the prln-
ciple any more than the crime of a duel
| list is lessened because he goes voluntar.
! lily into the field.
| Third scarcely know Of a vice that
makes so complete a wreck of mans
| moral nature, that tears away so eifec-
trally the restraints Of virtue honor and
religion. 1t disturbs the relations of The
principles of right ana justice to the peace
and welfare of the community, and were
| the examples universally followed. oil
| honorable dealings would be at an end.
| Mutual confidence would be broken up
and the bonds Of society would be severed.
Fourth-Gambling is Illegal. No man
ever CANDLES but is criminal to the la W
! Of God and to the law of the land.
| Poison is poison, no matter out OF what
| kind of a cup it is drank. and gambling
is gambling whether It be in the home OF
| wealth and culture, social club or in the
saloon.
There are many more reasons for en-
| deavoring to discourage card playing, but
il is useless to enumeratc them here. II
ought only to be necessary TO call the at
tention of fathers and mothers TO a few
of the dangers that surround the card
table whether it be in the home or in the
gamblers den. With these facts staring
us in the face one would he justified il
starting crusade against card playing
under any circumstances.
How many parents there are in the
world who have experienced the aWfu
results Of these social games in the home
God speed the day when gambling and its
kindred evils will be STAMPED by society
as they are stamped by God as things
which ruin and kin the brightest an(
, choicest manhood of our uaion.
! | have only one thought i'm writing this
article. That It may be the means TO helI
some young man 70 SEQ before too lat,
the danger ahead Of him In the pathway
made by cards and TO turn away from
that which many times DESTROYS anC
kills, like the frost kills the beautiful
and delicate flowers made to beauty
and enrich our lives by their presence an,
| fragrance. Thanking you for the space
you may give this article, ! am sincerely