Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-04-08
each Of our cities is cursed with this



only iii the underground oyster cellar,
or at the table back of the curtain coy-
cred 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 in the unsuspecting
traveler-providing free drinks all
around-but in gilded parlors and amid
gorgeous surroundings. This sin works
ruin, first, by providing an unhealthful
stinulant Excitement is pleasurable.
Under every sky and in every age men
have sought it. We must at times have
excitement. \ thousand voices III our
nature demand it, 1t is right. 1t is
healthful 1t is inspiriting 1t is de-
sire God given. But anything that first
gratifes this appetite and hurls it back
in terrific reaction is deplorable and
wicked. Look out for the agitation
that, like a rough musician, in bringing
out the tune plays so hard he breaks
down the instrument. God never made
a man strong enough to endure the wear
and tear Of gambling excitements.
A young man having suddenly inner.
tied a large property sits at the hazard
tables and takes up in a dice box the es-
tate won by fathers lifetime's sweat
and shakes it and tossos it away. In
temperance soon stigmatizes its victim,
kicking him out, slayering fool, into the
ditch, or sending him, with the drunk
ards hiccough staggering up the street
where his family lives. But gambling
does not in that way expose its victims.
The gambler may be eaten up by the
gamblers passion, yet you only discover
it by the greed in his eyes, the hardness
of his features, the nervous restlessness,
the threadbare coat and his embarrassed
business. Yet he is on the road to ruin
and no preachers voice or startling
warning or wife's entreaty can make
him stay for moment his headlong ca
reer.
The internal spell is on him. A giant
is aroused within, and though you bind
him with cables, they would part like
thread, and though you fasten him seven
times around 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 set the cross Of the Son Of God,
over them all the gambler would leap
like roe over the rocks on his way tc
Lerdition. "Aceldama, the field OF
blood"
Again, this sin works ruin by killing
industry 4 man used to reaping scores
or hundreds Of dollars from the gaming
table will not be content with slow
work. He will say, "Wbat is the use OF
irving to make this $50 in my store
when | can make five times that in hall
an hour by the dice. You never knew
a confirmed gambler who was industri'
GUS The men given to this vice spend
their time not actively employed IN the
game in idleness or intoyication OF
sleep or in corrupting new victims
| This sin has dulled the carpenters saw,
and cut the band Of the factory wheel
sunk the cargo, broken the teeth Of the
farmers harrow, and sent strange
tightening to shatter the battery Of th'
philosopher. The very first idea in gam
ing is at war with all the industries OF
society.
ANY trade or occupation that is OF us'
is ennobling. The street sweeper ad
yances the interests of society by the
cleanliness effected. The cat pays fol
the fragments it eats by clearing th'
house of vermin. The fly that takes th'
sweetness from the dregs Of the cuI
compensates by purifying the air anC
keeping back the pestilence. But th'
gambler gives not anything for tina
which he takes. recall that sentence
He does make a return, but 1t Is dis
grace TO the man that be feeces, despair
70 his heart ruin TO his business, an
guish to his wife, shame to his childrel
and eternal wasting away to bis soul
He pays in tears and blood and agon,
and darkness and woe.
What dull work is plowlng to IN
farmer when in the village saloon IL
one night he makes and loses the valu'
of a summer harvest Who will wan
10 sell tapes and measure nankeen am
cut garments and weigh suear whon u
a nights game he makes and loses ant
makes again and loses again the proht
OF a season:
An Example.
John Borack was sent as amcrcanlil
agent from Bremen to England and thi
country. After two years bis employer
mistrusted that all was net right h
was a defaulter for S1,0C0. 1t VIZ
found that he had lost in Lonlbar'
street. London, $29,CC in FultoI
street New York, $4,000, and in NeY
Orleans, SO 600 He was Imprisoned
but afterward escaped, and went int
the gambling profession. He died ii
luuatic asylum. This crime is gettin
its lever under many nercantile hous
in our cities, and before long down vii
come the great establishment, crushin
reputation, home comfort and immorta
souls. How il diverts and sinks capita
may be inferred from some authenti
, statement before US. The ten ganiin
houses that once were authorized L
Paris passed through the banks yearl
1926, 600, 900 francs.
Furthermore, this sin is the eource Q
dishonesty. The game Of hazard itsel
; is often cheat. How many tricks an
deceptions in the dealing of the cards
The opponent's hand i, ofttimes foun
out by fraud. Cards are marked so tina
they may be designated from the back
Exnert pamesters have their accom-