Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-31

And let ME declare here, my hearers,
that gambler is u thief at heart, be-
cause he filches from another that for
which he makes no honest return.
II spoke to the Commemorative At
torney and he said that 1t would be u
good thing to teach all boys to gamble.
and confidently referred to himself as
being shining evidence of his theory"
III your issue of yesterday there is an
article purporting to report u sermon
preached by the Rev. l.. Il. Christie, in
which abpve abstracts appear pro-
sumo that the report Is accurate.
The logical inference to be drawn
therefrom is obvious, to-wit: That as
had been taught to gamble, ergo, that
L had been taught to steal; or If the
reverend gentleman holds to Il strlcter
INTERPRETATION of his meaning, that
had learned gambling in order that i
might learn how to steal and advocated
the teaching OF boys to gamble.
The truth of the matter Is as follows:
In n conversation between Mr.. Christie
and myself in my oflice-a conversation
which l presumed to be of a friendly
and private nature. inasmuch as there
was no question of law or business then
involved, and in which we were dis
cussing gambling in the abstract and n
means Of deriving 1t of its hold on
society," remarked that its novelty to
youths who were debarred from any
knowledge OF cards until they were
emancipatcd from the apron strings,
thought, had Il great deal to do with
their after excuses. I said that I had
no doubt that 1t would have had that
effect on me il cards had been denied
me when I was - youth. but, as had
played cards from the time that could
first remember, with my father and my
family, and was thoroughly familiar
with the game of poker as diversion,
and had played it at my own home for
small stakes, as consequence 1t had
no destinations for me that I could not
resist. That upon the same theory
had had access to wines and liquors
since could remember; that my father
had tod me that when L wanted
drinR to come to him for it: that in
consequence 1 had learned that they
were to be used and not abused, and
no man could say that I was n drunk
ard Of q gambler.
The Reverend Doctor remarked that
the lessons that / had been taught were
severe tests That not every boy could
Withstand.
replied that there were four boys
In our family and they had all gone
through the same experience as my
self, and were as I am, but that no
doubt a boys moral constitution should
be consulted in applying the treatment
This was the extent OF our conversation
on that point. Now, leave it to a
fair-mnded people If there was any
thing in the, above which would justify
the reverend gentleman in making such
n personal application as he did, or in
holding me up to II community of
friends as such n horrible example or
cOrruntpr OF VDuthS.
After so far forgetting myself as to
be led by the reverend gentleman into
an abstract discussion and using my
self as an Illustration, am free to
confess that 1 have no claims to the
name OF n politician. I should have
kept Il close mouth and have said moth
ing. but then I was talking to a min
lister of God and was lulled into q sense
of security through that knowledge. |
knew that q gambler would have re-
spected n private conversation about
myself and family. and surely had a
right TO think that Dr. Christie was
better than gambler.
JAMES +. DUNCAN,
Attorney for the Commonwealth.
Norfolk City.