The age-herald., 1902-03-09

From the New York Herald.
 It has been written as a definition or man" that he is the only animal that gambles. And again 1t has been said that the instinct of hazard belongs to the mental components of every human being. Both philosophy and religion have taken this into consideration, and wise teachers of all ages have made profit of this weak ness of their pupils.
 Chance enters so largely into the every day affairs of this life that even the strictest moralist finds himself casting theoretical dice, with fate as the oppos- ing gam ester. There Is a degree of specu- lation in all things. Almost every incident is influenced by chance, and, though It Is only some of us who strive to obtain something for nothing all of us hope to come off at least even in the great game of life, and all are forced to accept that which the final arbiter awards.
 In the days of long ago men cast lots to decide their disputes. when passions did not call for a resort to the sterner gamble of the sword, and human nature in six thousand years has changed no Jot.
 Swindlers take advantage of the weak nesses of others, playing upon the desire for unnatural gains, that they may ob- tain the funds wherewith to gratify their own cravings for speculation. Direct se- quence connects the green goods swindle with the surreptitious game that is operated that the unwary may contri- bute to the more cunning. That same se- quence may be continued until it gradual ly approaches business that Is looked up- on as legitimate; but to so trace 1t would not be popular.
 Just as men are not proud of unworthy ancestors from whom wealth and talent may have been inherited. so the respect able trade denies the links that connect it with the business that is recognized as unlawful.
 Johnson, Post-Graduate.
 Thus dipping into a moral philosophy, a lesson was read by one who was quali- fled as a teacher by a long and thorough course in the school of experience. Grad uated years ago, David Johnson, may now be said to be taking post-grad- uate course. Two cabled messages from Europe had been the cause of the pecu- liar turn taken by the conversation.
 
 a system of play and fund amounting to $50, 900, to which trusting friends had con- tributed, had met with ignoble defeat in his campaign against the bank of Monte Carlo. Charles M. Schwab, a young American who had fled from the cares of business. had scattered his gold on the roulette table. almost hoping to lose and his gains were so heavy that titled gamblers gasped their envy at his for tune.
 These things were being discussed over the coffee. Around the table-it was at the Hoffman House and at the conclu- sion of a busy day in the exchange were half dozen men each of whom spends all of his days and most of his nights chasing the golden phantom of Fortune.
 There were a broker, who possesses all of the lore of the market; a speculator, who cannot tell from moment to moment with in s50,000 of his fortune; a Son of His Father, who spends in New York frac tion of the wealth taken from the noun tains of the far West, man who one, owned more wheat than ten states pro- duced and who lost s7.000,OO0 in ridding himself of 1t. There was present, too, ons who had assisted in precipitating tn panic that carried away those seven mil lions; but those things are soon forgotten in the world of strenuous trade.
 Everybody in New York knows David Johnson. His word Is token of value, just as Is a certificate issued from the United States Treasury. It was only five years ago that he was compelled to ask for time, after his entire fortune had gone to pay losses incurred In Wall Street. He then owed-never mind how much, for it has since been paid, dollar for dollar, and a new bank account has been created. He was sixth at the table. Perhaps all that was said did not come from him, but of all present he was best qualified to speak. The conversation Is given without the use of quotation marks
 No book has ever been written to ex- plain why 1t is wrong to play in New York gambling house and yet quite the proper thing to tempt fortune in the salon at Monte Carlo. But society has decreed. You must be good at home. On the Riviera 1t is only necessary that you be careful
 There Is this much to be said of Monte Carlo-the toll taken by the industrious miller Is only one-fourth of that exacted In this country, but there the grist is ever passing through the hopper and the result Is more certain than the earnings of the New York Central Railroad.
 It may seem paradoxical that the indiv- chance of winning than he would have in New York and yet the banks earn ings cannot fail. This is the result of the never ceasing river of gold that flows across the board.
 It should be no surprise that Lord Ross