Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-03-18
THE APPLES or sopoM.

~ Rev. ". ". Boyd. OF s. Louis.
Timothy, G, 8 and 10. CR - But
they that desire to be rich fall into a
temptation and a snare and plany fool
ish and Lurtful lusts, such as drown
men in destruction and perdition. For
the love of money is a root of all kinds
of evil
The evil of this gaming spirit is that
it tends TO corrupt the whole social
body 1t leads to vicious desires, de-
struetion of morals, aban lonment Of
industry and honest work, loss of
self-control and respect, ruin of for
tunes.
We have just had an object lesson
of the disastrous effects of the gam
bling mania. st. Louis has been the
scene of great mental suffering, and
the anguish experienced by our neigh
bors has been felt by others in hun
dreds, perhaps thousands, of cities and
towns throughout the United States.
We have seen crowds OF men and
women with babes in their arms,
standing in line on the st. Louis
streets the line extending for half
a city llock--all waiting to gain en-
trance to one of the Office buildings in
which, during the last year. certain
gambling concerns have fourished by
means of alluring inducements offered
depositors in the matter of exorbitant
rates of interest on their money.
In these throngs were men about
town, and a few women. who knew,
when they risked their dollars, that
they were embarking in a gambling
proposition For them no sympathy
can be wasted They went into the
speculation with their eyes open. They
knew that the larger the interest Of
fered them, the greater risk they ran
of parting with their money. Confirmed
gamblers, they have staked and lost.
No one can cominiserate them.
But the others-and they are in the
majority-the men and the women of
the poorer class, the poorly educated.
and those whose education. though
qualifying them for the ordinary bust
-
sight into such financial methods as
have recently been exploited-these
were the sufferers, and for them the
greatest compassion must be felt.
II was an interesting but pathetic
thing to study the fac of those whose
little fortune drawn perhaps from the
savings bank and invested in these
fraudulent concerns, was now lost for
ever.
We smiled as we read the 'get-rich-
quick" advertisements, but these igno-
rant persons did not. No. They be-
lieyed what they read in their family
newspaper to be true. On one page
they saw the advertisement of a large
dry goods house. in which certain ar
ticles were marked down as bargain
sale. A visit to the store demon
strated the truth of the notice. Pre-
vious visits had proved to them the
truth of previous notices.
On another page, finely set up, they
saw an advertisement that a certain
corporation, with so much capital stock
and in offices owned and controlled
by bank or by men whose names
are among the highest in the communi-
ty, would pay them five per cent
week on their money and let them
withdraw their capital whenever they
desired.
OF course many of them believed
what they saw. We could not under
stand at the time how anyone could be
so taken in, but we do now. The rea-
son in many cases is plain. And that
is why | say that grave responsible
ty rests with somebody; let me say it
in all kindness, it rests with the news
papers and other periodicals that pub
lish the alluring, seductive advertise
ments of these swindling institutions.
And now, for a moral for ourselves.
The pulpit has erred in not calling the
attention of the people TO these ne
farious concerns and warning them
against all gambling methods. have
sinned. But one doesn't like to be al
ways appearing in the role of critic.
And to speak out now seems like lock-
ing the stable door after the horse has
been stolen.
Nevertheless. 4 want with all earnest
ness TO warn you against quick meth
DDS Of getting money. They invariably
end, sooner or later, in failure.
Industry economy, enterprise. let
this be your raIlying cry. Spend less
than you earn. Put the balance into
a good savings bank until the sum ac-
cumulated warrants better. invest
ment Then you are capitalist. and
the result IS that he who began life
rs a common laborer drives about in
his own carriage before its close.
DO not let the great fortunes. spring
ing up like a mushroom in night
tempt you into some.f 'get-rich-quick"
scheme The property which is rapid
ly gained is often quite as rapidly dis
sipated Come TO your climax slower:
it will be more impressive and lasting
Shun all forms of gambling. Their
gains, Ike apples of Sodom. win turn
to ashes IN the grasping. Be alert: be
honest. be truthful. be diligent, and
you shall stand before kings.
This above all: To thine own self
he true. and ii must follow. as the
night the day thou canst not then be
false TO any man"
HEAVEN is A PLACE.
BY Or. }. ~. Driver
\ great many of jobs comforters try