The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-25
DIR. TALMAGE'S SERMON.
sv THE REV. FRANK DE WITT rALMAeg. Q. Q.


 late you, even though you may never have amassed the illegitimate fortune of a Baron Blanc. whose international gam bling crimes have created a Monte Carlo or of a Benazet or a Devaux. who used to run the gambling casinos of a Spa, an AiX-la- -Chapelle or a Baden Baden be- fore the German parliament in 1872 bade them begone or the illegitimate fortunes of the evil owners of a Louisianan lot tery, who. year after year flagrantly bribed a state legislature until at last the outraged Christian people of that com monwealth, with the aid of the United States postmaster general, rose in their might and destroyed this accursed and debauching infamy. Never have any deal ings in any way with defiant gambling
 The gambling, passion not only robs men of their fortunes. but demoralizes their minds. It units it's victims for the common duties of ordinary life. It over stimulates the brain and the imagination until after awhile work-honest, hard, practical work-has for the gamblers s diseased mind the same kind of repul- sion that a glass of rich dairy milk has for the infiamed throat of a chronic drunkard or the sight of clear, cool stream of water for the bloodshot eye of a mad dog whose tongue and mouth are covered with the white foam of hydro phobia.
 A Voluntary Slave.
 The healthful desire for work and the gamblers passion do not nest in the same heart. They belong not to the same brood of children. They are never nourished by the same mother. When the young man fresh from a Christian home first hears the rattle of a dice box and is led into the sanctum sanctorum of the baccarat seance all his noblest sensibilities are intensely shocked. But as his astonished eyes see great piles of coin and greenbacks being passed across the table after awhile fascination drives away fear. Then the warnings and re- straints of rebuking conscience are shaken off with such questions as these: What is the use of my working hard every day of the week except Sunday and only receiving S6 or $10 on pay night when 1 might earn ten times that sum in a quiet game? What is the use of carry ing bundles and being ordered about by the heads of the different business de- psrtments when by getting sure tips l can live life of fun and excitement at the races? What is the use of my being a white slave when l can win my finan- cial emancipation by little intelligent investment in lottery or policy? l might draw there a lucky prize and live oa easy street the rest oi my life. Some body must win every time Why cannot be that somebody" So the gamblers eupidity begins to work. The young mans brain becomes befuddled. He shirks his daily tasks. As a poor. dis eased, mental incompetent who is striv- Ing to solve the impossible mathematical problem of perpetual motion he tries to work out system of how to break the oank." He studies "chance books" He hunts up his guiding star which shone on the night upon which he was porn. Then at last, with all reasoning powers gone and blinded to all the duties ,f ordinary life, the crazed enthusiast will haunt the gaming table as he once gladly sought his study desk or the store 'oom counter.
 Young men, I solemnly appeal to you. Some of you have already heard the sound of the clicking roulette wheel. Are you going to throw your life away at the iltar of chance? Are you going to unfit yourself for the duties of life by the gamblers craze? I assure you that without bravely and faithfully fulfilling he ordinary daily tasks you will never succeed in anything. The evil demon ,alled Fortuna will beggar you and en- dave you If you frequent her shrine you will sacrifice your liberty as surely as lid that free negro npon the Mississippi steamboat before the war. He first vagered his money and lost. Then at ast he placed his ''papers of freedom ID the center of the table and gambed lis black skin back into the Alabama 'otton fields and into the Louisiana rice iwamps.
 Why Playing Cards Are Tabooed.
 charge upon this gambling mania a lirect robbery of the Christian world in hat by besoiling legitimate recreatons with its foul touch it has made it im- possible for decent men to enjoy certain lelathful relaxations. It is gradually stealing from us the privilege of enjoy ng outdoor sports and indoor games by them with betting and specu- ation. Whenever the leprous hand of he gambler is placed upon a game that port must be forever eschewed by the good and the pure.
 On account of the gambler the Chris ian church has been compelled 10 send orth it's edict of accommodation upon he deck of cards. It is compelled to de- dare that every one of the kings and queens and jacks of spades and diamonds md clubs and hearts is a knave because cards have become publicly recognized IS the gamblers tools as the trowel Is he mason's tool. All consecrated Chris ian people should look upon pack of cards as did John Philip Qun, the re- formed gambler, when in public meeting he once said And now, after all these years of experience and acquaintance with all the professional gamblers in this l can truly say the parlor card table is the kindergarten of the gam )ler's hell' On account of the gamblers oaneful touch the angel of wrath and de- lunciation. who stood with drawn sword 1t the Edenic paradise. is standing today 1t the entrance of every public race rack saying to all good people, Thou shalt not enter here" Talk to me about he development of the horse at the race rack. Every man of any intelligence lnows that the race track today is chief y run for the benefit of the gamblers. the damning influence of the the race horse would not att ract enough people today as money investment to pay for his oats and his blankets On account of the gambling svil even the bowling alley today. the public billiard table. the yachtman's | white sail and college athletics are under | In view of the immense mount of money which changes hands | 1t every football game, it is a very grave l question whether it would not be better | Or the different college faculties to cast heir Influence against every sport which i would take students away from the home | ,ampus.
 In reference to the evil influence of upon outdoor sports and in- loor games Isaac Disraeli the father of | he great British premier, once wrote | 'Gamester and cheat were synonymous | erms in the time of Shakespeare and | Johnson, and they have hardly lost much | ,f their double significance in the pres | mt day" As soon as the gamblers gem |