Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-03-25
Mistellaneuus 8eading.
FORTUNE IS WON AND LOST.
Wonderfully Demoralizing Effects oi
Cotton Gambling.

Wonderfully Demoralizing Effects Of
Cotton Gambling.
Sell! No. you wouldn't sell any
more than I did," said the stranger at
the Buford. II was thousands ahead
and I got delirious, or may be I was
just a plain fool. I didn't know very
much about specializing. I had played
poker, and had the same experience
that every man has who Is not a pro-
fessional. I had won as much as sew
eral hundred dollars in a night. and
The next day had gone out and spent
my winnings recklessly and foolishly.
A few nights later lost as much or
a good deal more than had won. In
other words, threw away what won
and put my nose to the grindstone to
pay what I lost; and this did not take
into account the tax on nerves and
health.
But I had never speculated until
last fall. Everybody was talking cot
ton and as happened to have good
deal of extra money at the time I
bought about $500 worth Of contracts.
And cotton went up. I was interested
over the first winning. I soon became
absorbed. I paid no attention to my
family. 1 thought only about cotton.
got $4,000 ahead. Iheld on. My prof
its rose to $4,000, and I began to make
plans for the future. I used to figure
with a pencil what I would buy. Soon
was $4,000 ahead. I was in an In
tensely emotional, excitable state and
could hardly sleep. The market! That
was all I thought about.
my profits went up to $4,000. kept
all my winnings in-took nothing out
kept pyramiding. Some Of my cool
er friends care to me and begged me
TO close out my contracts, but I was
wild.
Il got $4,000 ahead. That was more
money than I ever expected to have.
It never occurred to me that I could
lose. AS I look back upon it now l
know | was insane. I was 80 certain
that I was coming out winner that l
nade positive plans as to what
should buy and how I should invest
the money. My profits kept climbing.
Past $4,000 they went, and I began to
lose flesh and go unshaven.
1.-THE more 1 won the greedier I be-
came. When I began I would have
cworn that when I got $4,000 ahead /
would stop, but at the s25,000 profit
mark I was a furious bull, screaming
that cotton must go to 20 cents. And
one day I was. $4,000 ahead Of the
game. Mind you, that was my money.
All I had to do was to call on my
broker for a settlement. And that was
all the money I really needed. I get
good salary and have an economical,
sensible family. That $4,000 meant
collegiate education for my boys and
girls, comfort for my wife, and COM
parative luxury for all of us. I knew
thar. I now look back with utter
amazement upon my feelings at that
time. My family knew what I was
doing, and they begged me to close
out and be content with my small
fortune. To all such advice turned a
deaf ear. I was a sort Of maniac. 1t
seemed such an easy way to make
money. The bulls must continue to
win, I thought. I was to be rich
rich! My pulse was too quick and
there was fever in my head, but I was
ecstatic.
"rhen the slump came. You re-
member it-remember how it came to
ruin the joys Of Christmas. The
market broke and soon was stagger-
ing around like an imbecile. I was IN
a new game and didn't know what to
do. 1 didn't know how to protect my
self; I had no adequate means to pro-
tect myself as to margins. l just stood
and gaped in terror at the market and
became completely demoralized. 1 lost
nv nerve, and when the market had
reached a point where was only $30O
to the good 1 crawled in like whip
ped cur to my broker and closed for
ever with the cotton market.
And l don't get over that expert
ence. I try to think that 1 came out
$500 to the good and I was fortunate
at that, but it's no use. Day and night
I am thinking of that lost wealth.
don't get as much pleasure out of SIM
pie things as used to do. That
gambling experience will hurt me till
die. 1t Is a terrible thing to play with
unseen money, my friends. Char
lotte Observer.