The Washington herald., 1908-07-12
Gambling.
Gambling Is vics q such porteutous rnien
That to be hated needs but 20 b seen.
Yet seen too off familiar with is face
We A.. - H. -..a- a. r--L----

We frs. endure. thea pity then embrace.
Gambling Is prohibited by law. yet Il
endures. The very legislators who vote
for its prohibition do not hesitate 10 par
take Of a friendly game OF poker pr
vately. But the poor negro boys who play
craps feel the laws penalties. A man
has q right 90 gamble With his own
money. but he is a fool TO DO II.
The first race I ever saw was az the
Darby course AT Philadelphia. where 7
was taken by Washington Methodist
class leader 10 see a race between Flora
Temple and Princess. I never could un-
derstand why a man desired 70 bet on
horse when. II he waited a few minutes.
he could tell the winning animal
A former District Commissioner used
70 fight cocks on Sunday while holding
Office. Another former COMMISSIONS
would have poker parties at his house
On one occasion one OF the party was IN
toNicated. and ny informant got up and
, told tho host he was going home He
was urged TO stay by the host. but re-
fused. and being still urged BY the host
for his reasons for quitting. said he could
not stay and take the money or the In
toxicated man, as ne thought he would
be robbing him. The host usually came
out ahead OF the game
With some the habit OF betting is in
eradicable. This was the case OF a for
mer landlord OF mine. familiarly known
as Uncle Tommy. Uncle Tommy had
lost a fortune betting on Gen. Scott FOR
the Presidency. but that did not restrain
his betting prociivity. Uncle Tommy WIS
very loyal man TO the Union. aad his
loyalty was enhanced by the expectation
Of benefits TO come in the shape Of re-
muneration for n farm across the river
which had been taken for the site Of a
foruncaton. In the summer OF 49,
Uncle Tommy was going TO take Rich
mond In thirty days Said he was sure
Of Il. and offered 10 bet a new hat on f.
Uncle Tommy. I'll take that bet" I said.
and won his hat which he settled for in
the quarterly settlement The next sum
mer Uncle Tommy was going tc take
Richmond again. this time In ninety DAYS.
and wished 10 bet hat on IT, asked him
If he remembered that ] won a hat Of him
the year before. and he remembered Il. I
said to him: Uncle Tommy. YOU are
good deal older man than l. and n YOU
won't tske offense 7 viii give YOU some
advice about betting He said he would
not take offense and desired 10 know
what the advice was. When you want
70 win never bet on your proposition. but
wait until the other proposes and then
take him up II YOU see proper"
Yes. I Will. said he. I'll bet a new
hat on it..
Uncle Tommy. I'll take that bet" and
won his hat. He never troubled me more.
The man who loses his money in a
square deal and sQueals has no public
sympathy.
One OF the worst forms or gambling Is
in bridge and euchre parties. now 50
popular with men and women. IL is san
ping the foundation of society Let the
pulpit cry aloud.
The chief or all vices IS legislation. The
world is governed too much. Even IN
families children are governed TOO much
The fear OF punishment leads them %
lie to avoid #. The most severe punish
ment I ever received was, when I was a
child. for an unintentionaI disobedience,
my mother tied me TO the table 'eg. That
was nearly seventy years ago. but
never forgot It.
An elderly man told me recently that
his father was very severe with him. and
often punished hin. without causing any
EpOd erect. 90 MS 1ather put MIN on
honor and he became Obsdient Before
that he had no love for his father. but
ever afterward he loved and revered him
There used % be a saying IN New Eng
land that the minister's son and the
deacon's daughter are the worst children
I'm the village"
l knew man. not Of the best reputs-
ton. who was IN ths habit OF Furnishing
his sons by threatening 10 send them 20
the Christian Sunday-sChool I have the
testimony OF Christian neighbors that
these boys were the best in the neighbor-
hood.
In legislating 20 cure a supposed or real
evil care should be taken that greater
should not be imposed. For illustration:
Some years ago the California legisla-
ture put a premium upon coyote scalps.
The result WAS that jack rabbits IN
creased so greatly that II was proposed
10 take OF the bounty on coyotes and
put It on jack rabbits.