Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-30
Mania For Card Playing

Dear MIS- a cAA0A-
plavnag IN our part OF the country. lou
have been so thoughtful and earnest IN
vour pieces in The Journal concerning
home life and have warned. US so tsllh-
flllv AGAINST the things which make Tor
the hurt OF the family. that 1 want you
20 tell US what you think about caro-
playing Our boys and girls ask tne
older ones where's the harmT Wneh
7 tel them the danger lies in the growing
habit for gambling they point 20 homes
where members OF the church I've, ana
where there are card parties constantly
szoing on and ask me IL those are not sooo
peoule and II ii has hurt them. etc.' etc
GIVE Us some counsel or TINS hhe.
dear Mrs FELTON, 1 want &c oe WIS.,
mother In the rearing Of my children, ana
I 49, want 10 give them all the pleasure
that falls within their reach olshAe
10 nut commands on my children Cwhen
they visit other young people, about mat
terS OF this kind. II there Is nothing
wrong IN card playing. Children VIII seen
the company OF others and " they DO not
associate with good children they VIII
find companions Of another class, ana TINS
card playing habit has grown 'as ! salu
hefore) into a perfect mania. IL IL
nightly amusement in some homes could
name. but will not. 1 beg you TO tell me
what Won can say 10 relieve my anxiety
This REQUEST might be called the M
teen-sixteen puzzle" because there Is 50
much involved I'm the discussion
When I was young in life, card-playlns
was c1talogued along with horse racing
and liquor drinking-among prevailing
evils A person was obliged TO give up
cara-playing TO be received as an accept
able member of any orthodox ehurch.
PuIpfts. Numbered against the dangers OF
gambling, and a card-playing house was
avoided as a place OF risk. to those VINO
would shun temptation and consequent
danger to the young and unwary
Il was barely sixteen when my name
was placed on the church roll ana Nas
told that church members could not dance
or pIav cards and continue as members OF
the church.
Times have changed since then, al
though / have never danced again or
plaved a card, up to this good day. Per-
haps there are a thousand people VINO 90
both and are blameless in the sight OF
God and man, may the Lord forbid tnat
I should measure anybody's accountable
ttv hut am here to say that felt the
benefit OF the restriction in my own case.
I was passionateIy fond of both amuse-
meuts and / have always felt that the
reconciliation gave me sense OF Wiling
ness to do something in the name OF my
Lord and Master-which would typify
change OF heart IN me, and help me 10
exemplify in my daily walk and CONVEX
sation, the fact that was trying TO be-
come an acceptable member OF the
church Of the most high God.
There Is a fascination about card play
ing that is comparable to nothing else
save the growth OF the liquor habit II
you play today you viii want TO play to-
morrow and next day, and next day i
know OF people who play bridge before
AnmH hND-
cause there are no card parties to pass
on the time. II is a consuming passion,
4 grows with its growth, and like the
morphine habit. it always continues TO
make itself known by the constant de-
sire OF excitement OF play.
But while it may not hurt your mino
OF morals, dear reader. land 1 am glad
II il does nOt), there are thousands Of
others who are not so strong, who crave
this peculiar excitement as they might
crave q drink and who, from small be-
ginnings.d evelop craze for gambling
until they go down and under an engulf-
ing wave forever.
No. man becomes suddenly villain, but
II would tax any mans character to live
IN an atmosphere OF gambling hells and
promiscuous dance halls and come out
unscathed In mental or moral health. IL
II makes thy brother 10 Offend" that
danger you must avoid Why?
Because your happiness Is bound up in
his happiness, and your example may
prove deadly 20 his more susceptible ma
ture while you may safely resist.
gentleman once asked my advice
concerning his sons duty. OF rather hts
OF associates which VIII not be aceptible
duty TO his son. I'm regard TO card play
ing and dancing. Said he: II ind these
amusements are universal among his as
sociates. girls and boys. They are his
set where / am willing he should mate
when he makes up his mind to marry. II
he fails TO enter into these amusements
he must stay away, or seek other class
OF associates which win not be acceptabls
TO me. or prove congenisl TO him"
This was spoken by a Christian gen.
tlsman. high Up in the councils Of his
church land also mine.) l said in reply.
If you must keep in with that set-there
is nothing else OF you to do"
Your son will play cards and dance and
he may escape serious trouble-in an
sver 10 your good example and your
prayers. but cannot speak for those who
are not so well equipped to resist danger
az yourself or who follow the example
Of your son. There are people in this
world who have seen ruin follow such
beginnings and their grief was so great
that they might well exclaim:
What II / gain the whole world Of
fashion and lose my own son.
Modern punch bowls have been the
beginnings OF many drunkard's saa
fate. Familiarity with playing cards has
helped 10 toll along into gambling dens
many a mothers boy who would not
have gone there except for this fascina-
ton and unhealthy excitement. and the
winning Of prizes
Familiarity with wine suppers and caro-
tables has been fatal TO many poor girls
who exchanged their pearl OF great price
for ruin and remOrse: but I cannot say
whether your son or your daughter may
escape or may fall land may the good
Lord spare every anxious mothers
heart who reads these lines): but / do say
there Is wisdom and safety in steering
clear Of dangers that we see and recog-
nize as avenues to temptation and diff
1culty.