The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-04-17
Gambling Mothers.


sands OF mothers are so infatuated
with 1t they are led to dismiss their
children to nurses to hurry them off
10 school in shameless neglect Worse
than that. many are led to have as
semblies for 1t in their own homes be-
fore the eyes of their children. on
course the children think there is no
wrong in gambling, and feel it Is right
TO bet on a horse race or a base ball
game. at the pool tables, because
mother plays Bridge Whist for
money. When gambling in any form
once enters a home the atmosphere
of the home is permeated by it. This
Is quickly and fully true when the
mother is the gambler. The vice Of
gambling dominates woman far more
powerfully and destructively than it
does man. We are reminded of the
old and famed testimony Of Addison.
I'VE always find that play, when fol.
lowed with assiduity, engrosses the
whole woman. She quickly grows un-
easy in her own family, takes but
little pleasure in all the domestic. in
nocent endearments OF life. grows
more fond of Pam than of her hus-
band" This distinguished writer
quotes the testimony Of a Husband:
When she returns to me, with Joy
In her face, it does not arise from the
sight of her husband, but from the
good luck she has had at cards. On
the contrary says he, If she has been
loser, I am doubly a sufferer by it.
She comes home out of humor is an
cry with everybody, displeased with
all + could say or do, and in reality.
for no other reason, but because she
has been throwing away my estate"
The distinguished author follows this
quotation with the following notable
and sad satire: What a race Of
worthless, what patriots. what heroes,
must We expect from mothers of the
make"
There are circles which, as is said,
are no doubt Bridge crazy. They talk
and think little of any other thing.
Readings, afternoon teas, musicales.
the chaste elegant receptions of other
days have been superseded. The pow
er to interest and entertain friends
and guests in any other way than by
cards Is disappearing. AS a conse-
quence, cards are become living foun-
tains of death dealing decentralization
to society. The outcome to the play
er is coarseness of department, de-
generacy of thought, prostitution of
heart. 1t means, Of course, fallen
homes, one of the stable pillars on
which the State and Church are built.
Some one has written OF the hold and
prevalence of the vice here and there.
$50 strong is the tide, and the total
destitution of reason Of true devotion.
that many would give up their re-
ligious connections rather than Their
gambling" 1t will dissipate all sug-
gestion OF harshness in our language
by reading this from Chicago "" =
The Police Department and the Law
and Order League have joined hands
in q crusade to prevent society wo-
men from gambling The edict APP
lpels TO cinch whist and euchre par
ties, in which the trophies are c0t
glass and china ware. as we'll as to
bridge ard poker parties, in which
high monetary stakes are the prizes. y
The contemporary TO which we are
much indebted well says: No gam
bling mother" can effectively instruct
her children in religion. Her warn
ings are worthless against vice of ev-
cry kind by reason of her bad ex-
ample. BY indirection. also the coz
rupting influences of the gambline
mother pour into the children through
her husband and their father. Many
father would gladly have Chris
tlan nousehold VINO ueSpalrS on ac-
count of the noxious influence of their
wives who persist in teas and dinners
coupled with Bridge whist parties.
"Dungeoned in a prison of late was
| young man chained to an iron bed
awaiting the day Of execution. His
| mother whom he had not seen ir
years came to the prison to take leave
of him. To the horror of the chap
| lain and even of the jailer, he refused
| TO have the interview. She came tc
the door and pleaded with him. S.
| far as his shackles woul' allow ht
turned his back upon her eXclaiminG
| "Go away. 1t was you that put tn,
wine to my lips. 1t was you tina
taught me to gamble. 1t was drink