The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1909-04-16
As TO Card Playing.
Much has been written an,

preached and SAID by persons who
have the welfare of this community
at heart, concerning the evils in
various forms that threaten the
morals of this town. One of these
evils-which is not looked on as an
evil by many would-be reformers-
is that of card playing. There are
columns of argument to be advanced
on both sides of this question, but
one thing is certain: If your boy
never learns to play cards, the pro.
liabilities are that he will never be
caught in a disgraceful gambling
game, as were a number of Emporia
boys recently. And if your daugh-
ter never learns the game, she will
never fritter away her time at after
noon card parties, where many wo-
men who might be better occupied
spend so much of their time.
Church members who attend prayer
meeting regularly never have time
or inclination to learn to play cards.
And by the same token, card players
who are members of the church nev-
er have time or inclination TO go to
prayer meeting.
Rev. S. L. Grigsby, pastor of the
First Presbyterian church. took his
life in his hands Sunday morning,
when he preached on the evils of
card playing and dancing. He ad-
vaRced some mighty telling argu-
ments and among others, was the
printed testimony of an ex salooa-
keeper and gambler. This man
was converted in a revival which
swept Topeka several years age, and
he told his story at mass meeting
in that town following his conver
sion. Here is what the ex saloon
keeper and gambler said:
"I have been in the saleoI
business with a gambling reon
attached, for the past four years
and I claim to know something
about what l am going to tell you
| do not believe the gambling room
Is nearly so dangerous, nor does j
do anything like the same amour
of harm, as the social card party il
the house. l give thus as my rea
son: In the gambling room tn
windows are closed tight; tn
curtains are pulled down; everything
is conducted secretly for fear O
detection, and Rone but gamblers
as a rule enter there. In the parlo
all have access 10 the game, child
, rem are permitted to watch 1t, yeuui
| people are invited to partake in it
, 1t is made attractive and alluring b,
T giving prizes, serving refreshments
and adding high social enjoyment
!, For nay part, l never could see tn
difference between playing for
piece of silver nodded in the shap
of money, or silver nodded In tn
shape of a cup or a thimble. Th
principls is the same, and wheneve
property changes hands over tn
luck of cards, no matter how small
the value of the prize, 1 believe it i
gambling. Perhaps you have neve
thougt of it, but where do all tn,
gamblers come from2 They are no
taught in the gambling dens.
'greener,' unless he is fool, neve
enters a gambling hell, because ht
knows he will be feeced out o
everything he possesses in less thar
fifteen minutes. He has learned
somewhere else before he set foo
inside of such a place. When ht
has played in the parler, in tht
social game of the home, and ha.
become proficient enough to win
prizes among his friends, the next
step with him is to seek out the
gambling room, for he has learned
and now counts upon his efficiency
to hold his own. The saloon men