Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-03-13
The Bows And "Dinks."

My curiosity. ftr a long time, was
aroused by crowds Of boys On the
streets, some down On theiI' knees,
cihefs with their hands on THEN
knees. leaning forward, watching
with intense eageihess. Oblivicus TO
everything else, their eyes and minds
seemed riyeted on what they were
doing. one day | counted fourteen
white boys and tive negroes thus ell
gagged As | am very much interest
ed in boys, began 10 investigate. /
drew near and watched. | found
they were shooting small marbles.
which they called drinks" ! thought
that ought to be fine sport fer the
little fellows. But the real play OF
the game seemed to be used only as
means 10 an end. They would
watch one another as keenly as
hawks watch their prey for chance.
'fhey would often cheat, II they
thought there was a chance of doing
IL without being caught, and win the
game. And when one would get the
advantage of his competitors and
win, he would gather up the drinks
as his own, while the defeated ones
went on TO buy more. provided they
had begged enough money from their
parents 10 make the new purchase.
This Is gambling. pure and simple.
on a small scale IL is true; but they
enter into il with the same Intensity
and longing to win with which men
struggle over a game a ca.is iOr
money. Ii this kind Of appetite ana
this desire for winning is To be IN
stilled into and cultivated in the lit
lie tots cf our land, We need net be
surprised 10 find within a few years
the boys going TO the bad by the
Wholesale. Nearly all evil begins i'm
4 small way.
How intensely eager these boys are
to win and gather in the drinks.
They gather on the streets and play,
scarcely realizing the passing cf We
hicles ard automobiles that are
lodging around them. They gather
on the sidewalks, and the stream OF
pedestrians. hurrying about their
business. walk around them. while
they serve their apprenticeship in
learning the ART OF one OF the mos
Gigantic evils OF our land. and the
loving. and often unsuspectins par
ents furnishing the small capital for
the business which will probably be
the ruin of their boys. OFTEN the
boys quarrel. and some OF them
swear. and sometimes come to blows
over the game "a gamblers citen ro y
over game of cards.
am writing this at III Suggestion
Cr mother who is alarmed =, 80
eagerness and aptness of her boy at
drinks" She says that her boy rises
now an hour or two earlier than he
used u rise; and when asked why
Re did this. his reply was that he
wanted TO get in full day at the
game of 'dinks." That hoy. ! am
told. is a winner. | believe in limo
cent sports. They are helpful and
necessary. but such gambling prac-
tices as this cannot be but pernicious
and hurtful to the characters and
usefulness OF the boys There are
bleuty CT helpful. yet Innocent sports.
and even "dinks" would be good with
the gambling features cut out
trust that mothers and fathers,
who love their boys and who desire
them TO grew up TO be useful and
honorable citizens, will at least talk
20 them kindly. and explain to them
the evil tendencies OF such a prac-
tice, and teach them a higher and
better and more useful way than
playing drinks" on the street for
gain. H. w. DUNkLEf-