"Alpha," on Gaming Houses.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3600, 10 July 1880, Page 2

"Alpha," on Gaming Houses.

" Alea sequa vorax, species certissirna furti, Non coutenta bouis, animum quoque perfida mergit, Furca, furax—infamis, iuers, furiosa, ruina." * Petrarch's Dial.

Thus wrote the celebrated Italian poet, Francesco Petrarcha, who was the soa of a notary named Petrarcha, who lived in the year 1302, and was of the same political faction as Dante, with whom he went into exile in that year. After a brief sojourn at Areggothe poet was born in 1304. He studied at Avignon, and his romantic attachment to the beauti'ul flaxen haired French woman, Laura was the principal event in his life. Through continually journeying through France, Italy and Spain, he was enabled to visit the gaming dens of large towns, aud to observe the effect on the people who frequented them. Thus the philosopher and poet mourned over the prevalent habit of gaming, and used the quill in, endeavouring to stop its progress. .But he did not succeed, and therefore it is little use poor " Alpha " raising his voice against gambling. It has gradually increased- from the time the Dial was written, and like everything wicked, will continue to do so until the end of time. Jn large towns gambling dens are; as numerous as the stars in heaven, and the wretched scenes witnessed by anyone visiting them would be amply sufficient to deter him from again entering such a den of infamy, unless he was callous to all the more honourable traits of a man's character. To see the haggard' faces of habitues, long since ruined in constitution and purse, by the terrible effects of dissipation, and the death like fascinating power of cards or dice over them. To sec the eyeballs starting from their socks, and the swollen veins almost bursting in the temples. of the poor deluded, depraved gamblers is to cause in one a feeling ot pity and commiseration. To search the mind of the gambler and witness the tumult of good and evil thought therein contained. To see him as he tosses ..with restlessness on his poor bed, far up in some cold garret, where the wind disdaining the builder's efforts whistles through the roof and rustles the scanty clothing in its.onward progress, stopping as it were to play a cruel frank in the badly furnished garret, before rustling the thick and costly curtains of the nobles, whose mansions team with costly furniture and comfort. This would be sufficient to deter men and women from allowing themselves to become involved in the

maelstromic delights of the gaming table. Charles Dickens, the world-renowned novelist, in his novel, " The Old Curiosity Shop," seems to hare taken one of his characters (the old grandfather) from the facts spoken of by Petrarcha in his Dial, and the excellent portraiture drawn of the hoary-headed old gambler has had the effect of preventing many people from involving themselves through indulging a weakness for a highly pleasurable, but most dangerous pastime, and I would call the attention of some of Ihe readers of this article to the book, as the young men of the Thames seem fast drifting into dissolute habits, fostered and engendered by apparently harmless establishments. There are public places, stores, etc., on the Thames, where scores of the cream of the rising generation of the Thames resort to. They do not play for money I grant, but the principle is a bad one. I know of a youth —or rather a child, only 12 years of age, residing beyond Parewai, who stays at one of these establishments until midnight and then tramps to his own,home. Thia I know for a fact is not an occasional occurrence but a rgular thing. I would submit that places where gaming of any kind tending to corrupt public morals is carried on, should be closed, as the first thing lads do after they lose is to steal. I do not mention any names but should hope that young men especially those fond of a.uiisement, and the gaming table, will beware of the result of playing euchre, or whist from morning to night, even though they play for nothing more serious than cigars or tobacco. Alpha.

■■* That direst felon of the breast, gaining, from its wretched thrall steals more than fortune, and fills the soul with an inert devouring pest which gnaws, and rots and taints and ruins all.