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Article COLLEGE MUSINGS. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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College Musings.
Pri ' thee take a moral , young fellosv , though from this brief episode in the drama of a young man ' s life , throsvn upon the world ' s svaters svithout any A'lentor , but that svhich grace or a good heart might furnish to save him from being swallosved up in its numerous most insidious quicksands . The vice of gambling cannot be too severely deprecated . It is a propensity of the most dangerous and subtle character . It is not alone the
ruin of estates and property lhat is involved , but the sure contracting of a habit endangering the permanency of every moral attribute . Such is the conviction of him , who suffered himself no longer to be associated svith such infatuated folly than he thought it necessary for the study of mankind . Bethink thee , young man , who reads this passing thought , he who nosv speaks to you speaks somesvhat feelingly . Like one who has descended into the regions of fabled Pluto , and returns to tell the
perils and hazards of the way , and the tortures and sufferings of the unhappy victims doomed to dsvell in those cimerean abodes of wretchedness and horror ; so he warns the inexperienced—uninitiated—rasv , green , sanguine youth—to pause ere he make a debut at the gaming table , and learn the unequal hazardous odds it is determined he shall run to win , the oppressive torture of the mind to be endured in either gaining or losing , the despair created in losing yourself , or in them of svhom you win ; the pallid , haggard looks of most around you , svho oft stake all , body and soul , on the last card , and then go forth to die by
their own hand ; the thousand indescribable evils svhich this hideous passion reveals to the contemplative eye , and if he possess one grain of understanding , he svill take this practical caution in good part , and , if committed , svithout a moment ' s delay retrace his dubious steps ; but if not , vigilantly avoid all such destructive demoralizing haunts . Unsvittingly I am grosvn serious . But , indeed , serious things require serious consideration . This is a theme of vital import . It constitutes the preservation of families and of nations , deserving the attention of the svisest
legislature . Perhaps had success attended my play ( if success be ever permitted by the managers in the long run , svhatever may seem to be your luck at first ) , I might have been tempted to have hazarded higher stakes . There is the danger to a neophyte . He svins trifling amounts ;
grosvs bolder by his success , designed by those whose eyes he does not perceive are watching him . At last , in feverish excitement , he lays upon the table a goodly sum , svhich is grabbed , his colour losing , of course , and in madness he becomes a ruined beggar , or a desperate suicide . O horrible life ! Society svould rise as one man , and put dosvn those dens of rapine and iniquity , could they see and feel svhat I have seen and felt while visiting the most polished and gorgeous saloons . What must be the character in scenes of inferior note . The nature of the misery I
beheld so disgusted me , that I made a vosv , never during the residue of my life to touch a card . As an amusement it is trifling—as a business it is adventurous . Cards svere originally invented for the pastime of a royal idiot , and are capable of affording no substantial satisfaction to the mind of a sensible individual . * * ¦ * * * ¦ * * Midnight is the hour for reflection and meditation . At that solemn
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
College Musings.
Pri ' thee take a moral , young fellosv , though from this brief episode in the drama of a young man ' s life , throsvn upon the world ' s svaters svithout any A'lentor , but that svhich grace or a good heart might furnish to save him from being swallosved up in its numerous most insidious quicksands . The vice of gambling cannot be too severely deprecated . It is a propensity of the most dangerous and subtle character . It is not alone the
ruin of estates and property lhat is involved , but the sure contracting of a habit endangering the permanency of every moral attribute . Such is the conviction of him , who suffered himself no longer to be associated svith such infatuated folly than he thought it necessary for the study of mankind . Bethink thee , young man , who reads this passing thought , he who nosv speaks to you speaks somesvhat feelingly . Like one who has descended into the regions of fabled Pluto , and returns to tell the
perils and hazards of the way , and the tortures and sufferings of the unhappy victims doomed to dsvell in those cimerean abodes of wretchedness and horror ; so he warns the inexperienced—uninitiated—rasv , green , sanguine youth—to pause ere he make a debut at the gaming table , and learn the unequal hazardous odds it is determined he shall run to win , the oppressive torture of the mind to be endured in either gaining or losing , the despair created in losing yourself , or in them of svhom you win ; the pallid , haggard looks of most around you , svho oft stake all , body and soul , on the last card , and then go forth to die by
their own hand ; the thousand indescribable evils svhich this hideous passion reveals to the contemplative eye , and if he possess one grain of understanding , he svill take this practical caution in good part , and , if committed , svithout a moment ' s delay retrace his dubious steps ; but if not , vigilantly avoid all such destructive demoralizing haunts . Unsvittingly I am grosvn serious . But , indeed , serious things require serious consideration . This is a theme of vital import . It constitutes the preservation of families and of nations , deserving the attention of the svisest
legislature . Perhaps had success attended my play ( if success be ever permitted by the managers in the long run , svhatever may seem to be your luck at first ) , I might have been tempted to have hazarded higher stakes . There is the danger to a neophyte . He svins trifling amounts ;
grosvs bolder by his success , designed by those whose eyes he does not perceive are watching him . At last , in feverish excitement , he lays upon the table a goodly sum , svhich is grabbed , his colour losing , of course , and in madness he becomes a ruined beggar , or a desperate suicide . O horrible life ! Society svould rise as one man , and put dosvn those dens of rapine and iniquity , could they see and feel svhat I have seen and felt while visiting the most polished and gorgeous saloons . What must be the character in scenes of inferior note . The nature of the misery I
beheld so disgusted me , that I made a vosv , never during the residue of my life to touch a card . As an amusement it is trifling—as a business it is adventurous . Cards svere originally invented for the pastime of a royal idiot , and are capable of affording no substantial satisfaction to the mind of a sensible individual . * * ¦ * * * ¦ * * Midnight is the hour for reflection and meditation . At that solemn