按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
＇1＇ Standard； Jan。 12； 1870。
In conclusion； I have contemplated the passion of gaming in all
its bearings； as will be evident from the range of subjects
indicated by the table of contents and index。 I have ransacked
（and sacked） hundreds of volumes for entertaining； amusing；
curious； or instructive matter。
Without deprecating criticism on my labours； perhaps I may state
that these researches have probably terminated my career as an
author。 Immediately after the completion of this work I was
afflicted with a degree of blindness rendering it impossible for
me to read any print whatever； and compelling me to write only by
dictation。
ANDREW STEINMETZ。
CONTENTS OF VOL。 I。
CHAP。
I
THE UNIVERSAL PASSION OF GAMING； OR； GAMING ALL THE WORLD OVER
II
GAMBLING AMONG THE ANCIENT HINDOOS
A HINDOO LEGEND AND ITS MODERN PARALLEL
III
GAMBLING AMONG THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS； PERSIANS AND GREEKS
IV
GAMING AMONG THE ANCIENT ROMAN EMPERORS
V
GAMBLING IN FRANCE IN ALL TIMES
VI
THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF MODERN GAMING IN ENGLAND
VII
GAMBLING IN BRIGHTON IN 1817
VIII
GAMBLING AT THE GERMAN BATHING…PLACES
IX
GAMBLING IN THE UNITED STATES
X
LADY GAMESTRESSES
XI
GAMBLING POETS； SAVANTS； PHILOSOPHERS； WITS； AND STATESMEN
XII
REMARKABLE GAMESTERS
XIII
THE LOTTERIES AND THEIR BEWILDERMENTS
XIV THE LAWS AGAINST GAMING IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES
THE GAMING TABLE。
CHAPTER I。
THE UNIVERSAL PASSION OF GAMING； OR； GAMING ALL THE WORLD OVER。
A very apt allegory has been imagined as the origin of Gaming。
It is said that the Goddess of Fortune； once sporting near the
shady pool of Olympus； was met by the gay and captivating God of
War； who soon allured her to his arms。 They were united； but the
matrimony was not holy； and the result of the union was a
misfeatured child named Gaming。 From the moment of her birth
this wayward thing could only be pleased by cards； dice； or
counters。
She was not without fascinations； and many were her admirers。 As
she grew up she was courted by all the gay and extravagant of
both sexes； for she was of neither sex； and yet combining the
attractions of each。 At length； however； being mostly beset by
men of the sword； she formed an unnatural union with one of them；
and gave birth to twinsone called DUELLING； and the other a
grim and hideous monster named SUICIDE。 These became their
mother's darlings； nursed by her with constant care and
tenderness； and her perpetual companions。
The Goddess Fortune ever had an eye on her promising daughter
Gaming； and endowed her with splendid residences； in the most
conspicuous streets； near the palaces of kings。 They were
magnificently designed and elegantly furnished。 Lamps； always
burning at the portals； were a sign and a perpetual invitation
unto all to enter； and； like the gates of the Inferno； they were
ever open to daily and nightly visitants； but； unlike the latter；
they permitted _EXIT_ to all who enteredsome exulting with
golden spoil；others with their hands in empty pockets；some
led by her half…witted son Duelling；others escorted by her
malignant monster Suicide； and his mate； the demon Despair。
‘Religion； morals； virtue； all give way；
And conscience dies； the prostitute of play。
Eternity ne'er steals one thought between；
Till suicide completes the fatal scene。'
Such is the _ALLEGORY_；＇2＇ and it may serve well enough to
represent the thing in accordance with the usages of civilized or
modern life； but Gaming is a _UNIVERSAL_ thingthe
characteristic of the human biped all the world over。
＇2＇ It appeared originally； I think； in the Harleian
Miscellany。 I have taken the liberty to re…touch it here and
there； with the view to improvement。
The determination of events by ‘lot' was a practice frequently
resorted to by the Israelites； as； by lot it was determined which
of the goats should be offered by Aaron； by lot the land of
Canaan was divided； by lot Saul was marked out for the Hebrew
kingdom； by lot Jonah was discovered to be the cause of the
storm。 It was considered an appeal to Heaven to determine the
points； and was thought not to depend on blind chance； or that
imaginary being called Fortune； who；
‘With malicious joy；
Promotes； degrades； delights in strife；
And makes a _LOTTERY_ of life。'
The Hindoo Codea promulgation of very high antiquity
denounces gambling； which proves that there were desperate
gamesters among the Hindoos in the earliest times。 Men gamed；
too； it would appear； after the example set them by the gods； who
had gamesters among them。 The priests of Egypt assured Herodotus
that one of their kings visited alive the lower regions called
infernal； and that he there joined a gaming party； at which he
both lost and won。＇3＇ Plutarch tells a pretty Egyptian story to
the effect； that Mercury having fallen in love with Rhea； or the
Earth； and wishing to do her a favour； gambled with the Moon； and
won from her every seventieth part of the time she illumined the
horizonall which parts he united together； making up _FIVE
DAYS_； and added them to the Earth's year； which had previously
consisted of only 360 days。＇4＇
＇3＇ Herod。 1。 ii。
＇4＇ Plutarch； _De Isid。 et Osirid。_
But not only did the gods play among themselves on Olympus； but
they gambled with mortals。 According to Plutarch； the priest of
the temple of Hercules amused himself with playing at dice with
the god； the stake or conditions being that if he won he should
obtain some signal favour； but if he lost he would procure a
beautiful courtesan for Hercules。＇5＇
＇5＇ _In Vita Romuli_。
By the numerous nations of the East dice； and that pugnacious
little bird the cock； have been and are the chief instruments
employed to produce a sensationto agitate their minds and to
ruin their fortunes。 The Chinese have in all times； we suppose；
had cardshence the absurdity of the notion that they were
‘invented' for the amusement of Charles VI。 of France； in his
‘lucid intervals；' as is constantly asserted in every collection
of historic facts。 The Chinese invented cards； as they invented
almost everything else that administers to our social and
domestic comfort。＇6＇
＇6＇ Observations on Cards； by Mr Gough； in Archaeologia； vol。
viii。 1787。
The Asiatic gambler is desperate。 When all other property is
played away； he scruples not to stake his wife； his child； on the
cast of a die or on the courage of the martial bird before
mentioned。 Nay more； if still unsuccessful； the last venture he
makes is that of his limbshis personal libertyhis lifewhich
he hazards on the caprice of chance； and agrees to be at the
mercy； or to become the slave； of his fortunate antagonist。
The Malayan； however； does not always tamely submit to