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of betting on？ But I can tell of a still more curious source of
gambling infatuation。 In the _Oxford Magazine_；＇93＇ is the
following statement：
＇93＇ Vol。 V。
‘A few days ago； as some sprigs of nobility were dining together
at a tavern； they took the following conceit into their heads
after dinner。 One of them observing a maggot come from a
filbert； which seemed to be uncommonly large； attempted to get it
from his companion； who； not choosing to let it go； was
immediately offered five guineas for it； which was accepted。 He
then proposed to run it against any other two maggots that could
be produced at table。 Matches were accordingly made； and these
poor reptiles were the means of L500 being won and lost in a
few minutes！'
THE CRIMES OF AMERICAN GAMBLERS。
Suicides； duels； and murders have frequently resulted from
gambling here as elsewhere。 Many of the duels in dark rooms
originate in disputes at the gaming table。 The combatants rush
from play to an upper or adjoining room； and settle their
difference with revolver…shots； often fatal to both。
One of these was a serio…comic affair which is perhaps worth
relating。 Two players had a gambling dispute； and resolved to
settle it in a dark room with pistols。 The door was locked and
one of them fired； but missed。 On this the other exclaimed
‘Now； you rascal； I'll finish you at my leisure。' He then began
to search for his opponent。 Three or four times he walked
stealthily round the roombut all in vainhe could not find his
man； he listened； he could not hear him breathe。 What had become
of him？ ‘Oh！' at length he exclaimed‘Now I've got you；
you sneakhere goes！' ‘Hold！ Hold！' cried a voice from the
chimney； ‘Don't fire！ I'll pay you anything。Do take away
that pistol。' In effect his adversary held the muzzle of
his pistol close to the seat of honour as the fellow stood
stuffed up the chimney！
‘You'll pay； will you？' said the former； ‘Very well800
dollarsis 't a bargain？'
‘Yes； yes！' gasped the voice in the chimney。
‘Very well；' rejoined the tormentor； ‘but just wait a bit； I must
have a voucher。 I'll just cut off the bottom of your breeches by
way of voucher。' So saying he pulled out his knife and
suited the action to the words。
‘Now get down；' he said； ‘and out with the money；' which was
paid； when the above…named voucher was returned to the chimney…
groper。
The town of Vicksburg； on the Mississippi； was formerly notorious
as the rendezvous of all sorts of desperadoes。 It was a city of
men； you saw no women； except at night； and never any children。
Vicksburg was a sink of iniquity； and there gambling raged with
unrestricted fury。 It was always after touching at Vicksburg
that the Mississippi boats became the well…known scene of
gamblingsome of the Vicksburghers invariably getting on board
to ply their profession。
On one occasion； one of these came on board； and soon induced
some of the passengers to proceed to the upper promenade…deck for
gambling。 Soon the stakes increased and a heap of gold was on
the table； when a dispute arose； in the midst of which one of the
players placed his hand on the stake。 Thereupon the Vicksburg
gambler drew his knife and plunged it into the hand of the
former； with a terrible imprecation。
Throughout the Southern States； as before observed； gambling
prevailed to a very great extent； and its results were often
deplorable。
A planter went to a gambling house； accompanied by one of his
negroes； whom he left at the door to wait his return。 Whilst the
master was gambling the slave did the same with another whom he
found at the door。 Meanwhile a Mexican came up and stood by
looking at the game of the negroes。 By…and…by one of them
accused the other of cheating； which was denied； when the Mexican
interposed and told the negro that he saw him cheat。 The latter
told the Mexican that he liedwhereupon the Mexican stabbed him
to the heart； killing him on the spot。
Soon the negro's master came out； and on being informed of the
affair； turned to the Mexican； saying‘Now； sir； we must settle
the matter between usmy negro's quarrel is mine。' ‘Agreed；'
said the Mexican； they entered the house； proceeded to a dark
room； fired at each other； and both were killed。
About six and twenty years ago there lived in New York a well…to…
do merchant； of the name of Osborne； who had an only son； who was
a partner in the concern。 The young man fell in love with
the daughter of a Southern planter； then on a visit at New
York； to whom he engaged himself to be married； with the perfect
consent of all parties concerned。
On the return of the planter and his daughter； young Osborne
accompanied them to Mobile。 On the very night of their arrival；
the planter proposed to his intended son…in…law to visit the
gaming table。 They went； Osborne was unlucky； and after some
hours' play lost an immense amount to the father of his
sweetheart。 He gave bills； drawn on his house； in payment of the
debt of honour。
On the following morning the planter referred to the subject；
hinting that Osborne must be ruined。
‘Indeed； I am！' said the young man； ‘but the possession of your
daughter will console me for the calamity； which； I doubt not； I
shall be able to make up for by industry and exertion。'
‘The possession of _MY_ daughter？' exclaimed the planter； ‘do
you think I would marry my daughter to a beggar？ No； no； sir；
the affair is ended between youand I insist upon its being
utterly broken off。' Such was the action of the heartless
gambler； rendered callous to all sentiments of real honour by his
debasing pursuit。
Young Osborne was equal to the occasion。 Summoning all his
powers to manfully bear this additional shock of fate； he calmly
replied：
‘So be it； sir； as you wish it。 Depend upon it； however； that my
bills will be duly honoured'and so saying he bowed and
departed； without even wishing to take leave of his betrothed。
On returning to New York Osborne immediately disclosed the
transaction to his father； who； in spite of the utter ruin which
impended； and the brutality of the cause of the ruin； resolved to
meet the bills when due； and maintain the honour of his son
whatever might be the consequences to himself。
The bills were paid； the concern was broken up； old Mr Osborne
soon died broken…hearted； and young Osborne went as clerk to some
house of business in Wall Street。
A year or so passed away； and one day a lady presented herself at
the old house of Osbornenow no longer theirsinquiring for
young Osborne。 She was directed to his new place of business；
being no other than his betrothed； who loved him as passionately
as ever； and to whom her father had accounted for the non…
fulfilment of the engagement in a very unsatisfactory
manner。 Of course Osborne could not fail to be delighted at this
proof of her devote