Henderson Gold Leaf

J. A. Stradley, in Oxford Banner.

Drinking whiskey, card playing, theatre going, dancing, dishonesty and gambling are all common but popular vices that are undermining characters and wrecking homes and lives. Gambling is classed among the worst of vices and all civilized countries forbid it by law. No place is considered more corrupt and ruinous than a gambling den. These, with houses of ill-fame, are the lowest depths of degradation.

But where do young men learn to gamble? Not with professional gamblers. No young man with two grains of sense would stake his money in a game with professional gamblers as he knows he would be beaten every time. He knows he must learn the use of cards before he stakes money on a game. But where can men learn to be expert players? The most fascinating opportunities are constantly afforded them. The most fashionable "society" ladies of towns and communities have frequent card parties at their homes where gentlemen and ladies meet and spend hours of hard study to learn how to play cards and win prizes. Many of them become the shrewdest of card players. What is gambling but card playing? What is the difference in playing for gold cups, spoons, etc., and playing for money? Can anyone show any difference?

Many young men become expert gamblers in these fashionable card parties, and then they feel they can try their hand with professional gamblers and thus they enter the road to utter ruin having been started by the fashionable card party.

It is sad, supremely sad, that Christian homes, and so many of them too, are being used as schools where the foundation principles of gambling are taught. Is there nothing better in this large world for Christians to do?

Worldliness is sapping the life-blood of Christianity and Christ is betrayed in the house of his friends.