creased. Time rolled on, and the remaining brother was still dissipating, and suffering himself to be imposed upon by many pretended friends, not suspecting that he had any thing to fear, as he had somewhat cut the acquaintance of that class of men with which he had formerly allowed himself to be identified. But still there appeared to be ill luck attending him. In 1840, he had some business to call him a few miles from home, and he found it requisite for him to take an early start. He got up with his family at an early hour, and having some occasion to go out into his yard, when it was not yet quite light, he was shot dead in his own door. There were great exertions made to find out the perpetrator of this murder; but as yet, I believe, the mystery has never been unravelled. And thus ended the lives of two valuable young men and may this narrative operate as a warning to all those who may be exposed to the machinations of that class of men by which they were entrapped, and ultimately brought to such a tragical termination of their lives. The old lady, I believe, still resides at her former residence, near Jackson, Louisiana, and perhaps the remaining sister with her. This incident is only one of a multitude that might be adduced to illustrate the pernicious, the horrible effects of the vice which forms the subject of this narrative and of this volume; and still it is a most lamentable truth, that it is encouraged by some who would think that great injustice was done them if they were not esteemed as worthy and honorable citizens, and never seem to wake up to its odious and damning character, until themselves or their children are brought to the brink of deep degradation and ruin by its insidious influence, and the infamous artifices of those who give Louisville Races. Different Grades of Professional Gamblers. their days and nights to the study and practice of this abominable, this soul-destroying avocation. THE DEMORALIZING INFLUENCES OF RACE-FIELDS. In Louisville, in the year 1841, during the week of the spring races, the gamblers of every caste were there to partake of the benefits of the sports of the week. Here might the eye have taken in, at one glance, all the different grades of this profession. At the close of the week they began to operate in such a manner as is characteristic of this class of men. For instance, at the commencement of the sport of the week, you might have seen classes number 1, 2, 3,* and 4, and indeed every grade, and every species of every grade, down to the blacks, all perfectly friendly. And this is the cause of such kind of feeling being manifested among them: it is never known who is to be the lucky one during this week of sport; perhaps it may be number 4 if so, he is promoted to class number 1, as long as his money makes him worthy of their attention. But when his money gives out, he has to return to his former class, who are always ready to receive him. They are formed into classes as follows: the first class consists of faro-dealers, the second class is composed of an inferior grade of faro-dealers; the third class is made up of those who play roulette, chucker-luck, or other species of : *For an explanation of these different numbers, see description of Cockpits. Different Grades of Professional Gamblers. small, plain villany. The characters composing class number 3 are men who are generally termed the fighters, or the low-bred bullies; the class number 4 are men that play thimbles or trunk-lieu, or, in other and plain language, they are pickpockets. In the commencement of the week you will see all these different classes working among one another like bees: watch them, and you will find that if number 4 appears to have a plenty of money, he becomes worthy of number 3's attention as long as he has a dollar. The same may be said of number 3: as long as they have money, they are the very men for number 2; and as long as number 2 has money, he is as much of a gentleman as number I wishes to find. And this is the situation of these different classes; number 3 being considered as the fighting or the bullying class. This class is generally composed of our lowest-bred men, and seldom do you meet with one of them that may not be readily designated by his profane swearing; his bragging of his great exploits in fighting; boastfully proclaiming how much money he has won at roulette or chucker-luck,* or, it may be, how much number 1 has given him for whipping such and such a man. This class is more numerous than any other. And here I will try to show how an individual of this class is effectually debarred from the notice or respectful attention of a gentleman. His base character is so conspicuously displayed by his countenance, that he may be infallibly known by this sign alone. And though his bosom may glitter with the most costly diamonds, these adornments, so far from concealing his real character, will only seem, by contrast, * Chucker-luck, a game played with three dice. |