“What! would you have gambling public?” Yes, rather than private; and that is the alternative presented to the wise. The experience of California, in this matter, is that of every state in the Union, and all may profit by her example. In the words of Judge Murray of that state: “The Legislature, finding a thirst for play universally prevalent throughout the state, and despairing of suppressing it entirely, attempted to control it in certain bounds, by imposing restrictions and burdens on this kind of business. The license operated as a permission, and removed, or did away with the misdemeanor as it existed.” The issue for practical men is: Shall gambling be in sight and subject to control, or shall it be out of sight and beyond control. The “situs” of public gambling is known to the authorities, and thus may its conduct be supervised and regulated: its every operation may be hourly inspected by the police, to the exclusion of those whom the law may with propriety protect from their own acts, and the prevention of cheating by dishonorable methods and devices. If gambling is public, in brief, its abuses can be reduced to a minimum. When repressed at known points, gambling is not thereby discontinued. It is thus distributed over a wider field, there, secretly to thrive in its worst features. Then it is that fraud and theft are triumphant: that “brace” gamblers “wax fat” and their conscienceless harpies pray in secret upon the unwary and the inexperienced. Public gambling is generally fair and honest. Secret gambling is too often but another name for a robbery that cannot be prevented by either police or magistrates. Again, the number of employees are few, comparatively, in the public gambling club, and it is without other allurements than naked chance may offer. Not so the private institution, the patrons of which may freely partake of most seductive viands and expensive liquors; rents are also higher, and more employees are required. The private club is costly in the extreme: an extravagant scale is necessary to its very existence. This is a severe test to the scruples of a proprietor. In some way he must meet expenses and insure a livelihood. For an honest gambler the maintenance of a private club is seldom possible.