The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims. Volume 2 (of 2)Steinmetz, Andrew
History
The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims. Volume 2 (of 2)
Steinmetz, Andrew
Gambling
'By curiosity I was first led to the E O table. Ashamed to stand idle
I put upon E, it came E; upon O, it came O. Fortune favoured me (as I
foolishly called it), and I came away a winner.
Something worse than curiosity, though hardly more dangerous, carried me
to another table another night. My view in going was answered. My view
was to WIN, and again I WON in the course of the evening. Again I went,
and again I won. For some weeks this was the constant story. Oh, happy
had I lost at first! Now I went every night. Everything I ought to have
done, neglected. Up all night, I was forced to lie in bed all day. The
strength of my mind, which at THIS moment might save me, was hourly
wasting away. My wife was deceived with continual falsehoods, to which
nothing but her fondness for me blinded her. Even my winnings, with the
expense and extravagance in which I indulged myself and family, were
every day more than half exhausted. But I felt that I was always to win.
Fortune favoured me. Fortune was now my deity. * * * *
'But fortune, my new, my false deity, deserted me. My luck TURNED. I
am undone! Ruined! A beggar! My wife and children will want a morsel of
bread to eat. * * * * To destroy myself is the only way to preserve my
family from want, and to keep myself from the GALLOWS. This morning I
absolutely hesitated whether I should not procure a sum of money with
which to try my luck by FORGERY. Gamesters, think of that--FORGERY! O
my dear wife, is not anything better than seeing me conveyed to Tyburn?
Yes, it is better that before many hours you and your three helpless
daughters should be hanging in tears (I little merit) over my lifeless,
cold, and swollen body.
'Readers, farewell! From my sad and voluntary death, learn wisdom. In
consequence of gaming I go to seek my destruction in the Thames. Oh,
think in what manner he deserves to be punished who commits a crime
which he is fully persuaded merits, and will not fail to meet, the
severest punishment.'
The narrative proceeds to state that, 'between one and two
o'clock in the morning he took a sad farewell of this world, and leaped
over Blackfriars Bridge. It pleased Providence, however, that he should
be seen committing this desperate action by two watermen, who found his
body after it had been a considerable time under water. In consequence
of the methods used by the men of the Humane Society, he was at length
almost miraculously restored to life and to his family. It is further
stated that--'In consequence of the advice of a worthy clergyman he was
restored to reason and to religion. He now wonders how he could think of
committing so horrid a crime; and is not without hope that by a life
of continual repentance and exemplary religion, he may obtain pardon
hereafter. The paper which he wrote before he set forth to drown himself
he still desires should be made as public as possible, and that this
narrative should be added to it.
INCORRIGIBLE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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