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The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims (Vol.I&II)
Table of Contents
Volume 1
Table of Contents
PREFACE
CHAPTER I. THE UNIVERSAL PASSION OF GAMING; OR, GAMING ALL THE WORLD OVER
CHAPTER II. GAMBLING AMONG THE ANCIENT HINDOOS.—A HINDOO LEGEND AND ITS MODERN
CHAPTER III. GAMBLING AMONG THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS, PERSIANS, AND GREEKS
CHAPTER IV. GAMING AMONG THE ANCIENT ROMAN EMPERORS
CHAPTER V. GAMBLING IN FRANCE IN ALL TIMES
CHAPTER VI. THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF MODERN GAMING IN ENGLAND
CHAPTER VII. GAMBLING IN BRIGHTON IN 1817
CHAPTER VIII. GAMBLING AT THE GERMAN BATHING-PLACES.——
BADEN AND ITS CONVERSATION HOUSE
CHAPTER IX. GAMBLING IN THE UNITED STATES
CHAPTER X. LADY GAMESTRESSES
CHAPTER XI. GAMBLING POETS, SAVANTS, PHILOSOPHERS, WITS, AND STATESMEN
CHAPTER XII. REMARKABLE GAMESTERS. ——MONSIEUR CHEVALIER
CHAPTER XIII. THE LOTTERIES AND THEIR BEWILDERMENTS
CHAPTER XIV. THE LAWS AGAINST GAMING IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES
1. ANCIENT ROME
Volume 2
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I. CHEVALIERS D'INDUSTRIE, OR POLITE SHARPERS
CHAPTER II. PROFESSIONAL GAMESTERS AND THEIR FRAUDS
CHAPTER III. ANECDOTES OF THE PASSIONS AND VICISSITUDES OF GAMESTERS
CHAPTER IV. ATROCITIES, DUELS, SUICIDES, AND EXECUTION OF GAMBLERS
CHAPTER V. ODDITIES AND WITTICISMS OF GAMBLERS
OSTENTATIOUS GAMESTERS
CHAPTER VI. THE GAMING CLUBS
CHAPTER VII. DOINGS IN GAMING HOUSES
CHAPTER VIII. THE DOCTRINE OF PROBABILITIES APPLIED TO GAMBLING
CHAPTER IX. THE HISTORY OF DICE AND CARDS
CHAPTER X. PIQUET, BASSET, FARO, HAZARD, PASSE-DIX, PUT, CROSS AND PILE,
CHAPTER XI. COCK-FIGHTING
CHAPTER XII. THE TURF, HISTORICAL, SOCIAL, MORAL
CHAPTER XIII. FORTUNE-TELLING BY CARDS (FOR LADIES)
CHAPTER XIV. AMUSING CARD TRICKS.(86)
Andrew Steinmetz
Its Votaries and Victims
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Genius and abilities of the highest order became its votaries; and the very framers of the laws against gambling were the first to fall under the temptation of their breach! The spirit of gambling pervaded every inferior order of society. The gentleman was a slave to its indulgence; the merchant and the mechanic were the dupes of its imaginary prospects; it engrossed the citizen and occupied the rustic. Town and country became a prey to its despotism. There was scarcely an obscure village to be found wherein this bewitching basilisk did not exercise its powers of fascination and destruction.
Gaming in England became rather a science than an amusement of social intercourse. The 'doctrine of chances' was studied with an assiduity that would have done honour to better subjects; and calculations were made on arithmetical and geometrical principles, to determine the degrees of probability attendant on games of mixed skill and chance, or even on the fortuitous throws of dice. Of course, in spite of all calculations, there were miserable failures—frightful losses. The polite gamester, like the savage, did not scruple to hazard the dearest interests of his family, or to bring his wife and children to poverty, misery, and ruin. He could not give these over in liquidation of a gambling debt; indeed, nobody would, probably, have them at a gift; and yet there were instances in which the honour of a wife was the stake of the infernal game! … Well might the Emperor Justinian exclaim—'Can we call PLAY that which causes crime?'(14)
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