of those who are down.

In all of its forms gambling leads to a long train of crimes. In addition
to his crime of theft the professional gambler, through passion or drink,
becomes a murderer. I knew a professional gambler who killed a man,
with whom he had been playing cards for money, for fifty cents. After
it was all over the man was sorry he had done it, for he had committed
the crime in a passion while he was intoxicated. The one who speculates
on the markets is not counted dishonest by the world, but how often and
how quickly it leads one into crime! In our neighboring town in Illinois
a man of a good family and of good standing in the community began to
speculate on the Chicago Board of Trade. He was as honest a person,
perhaps, as you or I. He thought he was. For years he had been a
trusted, Christian worker, and treasurer of the Sunday-school. But he
made just one venture too many. He had lost all; could not even
replace the Sunday-school fund that he had simply used, no doubt
expecting to replace it with usury; but the loss and disgrace were too
much for him to face, so he deserted home and friends and honor and
all, and secretly ran away. The speculating gambler became a deserting
embezzler. The person who has acquired a passion for betting on races
and games is on a fair way to professional gambling and to speculating
on the markets. And rarely does one ever escape these, if once he gets
a start in them.

The evil of society gambling is most dangerous of all, because it is
most subtle of all. Ah first no one would suspect an innocent game of
cards, played just for fun. You may be the fourth one to make up a
game; you may not know how to play, but you are told you can quickly
learn. You brave it, and go in for a game. The next time a similar
circumstance arises, you can not easily decline, for you must confess