I have come to the
conclusion that no consideration shall ever make me sanction races
again."
"I am glad," began Julius.
"You would not be glad if you had seen all I saw yesterday. You
must have lent me your eyes, for when you spoke before of the evils,
I thought you had picked up a Utopian notion, and were running a-
muck with it, like an enthusiastic young clergyman. For my own part
I can't say I ever came across anything offensive. Of course I know
where to find it, as one does wherever one goes, but there was no
call to run after it; and as we were used to the affair, it was a
mere matter of society--"
"No, it could never be any temptation to you," said Julius.
"No, nor to any other reasonable man; and I should add, though
perhaps you might not allow it, that so long as a man keeps within
his means, he has a right to enhance his excitement and amusement by
bets."
"Umph! He has a right then to tempt others to their ruin, and
create a class of speculators who live by gambling."
"You need not go on trying to demolish me. I was going to say that
I had only thought of the demoralization, from the betting side; but
yesterday it was as if you had fascinated my eyes to look behind the
scenes.
Pages:
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516