To the Editor of the "Nortu-Cuina Datny News."
Srr,—In view of the fact that several comparatively young" men have come a "cropper" within the last few years in Shanghai, and also that card-playing at the various clubs has in no small way contributed to their downfall, is iti not about time that somebody in a position tq do so, possibly the Chambers of Commerce, took steps to eliminate this temptation?
I think that I am right in saying that a very large number of young men in Shanghai live beyond their means, therefore it is not altogether unnatural for them to play cards with the hope of supplementing their income; with the result that some lose, then play for bigger stakes, lose still more and finally, with the help of other debts, another life is wrecked and the victim, who was hailed by all tin the past as a thoroughly good fellow, is ostracized.
Card-playing is not by any means an essential pastime and if the opportunity was not present at the various clubs a large number of men who now play would not touch a pack of cards from one month's end to another. It is alized that to ban gambling, ati clubs altogether is a rather difficult matter, but some steps ought to be taken to protect men who are not im a position to lose money, from themselves and incidentally their friends.
This letter is not written from a narrow-minded point of view. There jis no doubt that men have suffered from card-playing at clubs, which becomes an obsession with some. I write with the hope that those in a position to move will do so-and thereby help a lot of men who do not seem to realize how easy it is to get themselves into serious trouble.
I am ete.
ONE WHO IS BY NO MEANS "NARROW."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.