The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-04-21
Gambling in New York.

New ork correspondence OF syracuse Standard. ]
The prevailing vice among New Workers is
gambling. The wives and daughters of our most
wealthy citizens are afflicted with the mania, and
play as deeply and heavily as their husbands
and fathers. In Twenty-third street near Madl-
son avenue, is gambling house patronized ex-
clusively by females. With the kind permission
of your readers we will visit it. 1t is modest,
nnpretentious looking house, the entrance scrupu-
lousy clean, and presenting no different appear
ance externally, than those adjoining, save the
blinds are all tightly closed. Ringing the bell,
we admitted by gorgeous appareled woman,
who acts as janitrcss. Ascending the stairs,
we are ushercd into the parlors ON the first floor.
They are elegantly, even luxuriously furnished.
The person who fitted up these rooms must have
had exquisite taste. The paintings hanging on
the wall are rare and valuable, but the most con-
spicuous, and the one that first strikes the eye
and rivets the attention, is the painting by AIRY
Schatfer Of the gambling scene from Bulwer S
play of Money" and for which it is stated Au-
gust Belmont has offered $4,000 and been re-
fused. Seated around the room and at the gam
bling table are number of ladies', all of whom
are dressed in the height of fashion. The play
flushed with excitement but the dealer
sits calm and collected and rakes in the ''chps'
with the utmost sing Jroid. Ever and anon
ooHo payer, "hcH hed' pcI ID loet, Cdlls lOl
wine, which is speedily supplied by an attentive
centre of the table is the wife of one of our most
wealthy merchants. could tell you her name,
but tales must never be told out of school, OBJ
serve that young lady, with bonnet no larger
than a cookie shell, and Bismark brown ribbons;
the one who is now taking off her diamond ring
to stake, and which she will lose as sure as eggs
is eggs, is the daughter of an Ex-Judge. All
our wealthy merchants wife is loser; see, she
rises from the table biting her lips till the blood
comes to conceal her emotions. Come, let us
away, such scenes do not make our opinions of
poor weak human nature the more exalted. Is
it any wonder that we so frequently see rewards
offered for lost diamond rings, necklaces and
bracelets? If we had the power of Asmodeus,
we would see these "lost" articles in the safe OF
some gentleman who has for his sign the old
Lonbardy emblem Of three balls. The thirst
for gambling will be satisfied and money must be
obtained. Yes, yes, Hamlet was right, there
are more things in heaven and earth than are
dreamed of in our philosophy"
FEMALE GAMBLERS IN WASHINGTON CITY.
The Washington Chronicle is responsible for
the following announcement regarding one of
the features Of Washington society:
1t may appear to be slightly sensational
statement, but it is the less true, that there
are two fashionable gambling houses, both within
half dozen squares Of the treasury building,
which are exclusively for the use of ladies. One,
and perhaps the best furnished and most largely
frequented, is situated on Fourteenth street,
while the other is in the first ward, but few
squares distant. At these places, at nearly all
hours of the day, may be found richly dressed
ladies, connected with families whose standing is
high in the community, earnestly engaged in
faro, and stalking their money with an abandon
that would excite surprise. The sterner sex is
rgidly excluded, and the players feel themselves
secure from intrusion of watchful fathers or
angry husbands, while they at the same time
place reliance on the silence of their fair CON-
panions, who, we will say, are quite select and
| respectable, as the judgment of the crafty pro-
PROGRESSES enables them to perceive that the in
discriminate admission of visitors would be in
furious to their interests