Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-04-14
GAmBLINGINNEw YORK.

A Female Gambling ssHell0 I'm Tween.
fyThird Street-A Terrible Picture
of Life I'm The American metropo-
lis. iT
New York Correspondence Of the Syracuse Stand
The prevailing vice among New York
ers is gambling. Men gamble in stocks
and gold, and when the stock market is
closed, they indulge in the healthy
pastime of fighting the tiger" other
wise called faro. In many of the down
town business streets gambling shells"
are located, in order to accommodate mer-
chants with, .little game" during the
hours of toll. Up town, on Broadway,
from Spring street even as far as Forti-
eth street, two or three gambling saloons
are ON each block, and the side streets
are also infested with them. lowering
about these doors are men, arrayed in
spotless broadcloth and fine linen, shiny
silk hats and dyed mustaches, waiting,
ready and anxious to pounce upon the
unwary, and lead them to destruction.
To what extent gambling is carried on,
our police records will show. Bank
clerks, cashiers and treasurers become
defaulters, and the origin of the cause is
traced to one cause, gambling. The po-
lice know this, and are cognizant of the
whereabouts of each "hell," yet no effort
is made towards their suppression. 1t
is true, a raid is occasionally made on
some poor unfortunate, but the "big guns"
like John Morrisey, John G. Heenan,
George Beers, Joe Hall, and others, go
scot free.
What is "sauce for the goose is sauce
for the gander," is an old saying, and
the matter of gambling is no exception
; to the rule. The wives and daughters
of our most wealthy citizens areafflicted
with the mania, and play as deeply and
heavily as their husbands and fathers.
In Twenty-third street, near Madison
avenue, is gambling house, patronized
exclusively by females. With the kind
permission of your readers we will visit
It.
1t is modest, unpretentious-looking
house, the entrance scrupulously clean,
and presenting no different appearance,
externally, than those adjoining, save the
blinds are all tightly closed. Ringing
the beH, we are admitted by gorgeous
ly apparelled woman who acts as jani-
tress. On one side of the hall is su-
perb painting of Leda and the Swan; on
the opposite Is anoUiIer painting, equally
good, of Venus rising from the sea. As
cending the stairs, we are ushered into
parlors on the first floor. The paintings
hanging are rare and valuable, but the
most conspicuous, and the one that first
strikes the eye and rivets the attention,
is the painting by AIRY Schaeffer, of the
gambling scene from Bulwer's play of
Money" and for which it is stated Au-
gust Belmont has offered $4,000, and
has been refused.
Seated around the room and at the
gaming table are number of ladies, all
of whom are dressed in the height of
fashion. The players are flushed with
excitement, but the dealer, in her Pom.
padour waist, half revealing, half con-
cealing an ample bust, sits calm and col
lected, and rakes in the 'chips," with the
utmost sang froid. Ever and anon some
player, when heavy bet is lost, calls
for wine, which is speedily supplied by
an attentive and demure looking Hebe.
Demure Yes, but it is the occurrences
of cat. Offend her, and she will quick
ly show that she has claws.
That lady, at the centre of the table,
sitting between Anonyma and Aspasia,
is the wife of one of our most wealthy
merchants. could tell you her name,
but tales must never be told out of
school. Observe that young lady, with
a bonnet no larger than cookie shell,
and Bismarck brown ribbons; the one
who is now taking off her diamond ring
to stake, and which she will loose as
sure as 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
opinion of poor, weak human nature
more exalted. 81
Is it any wonder that we SO frequent