The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-10-09
Gambling Scenes
HOW THEY PLAY AT BspESsrApES.

'"'o'ou 'he game II Inc players very
: closely. Ny conclusions were that the
profits OF each Of these four tables were
mt less than $1,000 for the, day, or 500.
UOo for the whole. The constant
change that is going on among the
E players indicates that the losses O Teach
are comparatively light, and that the
number of players at each table during
the day is probably seven hundred.
Every moment some oneldraws off and
leaves, with his money all gone. en-
deavoring to conceal the chagrin which.
is too apparent to M who closely
watches their countenapce. His place
us Immediately taken 10y another, who
In his turn is cleaned and DEPARTS
{ Some ofthe players bring large amounts
of gold with them, and play heavy,
betting from fifty to a hundred dollars
on each deal of the cards or turn of the
wheel. These | closely watched, and
saw the'last gold coin depart. Some,
as their stock became low, would send
for more, but most of them withdrew,
assuming a careless and %nonchalant
air. AS 1 passed around among the
tables it frequently happened that
scarcely n man who was playing a
half hour previous remained, but their
places were filled by new aspirants for
fortunes favors.
At some of the tables mothers and
their daughters were playing side by
side, at others husbands and wives,
and lover and betrotlcd. 1t was Gu
rlous to watch their rising and falling;
fortunes. In numerous instances l wit
messed wivea ~endeavoring to draw
their husbands away from their tables.
but the etiquette of tie gambling sa-
loon required that it should be done 5y
signs rather than by words. In one
case the wife stood by with trembling
= 81. d r.. va
lips and saw her infatuated husband
loseia handful of coin, until the last one
had slipped through his fingers. He
then rose aud they walked quietly.
away arm in arm. In short ten min
utes they returned, and the husband
took his seat at the table witt, about
thirty gold coin in his hand. lie play
ed wildly, laying down from three to
i've coin at each bet, and when he
would win lie would leave the whole
amount on the number. Finally they
were all gone but three, and both now
seemed in distress. The wife leaned
over his shoulder, whispered some
thing in her husbands ear, when he
handed her tile three coin and left, she
taking his seat. She played cautious !
ly, and gradually Won, having, when ri
saw her, abont forty Napoleons in her
hand. The sign of sorrow.on her coun--
%tepapce. had departed, and she was
looking around for the return of her
husband. Whether she withdrew be-
fore her luck changed I do not know,
u an hour after when I returned to
thetable neither husband nor wife were
there rs v~ttaga.l.f 4ra.,f - .,e;L5.l
The Young man whom I left at the
table on the previous night with his
pockets full Of gold that he had won,
was not to be seen about the saloons
to-day. Whether he confined to pIayl
and lost, or whether he retired with Ills
winnings, do not know, but as. it was
near the closing hour the latter was
most likely. The woman who re-
trieved her fortune by following and
initiating his bets was, however, early
on hand yesterday morning, and was
very flush. ! passed the table several
times during the afternoon, and she
was still playing, but on returning af-
ter tea she was sitting on one OF the
her ,%countenance too plainly in
dicatidg the result Of her days ven
ture. Several times she held up her
hand before ler face to conceal the act
of wIping away her tears, and this, was
but One Of several similar instances
passed under my observations
Several old men, bent and decripid
age, maintained their seats nearly,
al day. They never bet more, than one (
and their losses we're conse
luently light, but I saw them fire.
hand in notes to be changed.
independent of those who would sit ]
Down regularly to play, there was. a
constant throng of men and women y
standing two and three deep, who would
occasionally venture a dollar, and los
ns, two or three would depart, wiser I
f not wealthicr. I
In all games of chance those who are r
ookins on can generally see more of '
he game than the players. Those who =
vere& playing and losing sdaabtless II
bought that Others around them were g
Winning, but ! feel coutideptthere was il
lot a man or woman of the Thousand a
'enturing on these tables yesterday
sho did not leave with less money than q
hey brought with them. Men who q
yin motley at gambling never stop {;
those who lose all must stop. :"
several times Tucked out a player, h
rho had a large sum of money filed IN o