Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-09-22
A FEMALE GAMBLING HOUSE.


A SLY Resort where Old and Young
40 10 While Away am Hour and
PiNy OF rheIr Loose change.
The Kansas City Times says:
The existence of female gambling
house in this city has been sus-
pected by some and known to a few
favored ones for some time past
in fact ever since the opening Of
the institution. At first it bloomed
and fourished during the winter
months, as the reception apart
ment of Miss Mary Landon and
Madame Burgoine, on Main street,
near the junction. These two
feminines passed for mother and
daughter, and by their industry and
modest department won their way
into the family acquaintance Of
some of the best families in the
city. How or where they obtained
capital sufficient to fit up and open
out their present magnificent es-
tablishment is one of those things
the ordinary -gatherer fails to
find out. But that the madame
and her quondam daughter have
made money, and lots of it, too,
since they left their rooms near the
Junction, is plainly evident to
those who visit their snug and syl-
van retreat. The police made the
first complaint about these women
early last spring or late in the win
ter; but as they soon afterward re-
moved from the building COM
planned of, no one cared to inquire
where they went
1t was left to an occasional con
tributor to the Times to rediscoyer
the retreat of these now notable
females and give an idea cf the
way in which fast girls and boys
pass the nights, as some Of them
saw. "out of town on business"
The secret leaked out through &
colored girl who was recently dis.
charged for some irregularity, and
impaired by her to another domes
tic, and by her to the person who
visited the "retreat." They call i
the "retreat" because Of its charm.
ing privacy and apparent obscurity
| 1t is on Main street, not far from
the courthouse. The front of the
building would appear to the ordi
nary observer as a building unoccu
pied. The windows are darkeneC
above, and were it not for the sid,
door, left open night and day, bu
which is seldom used, no one woulc
suppose the upper floors of tn
building occupied. But it is nov
discovered to be the popular resor
for various classes Of people VIII
. nightly assemble to play with ant
Iprovoke dame fortune as repre-
/. sented by her most Fascinating
:. yotarieS. But let the last yictir
: tell his own story.
. "We were shown first into
!, small but neatly furnished ante
t room lighted only by the ligh
5 which penetrated from the mex
{ room, which, in the darkness, al
: peared brilliantly lighted. Ou
: party was admitted Immediately 0
b the presentation of cards prey
4 ously furnished at the gamin
house we had just left, and a gail
: dressed colored girl admitted us I
!. the parlor adjoining, where tn
Z. madame greeted us and engaged |
in conversation for a few minute
and then led the way to the plat
!. we had come to see" the retreat
70 "Itwas a strange sight-one tht
. fairly astopished one at first sigh
Here. in 0 room grandly but n
10 richly decorated, and brilliant
lighted, we're assembled at lea
thirty men and women, and thre
It. fourfhs of whom were engaged
: the fascinations of a game of chant
At one table sat the quondam seal
= stress, Miss Landon, attired IN
y loose white lace wrapper her tpge
bristling with pearls. She was de.
ing faro for the amusement OF
f. young merchant of this city Al
two women, both strangers to n
Five persons sat by the table loo
y ing lazily on, smoking and sippi
ir- refreshments. AT an adjoining
BILE two men and two women w