Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-10-04
GAMBLING IN SAN FRANCISCO.
A Female Gambling H0use--Its Gorgeous
Appointments---Its FrequenterS---The
Games PLAYED.
Letter TO Boston Journal.

Letter TO Boston Journal.
In one of the most fashionable and
respectable quarters in this city, near
Market street, stands large and ele-
CANT looking house The hundreds of
people who daily pass it think it IS a
private residence, little dreaming that
it is female gambling institution as it
is, and III which thousands of dollars
not infrequently change hands nightly.
1t is patronized by men and womgn
who belong to the wealthy class, and
who move IN aristocratic circles. Cards
of invitation are issued bearing simply
a monogram, which gives admission to
the pOSSess0r The names OF some OF
the patrons would astonish the commu-
nifty were they known. No vehicle of
any kind is allowed to stand IN front OF
/ this house, and those who frequent 1t
must keep their carriages at least two
blocks away This is required In order
to avoid suspicion. The front part
the house IS always enshrouded -
quietude. At night dim lights a-e
burned in the front rooms. The upper
half of the inside window blinds are
thrown back, and TO the passer-by
nothing is to be seen to arouse the
! slightest suspicion of the true characteT
of the house.
| The manager of this institution IS q
woman, who came here from st. Louis
about year ago. At one time she
! figured in Washington as a lobbyist.
I She is lovely brunette, of uueenly APP
Epearance and dresses elegantly. On
your entrance to this abode you are
generally welcomed by Madame in a
/ back parlor, brilliantly lighted and
handsomely furnished, into which you
have been ushered by the colored serv-
ant wlo has answered your bell call.
From thence you are conducted into
| the salon OF the establishment, down
stairs. This apartment is Georgeously
! furnished. The carpet is OF an elegant
! pattern, with heavy curtains and hang
! ings to match, while the furniture is
4 rich and massive. The walls are adorn-
ed with beautiful pictures, and articles
of virtu are to be seen in profusion. In
this apartment. night after night into
the wee sma hours, are to be found
leading merchants and stock brokers
with the wives of some of their bust
ness associates, all engaged in play
which is only interrupted between the
hours Of twelve and one o'clock by a
lunch of cake and wine.
The principal games played by these
fashionable gamblers are faro, Boston
and whist. Occasionally roulette and
rouge ct noir are played The dealer
as the faro table is a beautiful looking
blonde, who passes for the step-dlughteI
of Madame the manager. she gener-
ally dresses in white lace wrapper, with
a lusuous diamond ring sparkling from
an extremely white ana delicate hand
She is an adept with tae cards, if any
one may judge by the way she handles
them. There are other females, ele,
gantly attired, in attendance, who are
connected with the establishment, and
who are always ready to take a hand
in any game of chance that is proposed
and in which they are proficient
When not engaged they usually while
away time in playing billiards i'll an adj
joining room. The fascination and ex
citcment of gaming is such that every
night the establishment is well patro-
nized. 1t is understood that Madame is
backed by several heavy capitalists o
this CITY.