Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-19
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
The Police and the Gamblers--AthIetes VS..
1issthetes = Theatrical Matters - Langtry's
Kivai-The r. II. and Its Backers. etc

The Police and the Gamblers-AthIetes VS.
Assthetes = Theatrical Matters Langtry's
Rivai-The r. r. and Its Backers. etc.
Special Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR
NEW YORK, August 49,
A DIsREPUTABLE sQUABBLE.-
The recent move against gamblers has produced
commotiol. This uproar is at police headquar-
tefs Father than In the gambling dens Instead OF
employing the city detectives the district attorney
secured some OF Pinkerton's men, for the reason,
as ne blandly explained to the aggrieved police
officials, that when the city force was employed
the gamblers Invariably make their escape Herein
lies the secret OF the prosperity OF gambling
houses in this city. The police are not beyond
the reach OF brides, {why should they be, when
congressman and legislators are notT-nay,
worse, they do not scruple to levy blackmail; and
so the owner OF a gambling resort pays stipu-
lated sum for not being molested as regularly as
he pays his rent At times the police, under the
goad Of public sentiment, make descent on policy
shops and pool rooms always on the weaker estab-
llshments of coursel, but the keepers soon estab-
liSh themselves in new quarters and go on as Sc
renely as before. But even these spasmodc efforts
are not directed against the fashionable resorts up
toWn, Whefe money is ventured on cards at the
turn or the wheel In roulette.
FINE PALACES OF FORTUNE
There are several OF these resorts In the neigh
Dorhood of Madison Square and Union Square, and
they are to be found even in Fifth avenue. They
present striking contrast to the policy shops and
other dens In which Fortune is courted by the
poor In less fashionable quarters There is a per-
1ect a 1r OF comfort about the rooms which are
upholstered in the NEST luxurious fashion, and
the millionaire who Is there to indulge his passion
LOT gambling treads on as fine carpets as he does
In his own drawing room. The walls are hung
with paintings by well-known artlstS-nothing is
lacking, In Short to make the place attractive to
men m accustomed to good living and idle habits.
II. tod nv thn
set. who are known by the doorkeeper and adj
Inltted whenever they call. The stranger who at
te1nptS to get in meets with a rebuff. The only
way that he can pass the door is to accompany
some one whose face is familiar and who can
youch for him. Games of skill are rarely played.
FARO is the most popular game, and perhaps rOu-
lette ranks next. Both games are easily under
stood. 1t is possible to win or lose large sums in
a single evening; but according to the law Of
averages in these games the keeper Of the bank
has the advantage in the end.
FRENZIED BY GAMING.
One who has not seen men playing faro or at the
wheel can form no conception Of the excitement
to which even habitual gamblers are wrought up
1 have known of men, who had won few hundred
dollars, becoming so excited that they were as I'M
controllable as madmen 1 met man in Madison
Square one night rushing along with bunch Of
bank bills in his hands, and staring wildly. lie
had "been in luck" as he said and was on his
way to another resort, where he declared Scream
ed out, should say, that he going to another
house to break the bank.
BUSINESS MEMS GAMES.
There are also some gambling houses down in
the business part of the city of the better sort
They are open In the day time, and are frequented
by men OF buSneSS-Well known men, tOo-who
are not suspected at all of playing games OF
chance. These rich, well-dressed gamblers are
never bagged. 1t is the seedy rum-nosed indvd-
ual who Is pursued everywhere by ill-luck (ac-
cOrd1ng to his own most touching accOunD that
gets bagged.
THE NEW CRAZE.
The esthetic maidenS are not having it all their
own way this summer, by any means, although
they can claim the popular authoress, Mrs Bur-
nett among their number; and, indeed, this lady
is astonishing the natives wherever She goes by
floating around in balloon dresses like those
children wear, in which she looks very youthful
and charming. But our fair worSnipeIS of the
beautiful are not having it all their own way, as
have said. They are compelled TO share the admi-
ration bestowed on women by tn It artless and un-
suspecting creature-man-with the athletic
young ladies. who wear robust costumes and at
tempt 10 Go everything that men do. Young
women OF this robust order are found at the sea-
size, lakeside and mountain resorts and are, am
told, very largely from New York This type of
damsel instead of languishng for tlD addresses of
chivalrouS young men, looks upon each SEN
f time, as sheer feminine weakness and
just as much as her sisters, for what
woman Is there who does not live for this?-but
She seeks it in another way 1t Is artif1ce after
all, the cynical observer Is disposed to believe
She wears kid ties, which have patent leather tips
perhaps, but which are strong enough for good
service. Her skirt is not too long, and does not
reach below her shoe tops; in fact, the more atl-
dacious take care that narrow strip of silk stock
ing may be exposed. Instead OF flowing waist,
the dress Is belted in to give the figure trim an,
pearance. Your athletic young lady does not
wear summer Gainsboro, as that style OF head
gear is too diStnctively feminine; nor does she
carry parasOl A Jaunty little cap of some sort
is quite enough for her. She wants to be Drowned
by the sum- as 1t VIII make her look masculine and
II this result was brou 5ht about for physiological
considerations. instead or in qualification OF
Whlm, these creatures with sunburnt cheeks could
not be too highly commended. When she goes out
rowing she insists on pulling the oars and she
hibit5 so much strength of arm that the young
man, who is compelled to sit meekly In the boat
Is aStoniShed and moved to admiration. BE does
not know poor fellow, that this sun Drowned Liz
ze Hexam in front OF him has spent months and
months strengthening the muscles OF her arms
and back.
HOW 1T Is DONE.
There Is one young lady 1 know of who occupied
much OF her time last winter in swinging Indian
clubs and uumb bells, and-if the truth may be
told for truths own sake-in exercising on the
horizontal bar; and perfect candor requires it to
be said, also, that she was then preparing for
campaign this season in the role of the athletic
young woman. II party sets out on a mountain
climbing expedition she takes the lead with her
little cap on one side. On fishing jaunt her escort
IS entrusted with the luncheon, and must do such
squaw's work as gathering faggots and building a
fire. She takes her male friend out to drive, that
he may see how We'll she manage horses; In
fine, the young man IS relegated to a secondary
place. An attempt is made Qf may dare say It, and
l say 1t without malce) to capture him by making
him feel his inerlority-Or rather that his boosted
Claim to superiority Is fictitious.
SPECTACULAR ATTRACTIONS.
AS wrote some weeks ago, the town is to be
invaded this season with melOdrama. The reason
for this Is that the managers from Wallack down
have learned that stage carpentry pays better than
fine acting, even In refined and intelligent COM
munity 1t is useless to groan over this fact
The managers are bent on getting money; they
DO not care straw for the advancement OF art
"bah!" to you If you mention 1t. The carpenters
hammer is now busy in several of our leading play
houses "Rommany Rye" which is in course OF
magnificent piece of machinery Of them all The
carpentry to be displayed In the production OF
ment is represented in the first set, With tents Of
the natural size and a full complement of pots