Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-06-17
4 DESPERATE CHANCES
Squanderiug u Fortune aud losing "A H..
tiful Wife at Single sitting.

from Attending the Union club. whcr.
gambling Is extensively carried on. and
following upon the order Of ChapcoUo.
Bismarck in 1876 closing all pubFo
gambling places in Germany, has led ~
many n discussion rs to the exient
to which gaming is carried on IN
other parts of the world The chi
nese gamble for everything, and tbo
Italians and Spaniards are not far bo
hind them A short time ago SOM,
gentlemen were enjoying glass Of bo,
punch. when the conversation turned
upon gambling in Russia. An old III.
plomate, who had resided a number If
years at st. Petersburg, being one of the
company, averred that the mania which
possessed the military circles, as well as
the whole Russian aristocracy, durjno
his stay in the country, was sometime
terrible An officer, he said, who diI
not gamble received no credit for it.
and the public man who did not now
and then run the risk of being ruined
was considered to be a stingy fellow
who was lightly esteemed by his ac-
quaintances. Hcartrending tales are
told in Russia of the sacrifices men have
made to avoid the society stigma of
Observation-Disclosures, so that no surprise
was expressed when it was reported that
such and such an officer had gone to
the Caucasus to meet certain death. or
had blown out his brains, or that such
prince had stolen the family diamonds.
or such u civil officer had embezzed
public funds.
II know of an instance of less vulgar
ending continued the speaker, 'but
huthfully showing the straits to which
a liberal player in Russia was once re-
duced
AT grand ball on one occasion. to
which | had been invited. q lady was
pointed out TO me rs the Princess Au-
gustinoff, Ca name ! shall ne here as
her real name is too well known in Rus
STA to introduce into newspaper ar
ticle) She was q charming woman in
spite of her age, still pleasing through
her well-storcd mind and faultless man
ners. Look ut her straight and elegant
figure exclaimed my companion; she
walks like n queen. Her complexion is
rs fresh and her ewes as lus'rouS as %
young girls, while her white hair sur
rounds her face like Il silver diadem.
She is going to dance, and none will
Surpass her in grace of movement or en-
iovmcnt Of the occasion. Now let me
tell YOU her history. Her maiden name
was Mary -. She was married for
beauty, although this was not her only
attraction, her family being wealthy
and important She had been selected
a, maid OF honor TO the czarina, who
was greatly attached 10 her. Her mar
. J.. I,.. tf..tr
consequence of possessing much beauty
and wealth and holding high position.
Peterhoif (also not his real uame), her
| husband, was fine officer, having
reached the grade of major general 40
an ace when most officers are serving
as captains and liuuenants. The car
highly esteemed the tall. studious, and
serious officer, whom he knew TO possess
most sterling qualities. But he did not
play, He was often rallied about it, and
the ear himself had one day expressed
wonder thereat. saying: Well general.
it seems you never amusc yourself with
cardsg Peterhol. shaking his head, re-
| Piled he had no taste for gaming Not
for preferences? inquired the car
Come, general. let us have q game of
| preference. This WAS an invitation not
to be refused. but so great an aversion
had the officer to gambling that he did
not even know the rules OF the game.
Not know the rules for preference.
exclaimed the ear, coughing. 'Iou
must learn them nay dear general. =
| little play drives Oft ennui. There's
| Augustnod, who has reached the apex
of perfection in preference. lie mast