The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-31
WOMEN WHO
PLAY POKER.
LeavenwOrth Clergymen Make
Startling Allegations.
Rev. n. s. Thomas DenOunces
Some of His Flock.
ONE GIRL LOSES $500.
But Her Sister Was an Adept
and Won it Back.
Loser Tried to Stop Payment on
the Check But Didn't.
ONE GIRL LOSES $500.

LeavenWortil March 31.-The startling
sermon delivered on Sunday by Rev. n.
S. Thomas on euchre. as it is played in
Leavenworth, created a furore in church
circles, and it is the talk of the town
today.
IN discussing the matter today, Mr..
Thomas said:
4 do not see anything wrong in the
playing of cards. in itself, and stated
this to my congregation. but L did say
that II was question whether it was
wrong to make it a pursuit as many OF
the women do. l have been told of a
woman who has decorated her parlorS
most handsomely with the prizes she
has won at euchre parties, and of an
other woman who boosted of having t
tended ten euchre parties in one week.
I was told this morning OF one young
woman who came upon visit to this
city. She had been given $500 by her
father. and expected to stay only lit
tie while when she was invited to one
of these euchre parties. 1t seems euchre
was too mild for this circle, and from
euchre the game was changed to poker
The young lady was a novice at this
game and the finale of the story is
that she lost everything.
Not content with the mere pleasure
games like fiends. [ have heard that it
is not at all uncommon for them to
cheat. to stack cards and hold them
under the table.
Another story is that of son who
played in a game with his mother and
won from her S25. The lad is not q
years old. Isn't this a fine example?
What can We expect of the moral char
acter of this young man?
They make il a pursuit. lose homes
ty, principle and all regard for family.
In fact card playing has been carried
on in Leavenworth to such an extent
that is damnable.'
DR.. Bright of the First Methodist
church said he could see no difference
between nlaNingr for the
ing for the dollar which buys the prize.
Professional euchre playing is worse
than professional gambling.
IF the women stopped with euchre it
would not call for the condemnation it
does, but understand it does not cease
here
city one poker club if not more 1t is
reported that the members meet regu-
larry and sit long at the tables.
There is a story which has been mar
rated TO me but cannot VOuch for its
truthfulness
1t is of a young lady who came upon
a visit 10 friends in this city and who
had with her $500. Through an invita-
ton she had been inVeigled into one of
these games and lost every cent of her
money. She did not wish to have her
father know anything of her loss. and
so wrote an elder sister for money
with which to return home.
1t seems this sister was an adept al
Stacking cards and resolved to come TO
this city and win back the money. of
which she felt her sister had been rob
bed. This she did, and had not been
here long before she was induced to go
into a little game The playing grew
faster and faster, and finally one of the
members drew a phenomenal hand.
The betting grew high that all
dropped out of the game but this mem
Der and the visitor. BY this doubling
process they wagered everything until
the member put in a check When the
cards We're shown the Leavenworth wo-
man held four kings and the stranger
four aces.
The loser accused her opponent of
cheating, and said she would stop pay
ment upon the check. The visiting
young lady thereupon told why she
had gone into the game and dared her
70 stop payment on the check. saying
that If it were done, she would make
everything public.
The check was paid
I cannot see how the young Deop1e
can help but be permeated with this
gambling mania, since it is pIaved in
the parlors of those who set themselves
up TO be society leaders. Personally 7
can see no more harm in a deck of
painted card boards than in so many
checkers, but they have come to be rec
ognized as the gamblers tools and
should be condemned