The times., 1897-08-09
MatrOns and Maids Alike indulge
In the National Game.
COyGRESSMEN IT'S PATRONS
The Jack Pot and the Tea Pot Go
HaDG-E-Band in Upper-Tendom-
Society Buds Among The Experts
Poker Parties TO the suburbs

The Geyotees of the game are 10 be emu
mcrated in overpowering numbers among
those who occupy 'theseats Of the mighty.
That Congressman should indulge in a
vast amount of poker pIayingis not mat
ter OF establishment, either in or out OF
Washington. but that the fashionable woni-
en- OF TIE CITY should be given oTer TO
poker playing, with in many cases, IN
definite Mndts for the JACK pos, is matter 10
make TIE thoughtful pause and do consid-
cradle thinking
Time was, of course. when our grand
mothers and their grandmothers before
them played all night. handling the cards
by the light of sputtering dips. 1t would
seem that the W hirligig of time had brought
this craze back again, and firmly implanted
in the present day and generation OF Wash
lngton fashionables a fondness for cards
quite equal 10 that possessed by those old
danes of the past generation. The paste
board kings, queens and jacks have ey-
IDENTIFY not been relegated To the limbo
OF periwigs, powdered hair and moth
patches.
A few years ago, when a fashionable
woman, at whose house Army and Navy
Officers found a favorite gathering place
for playing poker, completely impoverished
q young fellow, a member of the Metro
politan club, the club rose at the audacity
OF the proceedings, and after compelling
tile woman to refund the young fellow s
fortune. gave her until sundown 70 quit
Washington forever. 1t caused no end OF
a sensation at the time, but soon blew
over, and people have almost forgotten 1t
now. Nevertheless, the woman at whose
house the playing was done has never
dared 10 Resume residence here.
IIniu last winter certain or the officers
families stationed al the Arsenal had one
OF the fashionable poker clubs meet regu-
larry at theiI quarters Play ran high, and
80 did he talk concerning the amounts or
money hat changed hands, and the late, or
rail her early, hours at which the poker
parties broke up.
This GOSSIP floated to the commandant's
ears, and when he learned that 4 a. m
was the time when the members of the
club left the arsenal and returned 10 their
homes ia the city. he issued an order that
after that date poker playing would be in
definitely SUSPENDED in those Officers quar-
ters, and that visitors, however, fashiona
tie, must leave the arsenal gates prior 20
a IT.
The most famous rendezvous OF the poker
clubs Of the fashionable women Of this
CITY for some years past has been at Deer
Park, Nd, where a large Washington
contingent has always gathered. Matters
ffralIV reached a crisis, and poker playing
anroug the fashionable at Deer Park re-
ceived q black eve, because Of certain
high handed proceedings for several nights
running. The hotel proprietor then made
a rule that for the remainder Of that sea-
son no more delUsive games OF poker We're
70 be allowed at Deer Park. One of the
Ladies who was especially well known was
further tOl that she must pack bag and
baggage and remove elsewhere and not
return.
Nauagansett has also been favorite re-
treat for the fashionable women who play
a fine game Of poker. One OF these wash
fugton women d widow, is accredited with
having during the course Of several little
games the past summer, cleared sufficient
70 pay her board bill for the entire season
at the PieT.
One OF the devotees OF poker gave last
season a luncheon that las since become
famous sheis the wife of a naval officer
and issued invitations for poker party
and Luncheon Tie invitations read From
IL a. n. to p m" An the debutantes OF
the season were invited, but whether OF
not there was colIusion among the mothers
OF those same girls the seasons buds
were decidedly TO the fore. The story
runs that tie hostess made the cost OF her
luncheon and "a cents to boot, willie sew
eralaf ber guests departed homeward after
5o'clock with well lined pocketoooks.
On the same block lives the leader Of ali
the fashionable poker clubs in Washington.
Her house has for years been the gTther-
ing place or the players, and interesting
stories are afIoat concerning fierce games
whicf. have been played there.
On one occasion several men at the Met
ropolitan Club comcocted q scare for this
lady. They graveIy informed her that
since the passage OF the law prohibiting
poker playing n Washington her house had
been shadowed by private detectives, with
a view to raiding il and having the whole
affair up fn the police court. The result
was magical. For week or ten days there
after tIe house was as dark and silent as
the grave. while the poker players who
had been wont to gather there in social
mood fairly held their breath with fore
boding. Then somehow ft got out that
a trick had been played upon them all by
those festive Metropolitan clubmen, and
the windows were no longer darkened nor
were the hearthstones cold
Last season IL became the fad for parties
TO go from here to Alexandria and spend
the morning playing poker at one of the
cafes of that city. That men should go TO
Alexandria 10 indulge in poker playing
was not to be wondered at, because of the
laXity of ttse Virginia law in regard to all
such matters. But that fashionable women
should follow suit and consider it no
end Of lark, instead OF playing cards in
their own elegantly appointed houses in
Washington, to go to Alexandria and
spend three or four hours at poker in
cafe which in this or any other large city
would cert aiuly not be ranked as fiTst-cIass
seems iBexplicsble. Do it they did, how
ever, and got gOsSipped about no end In
Consequence.
OF course, while high stakes are the
rule, they dc not always prevail among
the fashionabes. Such things have been
penny changed hands.
Several seasons since an all-day card
party took place at the residence of a
widow living on one of the broad west
end avenues Among the players wa the
beautiful wife OF a Senator. who is her
senior by many years. The Senator's wife
became 50 involved in the game that she
was obliged 20 let her husband know of the
state or sffairs He paid his wife's ''debt
or honor" but he raised d storm about
II and gave the hostess heated expression n
of bis opinion. He threatened 10 make the