The herald., 1898-01-09
THE GAMBLING INSTINCT IN WOMAN
SodeysWhy Gder Sex Such Jealous Patrons Of
Gambling Devices?

| viciouSnesS nor a natural evil tendency
it is just the same old question of idle
| hands and his Satanic majesty. The
women who practice the gentle art of
gambling in this wise all know that they
are gambling, and their friends know ii,
even if 1t is not a more fragrant variety
than game of whist or hearts at so
much corner" and they acknowledge
it frankly, or they deny it in toto. ac-
cording to the strength of their social
or financial position in the community.
But it is not these after all, who work
the greatest harm and most widespread
! decentralization. Such are always in the
majority, those who don't realize that
they are gambling just because they
never play for money.
1t is the good housewives and mothers.
the philanthropic devotees, the ortho-
doX church members, the enormous mid
die class, who crush you with contu-
melious glare and vociferate in scornful
tones and with the monumental compla-
cency that accompanies an alleged vir-
tuous life, that-"most decidedly they
do not gamble"
a SOCIAL ESTABLISHMENT
These stiffen with the pride of con-
scious chastity and continence-and
then so to progressive card party"
and play tag whist around tables all the
afternoon after "cut glass vase" or a
''jeweled silver pomade pot" or q
"hand-painted picture frame" which is
the work of the hostess"
Or they so to church fair and pay to
~ 10 f.Nr. th.a, x;,l. .sl-
chance in an iridescent bedquilt made
from bits of old party gowns. which will
be ratified the last day or they invest in
the mystery of a grab bag or a fish pond
which is stuffed with the cheapest, film
siest bait to lure the unwary nickel or
dime from those who could not spend
their money with less sanity.
Or they pay pew rent in churches and
go every Sunday. because they want
to go to heaven when they die, and then
proceed to ruin their chances for that
most desirable end by spending the rest
of the week in gossipng and bearing
false witness and breaking any other of
the commandments, except, perhaps, the
eleventh-and even that is generally due
to luck.
Then there are those exemplary house
wives who keep down expenses by buy
ing cheap grades of meat and groceries,
so they can have more money for clothes
and trust to chance that the children
may not fail Ill. And it is chance, pure
and simple. when they do not.
In these and in hundred other ways
do women who shudder at the name of
gambling take chances, tempt fate, rely
on luck and otherwise display not only
the spirit but robust capacity to play
for ANY other stake or prize" than
money, until church fair cannot sue
ceed without its lotteries and its raf1ies,
a hostess dare not entertain unless she
provide handsome prizes to pay her
guests for accepting her hospitality and
the oldfashioned significance of the lat
ter term is almost forgotten by disuse.
Looking at it from a good many sides.
life itself is considerable of gamble;
and until women study to understand
the gospel of gambling and familiarize
themselves with the insidious versatility
of the manly art, they will continue TO
commit the added error of not telling
the truth when they deny that they
practice it. EVA MITCHELL COOK.