The age-herald., 1901-03-24

If l had not complete control over my self I would certainly give the names Of some of my friends who, at the present moment, are much agitated over the fact that they are placed in the same cate gory as a few much abused Tammany Hall leaders The Rev pr. Huntington of Grace church and the Rev MT. Rains ford of St. Georges, two popular cier- gymen in the Episcopal church, bye con- stituted themselves a vice .ommittee of two to wage relentless war on gambling in society The guilty wners of roulette wheels and faro la,outs have been so joked with about t.e games they run that they feel very, much as the hardened pro fessional .,amblers should feel and don't. They .re actually nervous, and feel that the police may appear, carry them off in patrol wagons and create scandal.
 5 Roulette is no new amusement. It was first introduced in country houses, and proving itself a grand amusement. be- came popular in private houses In the city I confess a weakness for roulette I like it better than faro as It is quicker in its results. 1 have just counted over the number of private wheels run for the benefit of the exclusive four hundred. The sum total is twenty-six. All these wheels are single boards save three, which are double that Is, there can be play at both ends They are handsomely made of the regulation professional pattern, and equipped with ivory chips, with en- graved CT painted monograms
 After a diner party the guests assemble In the playroom. The table is generally ci6 There is always sideboard furnished with port, claret, whiskey and brandy, small delicious sand wiches, cigars and Turkish cigarettes. About the room there are generally two or three easy chairs and sofas for those who prefer to chat. Smoking is permit ted, indeed, 1t is quite the fashion now for fashionable young matrons to smoke cigarettes.
 When the company has assembled the host stands behind the table and says: What am I offered for the bank? Any person is privileged to bid, and when la dies are present the limit Is fixed at S250 The bank bidder, singly or with part ners, deposits the money in the drawer. Should i'll luck strike the bank the limit of Its III fortune ceases when the money in the drawer Is lost. The bank Is then nut up for sale. The banker is privileged to transfer the bank at any time for Q sum not to exceed the cash in the drawer. The object of this is to allow other play CTS an opportunity to become bankers. One dollar on a number and s25 on the columns, sets of twelve, or colors, is the limit
 Of course. there are many instances where the limits are much higher l have found that the young married women are great players more conservative than the men and possess better memories as. to numbers and colors. They are more te- nacious than the men and not so ready
 to submit to i'll fortune and stop. NO player is allowed to buy chips on credit or to pay with checks. This Is to avold future unpleasantness. Yet checks are drawn and cashed among the players. have seen ladies win from five hun dred to twenty-five hundred dollars In an evening. They hang over the board while the wheel Is whirling and the ball spin ming. depositing checks hither and hither, their eyes sparkling, their cheeks flushed
 with excitement, their hosoms heaVing, indicating a love for gambling whlch IS
 surprising Nothing shows so well truly 1 beautiful shoulder. a well-modeled bust |. and a perfect arm roulette board and I am not surprised that it has been
 responsible for some of the affairs
 which have made so much talk this win l ter.
 One night-one Sunday night-1 was 1 present at a game playtu bS certain " ebii | street men, the ladies having retired. It
 was to last for one hour. The limit was | fixed at $50 on a single number and SloOO l on the colors, rows and sets. The bank
 was unlimited The play was heavy. One 1 gentleman won three consecutive times 1 on F, black, having it for the limit flat, 1 and the end of theygame the heaviest loser was out $S500, the heaviest winner | won $140O0, and the bank won $35O In | accordance with the gossip of>chances the | banker should have won at least $1OOOO.
 Gambling is fashionable, yet 1t is only in its infancy. It probably will never be- 1 come the evil it became during the time of Queen Anne, as it is purely the pas
 time of the very rich, to whom the loss
 or winning of ten to twenty thousand dol | lars in q season is of no consequence. 1 It may make few fashionable gamblers of young men, however. l have noticed 1 with some amusement two young men
 who never lose over twenty-five dollars in front of the board. but who are al
 ways ready to buy the bank at S250 or
 $500. A few lucky banks will net several thousand dollars, and it rarely loses all its capital. As these young men have lit-
 tie back of them, fear if heiresses are
 not their game. roulette will make them the Charlie Reids or the Dick Canfields
 of the future.
 MT Howard willets has been entertain Gedney Farm. in Westchester. Mir. Flu