Evening star., 1901-09-05
GOSSIP FROM GOTHAM
Insurance Against Losses BY Bad
Debts Growing Popular.
GAMBLING CRAZE AMONG WOMEN
Interest in Coming Golf Tourna-
ment at Atlantic City.


CONTRACT MARRIAGE LAW
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, September 4, 1901.
The business of insuring individuals and
firms against losses from bad debts above
| a certain amount is one which has grown
and extended rapidly In this city within
two or three years. The companies en-
gagged in it have gradually made up a
| series of experience tables" on which cal
culations are based, just as life insurance
is governed by mortality tables. So when
a newly established house or one not pre-
viously insured applies for a policy there
is some check on its statement as to how
much is expected to be lost by bad debts In
the coming year.
If a wholesaler, for instance, says that
he Will lose only one-eighth of / per cent
1t is known both from the commercial
agencies and the experience Of hundreds OF
other merchants that he is greatly under
estimating the amount. The credit insur-
ance companies deal only with manufac-
turerS and wholesalers.
Poker Club for Women.
Gambling is dominant these days at
hotel near Larchmont, the resort on the
sound, and it's slaves for the most part are
women. Poker, that game of chance so
dear to the American heart. is the most
popular form of hazarding pin money
and sometimes more-and large number
of feminine residents devote practically all
uay and a good part of the night to the
excitement of the cards. Included on the
hotel roster are the names of families
whose heads are prominent in the bust
ness and social world, and 1t is largely
from this class that the society gamblers
are recruited. Nor are the games less Sc
we're because of the sex of the players.
From descriptions of the style of play
it may be called first-rate "cutthroat'
poker, based on the principle Of pounding
the loser" and it is because SO little
mercy has been shown the more unfOrtu-
nate ones that attention has been drawn
to the practice.
1t was expected that following a winter of
unusually heavy gambling in social circles,
in which bridge whist ruled favorite,
reaction would set In and the summer be
given over to other sources of pleasure
That this is not the case is established by
the many reports which enanate from
the various summer resorts, chief
among them being, of course, Saratoga,
whose lead, SO far. at least, as spirit Is
concerned, is closely pressed by the water
ing places on the sound.
Golf at Atlantic City.
The amateur championship tournament of
the United States Golf Association is slated
to begin over the links at Northfield on Mon
the week, and from present indications the
entry list will be record breaker. Nearly
every amateur in the country whose abili-
ty is unQueStioned and, 1t might also be
added, a few others whose greatness is
recognized only by themselves. have de-
cided to enter. 1t is comparatively easy to
handle 100 starters in the qualifying round,
but when the number runs much over these
figures the field begins to get unwieidy
1t is safe to predict that this years cham
nil oh ic IN lNr,bf 40
two acknowledged leaders, Walter J. Ira
Wis, present national champion. and Find
lay 8. Douglas, the metropolitan title
holder, both practicing regularly at
the links of the Nassau County Club as
are John Read, jr., and Charles III. Seeley,
the Connecticut champion. BY one who
has been watching the work of Travis and
Douglas recently 1t Is said that both are
decidedly off in their short game.
To Marry by Contract.
People who desire to marry by contract
after January 1, and wish to dispense with
clergyman, alderman or justice, will need
two witnesses, who must sign their names
to the written contract of marriage to
which the contracting parties subscribe.
City Clerk Scully has prepared the form Of
the book he will keep for recording mar
riages. The amended law provides that
marriage continues to be a civil contract
so far as it's validity in law is concerned.
interesting. To make contract marriage
valid in 1902 it will be necessary that at
least two witnesses shall subscribe to the
written contract, stating plainly their resi-
dence and the date and place Of the mar
rfage The instrument must be acknowl-
ecged by the contracting parties and wit
nesses In the same manner as required for
the acknowledgment OF a conveyance of
real estate. and must be recorded. The
contract must be filed within six months
after it's execution in the office Of the city
clerk in the town or city in which the mar
riage is to be sOlemniZed. Hitherto mar
riage certificates have been recorded in the
office of the board of health and marriage
contracts, If desired, in the Office of the
county clerk.
This Years Oyster Crop.
Oyster dealers say that the supply of
oysters for the season that opened Septem-
Der will be larger and finer than for many
years. The demand begins even before the
passing Of August. For many days orders
have been rushing in from western cities.
where the weather is cool and the oyster
appetite sharp. European buyers are ex-
pected here in a few days, and will largely
increase their orders. Five thousand bar
rels were sent abroad weekly last season
between October 1 and May l. These buy
ers come early and make several months
contracts for certain number of barrels
week. They are sent by fast steamers, In
colo storage, ana arrive Oh the OInor size
in fine condition. In fact, oysters are de-
livered In Liverpool cheaper and in better
shape than in Chicago. Many oysters sent
west are already opened, and are shipped
in wooden tubs, about 15O0 to each tub.
The following six names as probable cam
didates for mayor will be presented ito the
conference of the anti-Tammany organiza-
tions by the conferees Of the Citizens
Union; George Foster eabody, banker in
dependent democrat: F. Norton Goddard,
merchant, Independent republican,: George
L. Rives. financial lawyer, Independent
democrat; John De Witt Warner, lawyer.
Independent democrat; Seth Low, college
president, independent republican; Bird 8.
Coler, banker, independent democrat.
Annual September Furniture Sale.
Extraordinary values. Moses, F & i1th.-
Advertisement.
Marriage Licenses.
The following marriage licenses were is