The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-29

cards have gained Of late a tremendous
bold on the affections Of women. young
old. middle-aged and representing many
grades Of society.
1t seems to be generally agreed that card
playing for money or for prizes has reached
almost the proportions OF an epidemic
among the women OF Greater New York.
1t has come to pass that in her ardor for
the card table woman is eager to play at
any hour OF the day-all day long. In fact
Il she gets the chance. To play cards
only OF an evening ceased long ago to
satisfy her longings. For that reason
games began to be arranged for the morn
ing and the afternoon. and before long
the private card clubs were legion.
Some have twelve members Others twenty.
some as many as forty. Some arranged
for two meetings q week OF q morning;
Others for three q week in the afternoon,
or for one meeting q week. There are
many women in New York who belong to as
many as five card clubs.
The rules OF some require that dues shall
be paid in a lump sum upon joining the
club.
Il paid $50 to join Mrs. Blanks euchre
club just before the holidays explained
one young woman. with fever in her voice,
:but already have got back more than that
amount in prizes. Last week won lace
parasol with sterling silver handle. am
awfuliy lucky about getting prizes
In other euchre clubs the dues are divided
up among the meetings which makes 1t
easier for some women TO join. As In the
other case, though. the money Is spent for
prizes.
At the bridge clubs. or at most Of them.
at least, prizes are eliminated in favor Of
playing for money stakes. 1t is true that
there are women who play bridge simply
and solely for the pleasure Of the game,
but the number lie so small that 1t does no
more than point the rule that bridge and
money stakes are practically inseparable.
Few up-to-date women capable Of judy
ing OF social conditions make any pretencc
Of denying this. Nevertheless, not a woman |
of them all will admit that gambling is be- |
coming popular in the feminine ranks. |
They say that card playing for money or |
prizes and gambling are two very different
stories.
A striking indication Of the state Of affairs
prevailing Is the assertion made by person
who should know that the biggest bound
in the evolution Of the playing card business
to its present high estate has occurred in
less than five years. and is due mainly to
women.
To find woman twenty-five years ago
who GOULD and would play poker and play
II well wqs almost impossible. The few
who16td MAY noker practised It with bated
breath bahind closed doors, and then as q
reward for their temerity were looked at
askance. In fashionable New York society
to-day the woman WHO does not play poker
b the exception. not the rule.
We sell thousands Of poker chips every
week. said the manager Of q sporting goods
department in one OF the big stores. Il
cant give exact figures. but ] can safely
say that we sold ten times as many OF them j
during the last year as were sold here In the
sane length Of time eight or nine years 4.
lgo
why, the manufacture Of poker chips I
Il quite a paying business now. For in
stance, ia three days eight Representatives {
Of as many makers have been in trying 20
hat there are a good many more than
tight In the business
The increase In our sales Of playing I
ards N almost equal 70 the increase In I
ashton a few years ago, instead OF buying
me pack OF cards at a time most people
egan buying 10y the dozen, packs and they I
nave keIt up ever since. Every four {
months the manufacturers ecnd out new +
iesigns, which shows the briskness OF the
ienand and n,eans that practically we lay :
D a new stock OF playing cards three times
year
IL order to supply the demands Of Gus. /,
ep S rs almost San every s'S depsrpsnt store
'hlch -sll only sporting goods. include
big stock 81 cards. chips aud counters, for q
be reason that the Demand for such goods I
} NJ least four times what II was q few ! I.
Il Al. T. 1
was EARNED tbs, mor than st1ooSoo
'ns spsnt last year la tbs United States y
o. playing snrds alone. =
u u in'ifnaisd that the trems ndous 4.
og'ie 81 thu osrd table with women i due \
lAlnly Ia tho prox~rsive game. that give !,
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