The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-06

Life is strenuous in West Baden,
Ind, for those who see fit to take the
whole treatment. The forenoon is de-
voted to exercise, and there is some
thing to suit all tastes. Walking and
riding appeal to the majority. Coat
less men swarm over the green hills
afoot. At every turn of the road one
sees young women on galloping horses
not the type of fair equestriennes one
sees in Central Park, in special habits,
stiff hats and followed by sedate
grooms, when they have no other male
escort, but fluffy haired, hatless dam
sells in ordinary country gowns, who
ride as though they enjoyed it, and
who look perfectly fearless. A little
girl of about twelve, who passed me
on the road, was riding bareback and
holding a boy of half her age in front
of her; they were urging their horse
TO It's quickest pace.
There are plenty of good walks and
drives in the neighborhood. The coun-
try is billy, well watered, well wooded
and quite charming in every way. There
is great cave about four miles away,
where luncheon may be had. The
greatest attraction of all from this end
is French Lick, the next station, and
the end of the little branch railroad
line that runs in here. French Lick
is practically a duplicate of West Ba-
den. 1t has similar springs, a hotel
only q fraction smaller than the mon
strous place at West Baden, many
minor hostelries and ample facilities
for gambling.
The main spring at French Lick, the
Pluto, is even more famous throughout
the West than any one of West Ba-
den's. 1t is directly on the ground Of
the main hotel there, which is kept by
Thomas Taggert, formerly mayor of
indianapolis. There are reports cur
rent of serious trouble with the flow of
the Pluto spring, as the owner of prop
erty tapped the source in sinking a
well.
Gymnasium for Women.
There is plenty of other exercise
for visitors to West Baden. There is
fine gymnasium, with special hours for
women who enjoy twirling on the fly
ing trapeze or punching the bag; there
is "natatorium," or swimming pool,
suggesting the one that was the center
of attraction at Hollywood, N. j., in
John Hoey's lifetime. and there are
enormous bowling alleys on the ground
floor of the club house
There are many expert boWlers
among the feminine contingent here,
and they spend hours knocking down
the pins, but the main attraction in
the alley seems to be the long array
of gambling machines. There are vari-
Gus KINDS OF THESE macn1neS, but all
work on the same principal-a revolv-
ing dial in the center. You place your
money in a slot at the top, push down
lever and the dial spins. When 1t
stops, If the indicator points to the
color or figure into which the money
was placed, the winnings fall jingling
into convenient receptacle.
The percentage against the players
must be enormous, as the machines
only pay even money on red and
black, and there are also white, green,
yellow and blue spaces, which are less
frequent and pay more. These ma
chimes are constantly patronized, and
one would imagine that they would
collect all the small change that reaches
West Baden. Most of them work with
nickels, but one is marked for two
bits" only, and requires quarters.
Baby Gamblers.
Children tease their parents for g.
cent pieces to put into the slots for the
fun of experimenting with the doubt
full possibilities of increasing their cap
ital. l noticed one young matron this
afternoon who had an attendant give
her change in quick succession for
three silver dollars while her little girl
stood on a chair and dropped the nick
els into the slot
There are plenty of diversions for the