The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-06
GAMBLING GROWS
AMONG WOMEN
But 1t Is Called by a More
EuphoDious Name When
Mentioned.

The Brooklyn police have recently
taken action towards putting a stop to
certain progressive euchre enterprises
of women, and the affair has caused
deal of talk in many places besides
Brooklyn as to the increase of the
gambling mania among the gentler sex.
In Chicago it is evident that cards have
within the last few years gained a
tremendous hold on the affections of
all classes of women, especially those
in the fashionable and ultra fashion,
able sets.
1t is generally conceded that card
playing for prizes or money stakes has
almost reached the stage of an cpl
dem1c among the women in Chicago.
Bridge whist, whist, euchre and even
nigh five and hearts have their deVo-
tees among the women all over the
city. The number of women's card
clubs in Chicago is hard-to estimate.
There are big clubs that meet down
town and draw their members from
all over the city, and there are clubs
confined to those residing in a single
/ block or in single hotel or apart
ment house. 1t used to be that a
woman was satisfied if she belonged
to one club that held meetings twice
month. But nowadays there are
hundreds of women who belong to five
card clubs, or even more, and who play
every day, and some days play at
three different clubs. Women's card
clubs used to meet invariably in the
afternoon, but now some of the clubs
meet in the forenoon, others in the
afternoon, and others again at night
SO that woman who is devoted to
the game can find clubs that will per-
init of her playing all day If she so
desires.
Some of these clubs hold bu4 one
session a week, but others hold two
or three. The dues vary. Some clubs
demand cash sum of $25 or $50 from
new members, others require a GER
tain amount, SO cents or 81, to be paid
at each session. The bridge clubs have
small dues, as they do not spend the
money raised in this manner for prizes
AT the bridge clubs, or at most of
them, at least, prizes are eliminated
for money stakes. There are women
probably who play bridge for the love
of the game, but even these do not
refuse to take their winnings home
with them.
At the euchre and whist clubs the
prizes are the incentives to the games.
The women hold their cards with as
much grim earnestness and play as
desperately and in as terrible silence
as ever man played poker for a 1000
. jackpot.
Oet, Sdlu d sue woman as
she came out of the card room where
her whist club had been in session,
Just look what 1 won. This beauti-
full paraSol with sterling silver handle"
What" groWled her disguised hus-
band who had been cooling his heels
in the smoking room awaiting her, lis
that what you women were playing
for? l watched you for awhile and
thought you were playing for the Ma
sonic temple and the courthouse
thrown in."
Women sternly deny that playing
cards for money or prizes is gambling
Il had to pay $40 all in a lump to join
our whist club" said a south side
young woman recently, but I've al
ready won two burnt leather sofa cush-
ions, a cut glass vase and a silver
candy dish. I had them priced and all
of them together are worth $2275 So
you see am ahead, and if 1 win those
candlesticks tomorrow I'll be way
ahead"
80 you have the gambling fever?"
said a friend.
The gambling fever" repeated the
girl, opening her eyes wide. why, I
should say not. Gamble-me; no, in
deed. Why playing whist for pretty
prizes and gambling are two different
things"
why different? In what way?"
We'll, one is playing whist for prizes
and the other is gambling. That's the
difference"
Even the woman who loses $50 or