Smyrna times., 1905-11-01
FEMININE GAMBLERS
WOMEN WHO HAVE WON FAME BY
THEIR RECKLESS WAGERS.

From time to time throughout the
world gambling among women has
fourished and declined. The pages of
history tell over and over again the
story of great women gamblers.
France has furnished the greater num-
Der of these, but England has not been i
far behind. while America has put |
forth many whose fame has become in |
ternational.
There seems to be something in the
blood of French women that makes
them gamblers of a high order. Nine.
de Montespan won so much at basset,
her favorite game. that Louis w. was
delighted and borrowed some of her
winnings, but she lost a great deal at
times, and her play grew so furious
that in 1852 Louis abolished the game.
1t is recorded Of madame that she, one
night, while the king looked on at play,
risked sum equal to 100000 on a sin
gle card and that the king grumbled
when no one could be found to cover
the bet. But madame also lost, one
New Year night, 100000 crowns at
hoca and on another night almost
100000 at the same game.
Mime. du Barry was the most famous
woman gambler of the time Of Louis
XIV, but with her it was only a pas
time. But that other favorite, Nine. de
Pompadour, went in with the sole OBJ
ject of winning, if she could. 1t is re-
corded that her winnings were enor-
nous and that in a single night she
eased the pockets of the king of $4,000
louis dor.
Queen Marie Antoinette, according to
history, was Il gambler who liked to be
surrounded by gamblers. Faro was the
popular game, but the stakes got to be
so great that many a nObleman had his
entire estates wiped out in a single
night. Scandal rose high, and the game
was forbidden. Nevertheless, in a short
time it was being carried on again not
only in the apartments of the queen,
but at the house of the Princess de
Lamballe. At first the queen and those
who desired to play with her went to
the apartments of Nine. de Guemene,
whose house is credited with having
been the scene of the highest continued
play of any in France. But matters got
so bad before the end came that noble
men would no longer play with the
queen, and she admitted to her table
many common gamblers. Then the
scandal broke in full force, for some
were caught cheating, and one was
even arrested for picking pocket.
Possibly the most famous woman
gambler of English history was Mel
Gwynn, the actress who was so grea
a favorite with Charles H. In tina
reign the manners were much the sam
as they were at the French court. Mel
Gwynn lost $4,000 to her rival, tn
Duchess Of Cleveland, and in one yea
lost upward of 100000, which the kin
paid. There had never been known s
much gambling among women as wa
carried on in that reign. After th
Duchess of Mazarin. niece of the card
nal, had lost Fl, 100000 she died in al
solute want.
The acknowledged queen Of Amer
can women gamblers was Lonna p;
duita, who was born in Texas abol
1850, but early went into Mexico
rule over outlaws and cowboys. tt
little Lonna was scarcely twelve yea
Of age when she fell in with an o
time gambler named Qualetor, wi
taught her every trick known to Il
gamblers art. She made her first a
pearance in Paso del Norte. She w
only a child, and the rough gamble
laughed at her
But they soon found that they we
no match for her, and that even b
teacher, Qualetor, was a tenderfo
compared with the child. With t
passing years Lonna Paquita grew
be a beautiful woman. Her hair W
as black as night. she had eyes tt
confounded those Of the gamblers W
played with her and voice as sw'
and silvery as a bell. She was
handsome woman as one could WI
to see, but with heart of ice and nerV
Of iron. Her small white hands col
manipulate the cards with skill Il
defied the watchfulness of the keen
gambler.
There were many people who thoui
it was merely luck that followed /
but the luck kept up too long, and
gamblers who knew a few tricks the
selves understood that it was 'al
Still, no one was ever known to ca
her cheating. Before she was tive
Lonna Paquita was in New Mex
leading a gang of the worst charact
Of the southwest
Her death occurred in 1875, and '
tragic. Some lawless acts had b
committed by body of greasers,
search was made for them. Lo
Paquita was found to be their lea
and was caught She only laug
when she was taken, and proposed I