The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1905-11-15

carried on again not only in the apart
mentsOf the queen, but at the house or
the Princess de Lambelle. 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 be-
fore the end came that nOblemen would
no longer play with the queen, and
she admitted to her table many com
mon gamblers. Then the scandal
broke in full force, for some were
caught cheating, and one was even ar
rested for picking a pocket.
Possibly the most famous woman
gambler of English history was Nell
Gwynne, the actress, who was so great
a favOrite with Charles II. In that
reign the manners were much the same
as they were at the French court. Nell
lost IS, 600 to her rival, the Duchess
of Cleveland. and in one year lost up
ward of $50, 600, which the king paid.
There had never been known so much
gambling among women as was car
ried on in that reign. After the Ouch
ess of Mazarain, niece of the Cardinal,
had lost 81, 600, 900 she died in absO-
lutte want.
The acknowledged queen of Ameri-
can women gamblers was Lonna Pa
uuita, who was born in Texas 80 years
ip+n h1oyvian n
rule COWBOYS and outlaws. The little
Lonna was scarcely II years old when
she fell in with an Old-time gambler
named QualetOr, who taught her every
trick known to the gamblers art. She
made her first appearance in PaSo del
Norte. She was only a child, and the
rough gamblers laughed at her.
But they soon found that they were
no match for her, and that even her
teacher QualetOr, was a tenderfoot
compared with the child. With the
passing years LOnna Paquita grew to
be beautiful woman. Her hair was
as black as night, she had eyes that
COMPOUNDED those of the gamblers who
played with her, and voice as sweet
and silvery as a bell. She was as
handsome a woman as one could wish
to see, but with heart of ice and nerves
of iron. Her small white hands could
manipulate the cards with a skill that
defed the watchfulness of the keenest
gambler.
There are many people who thought
it was merely luck that followed her,
but the luck kept up too long, and the
gamblers who knew a few tricks them
selves understood that it was 'art. "
Still, no one was ever known to catch
her cheating. Before she was 20 Lon
ma Paquita was in New Mexico leading
a gang of the worst characters of the
southwest.
Her death occurred in 1895, and was
tragic. Some lawless acts had been
committed by a body of "greasers,
and search was made for them. LOnna
Paquita was found to be their leader,
and was caught. She only laughed
when she was taken, and proposed that
a games of cards be played to see
whether he should go free or kill her
SELF This was agreed to, and one OF
the party. a gambler known the coun-
try around, was selected. The woman
lost. Those who looked on had hard
ly time to understand this when Lonna
Paquita drew a knife from her belt and
plunged it into her heart.
The women of today, although the y
doubtless gamble as heavily as IN 9th
err times, incline more to speculation
in stocks. The new woman will 90 on
gambling, but appearances show that
she cares great deal more for the
money there is in it than she does for
he nOtoriety of being a gambler.