The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-11-12
WOMEN GAMBLERS.
Nell Gwynne One of the Most Noted
of Her Sex.
hivernool Mercurn.l

AIslsGTpool NdtIcui.'.J
From time to time throughout the world
gambling among women has flGuFished
and declined. Just at this time it flour
lshes. But if the mania is growing strong
IN the women Of today IL is simply the
revival OF an old passion, for in every age
women have been addicted to that form of
vice which caused the loss Of money hap
pness, substance, health and. IN many
instances, honor. Tho pages of history
tell, over and over gain the story Of
great women gamblers. France has fur
nlSned the greater number of these. but
England has not been far behind. while
America has put forth many whose fame
mas become international.
There seems to be something in the
blood OF French women that makes them
gamblers of a high order. Nine. de Nom
lespan won so much at basset. her IA
Norlte game, that Louis ~ was delighted,
and borrowed some of her winnings. But
she lost great deal at times and her
play. grew so furious that in 1852 Louis
abolished the game. 1t is recorded of
madame that she risked a sum equal TO
E4tWJ on Il single card, and that the
king grumbled when no one could be
found to cover the bet But madame also
lost. one New Year night 700 900 crowns
1t hoCa, and on another night almost
G2JANJ at the same game.
Nine. du Barry was the most famous
woman gambler of the time of Louis XIV.
but with her II was only a paStimc. But
that other faYOrite, Nine dc POmpadOur
went in with the sole object of winning.
winnings We're enormous and that in a
single night she eased the pockets of the
king of $500 louis dor.
Queen Marie AntOinette according to
history, was a gambler who liked TO be
surrounded by gamblers. Faro was the
popular game. but the stakes got to be so
great that many a nObeman had his en-
tire estates wiped out in a single night
Scandal rose high and the game was for
hidden. Nevertheless, in a short time IL
was being carried on again, not only in
the apartments OF the queen, but at the
mouse or the Princess de Lamballc. At
first the queen and those who desired TO
play with her went TO the apartments Of
Nine de Guemene, whose house is cred
tied with having been the scene of the
highest continued play of any in France
But matters got 80 bad before the end
came that noblemen would no longer
play with the queen, and she admitted 70
her table many common gamblers. Then
the scandal broke in full force for some
We're caught cheating, and one was even
arrested Tor picking a pocket.
POSSIBLY the most famous woman gam
bier of English history was Nell GWynne
the actress, who was so great q faVorite
with Charles IL. In that reign the mar
ners We're much the same az they were
at the French court. Nell Gwynne lost
5000 to her rival. thu Duchess of CleVe-
land, and III one year lost upward Of
10000 which the king paid There had
never been known 50 much gambling
among women as was carried on in that
reign. After the Duchess of Mazariu
niece Of the cardinal. had lost 81 OC1, 00j
she died in absolute want.
The acknowledged queen of American
women gamblers was l4Onna Paat1its
who was born in Texas fifty years ago,
but early went into Mexico 10 rule out
laws and cowboys. The little Lonna was
with an old time gambler named Quale-
tor, who taught her every trick known
to the gamblers art. She made her first
appearance in PasO del NOrtC She was
he Ill
laughed at her
But they soon found that they were
no match for her. and that even her
teacher, QualetOr. was a teuderfoOt com
pared with the child. With the passing
years Lonna Paquita grew 20 be a beau
tful woman. Her hair was as black
as night, she had eyes that cOnfCunded
those Of the gamblers who played with
her. and a voice as sweet and silverv
as a bell. She was as handsome a Wo-
man as one could wish 10 see. but with
heart Of ice and nerves OF iron. Her
small white hands could manipulate the
cards with a skill that defied the watch
fulness of the keenest gambler.
There were many people who thought
I was merely luck that followed her.
but the luck kept up too long, and the
gamblers who knew few tricks them
elves understood that II was art. Still
70 one was ever known TO catch her
cheating. Before she was % Lonna Pa
luita was in New Mexico leading a gang
I the worst characters of the south
vest.
Her death occurred in 1879. and was
ragic- Some laWless acts had beeen com
nitted by a body OF "greasers;'' and
earch was made for them. Lonna Pa
Iuita was found 10 be their leader, and
vas caught. She only laughed when she
vas taken, and proposed that a game
II cards be played TO see whether she
hould go free or kill herself. This was
agreed TO. and one Of the party. a gam
der known the country around. was
he 1,- A.,
ooked on had scarcely time TO under
stand this. when Lonna Paquita drew a
knife from her belt and plunged it into
her heart.
doubtless gamble as heavily as in other
times incline more TO speculation IN
stocks. The new woman will go on gam
bling, but appearances show that she
cares a great deal more for the money
there is In il than she does for the no.
torioty of being a gambler