The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-25
France Has Furnished the Greatest
 Number.

Liverpool Mercury.
 The pages of history tell over and over again the story of great wo- men gamblers. France has furnished the greater number of these, but Eng land has put forth many whose fame has become international
 There seems to be something in the blood of French women that makes them gamblers of a high order. Mime. de Montspan won so much at basset, her favorite game, that Louis XIV was delighted and borrowed some of her winnings. But she lost a great deal at times, and her play grew so furious that in 1882 Louis abolished the game.
 It is recorded of madame that she one night. while the King looked on at the play, risked a sum equal to f4o,Ooo, on single card, and that the King grumbled when one could be found to cover the bet. But madame also lost one New Years night 100000 crowns at hocal and on another night almost 100000 at the same game. Mime. du Barry was the most fam ous woman gambler of the time of Louis XIV, but with her 1t was only a pastime. But that other favorite, Mme de Pompadour, went in with the sole object of winning, If she could. It is recorded that her winnings were enormous, and that in a single night she eased the pocket of the King for 25, LOCO louis dor.
 Queen Marie Antoinette, according to history, was q gambler who liked to be surrounded by gamblers. Faro was the popular game, but the stakes got to be so great that many a noble man had his entire estates wiped out in a single night. Scandal rose high and the game was forbidden. Never theless, in a short time 1t was be- ing 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 Mime. du Guemene, whose house Is credited with having been the scene of the highest contin- ued play of any in France. But mat ters got so bad before the end came that noblemen would no longer play with the Queen, and she admitted to her table many common gamblers Them the scandal broke in full force, for some were caught cheating. and one arrested 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 the same as they were at the French court Nell Gwynne lost E5, 900 to her rival, the Duches of Cleveland, and in one year lost upward of f60,000, which the King paid. There had never been known so much gambling among wo- men as was carried on in that reign After the Duchess of Mazarin, niece of the Cardinal, had lost f1,00O,O00 she died in absolute want. The acknowl- edged Queen of American gamblers was Lonna Paquita, who was born in Texas fifty years ago. but early went into Mexico to rule over outlaws and cowboys. The little Lonna was scarce ly twelve years of age 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 march for her, and then even her teacher, Qualetor, was a tender foot compared with the child. Her hair was as black as night, she had eyes that confounded 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 skill that defied the WatcntulneSs or the keeneSt gambler.
 There were many people who thought it was merely luck that fol- lowed her, but the luck kept up too long. and the gamblers who knew few tricks themselves understood that 1t was art. Still no one was ever known to catch her cheating. Before she was twenty Lonna Paquita was in New Mexico. leading a gang of the worst characters of the Southwest.
 Her death occurred in 1875, and was tragic. Some lawless acts had ben committed by a body of greasers and search was made for them. Lon na Paquita was found to be their leader and was caught. She only laughed when she was taken. and pro- posed that game of cards be played to see whether she should go free or kill herself. This was agreed to, and one of the party, gambler known to the country around, was selected. The woman lost. Those who looked on had scarcely time to understand this when Lonna Paquita drew a knife from her belt and plunged 1t Into her heart.