Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-01-25
FEMININE GAMBLERS
WOMEN WHO HAVE WON FAME By
THEIR RECKLESS WAGERS.
France Has Furnished the Greater
Number of These Furious Plungers.
Nell Gwynn's Daring Play The
cart" of Lonna Paauita,

Nell Gwynn's Daring Play The
Cart" OF Lonnn Paauita.
From time to time throughout the
world gambling among women has
hourishea and declined. The pages Of
history tell Over and over again the
story of great women gamblers.
France has furnished the greater mum
Der of these, but England has not been
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 ". was
delighted and borrowed some of her
winnings, but she lost a great deal at
times, and her play grew so furious
that in 1859 Louis abolished the game.
It is recorded Of madame that she. one
night, while the king looked on at play,
At'ihSNA - 'oSil NISo ~ ~IO,oOO Oi Il gill
gle card and that the king grumbled
when 10 n 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.
Nine. du Barry was the most famous
NM ~, ~ 11-, 81 ~, I:>o N --.-
XIV, but with her it was only a pas
time. But that other favorite, Nine. de
Pompaaour, Went in with the sole OBJ
ject Of winning, if she could. 1t is re-
corded that her winnings We're enor-
nous and that in a single night she
eased the pockets Of the king of 25,O0O
louis dor.
Queen Marie Antoinettc, 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 nobleman had his
entire estates wiped out i'll q 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
mel would no longer play With the
queen, and she admitted to her table
many comnon gamblers. Then the
scandal broke in full force. for some
We're caught cheating. and one was
even arrested for picking u pocket.
Possibly The most famous woman
gambler OF En@ltsh hi%taHr was Nell
Gwynn. tho acre ) III vs. 50 goat
a favortta WITH |~l,4r,r+ y. In that
reign The manners "or" nrncN The same
as they vorc III ITO i'taNcl court. Nntl
Gwynn los, 5000 70 har risal. Il2
Duchess Of Cl"vpia@1. an} III one year
lost upN.ar} Of lb0.G9@. which tha Sing
paid. There had ro>er been knoUn 50
much gambling among wo.&ou - was
carried Oh in that Eeig2. After the
Duchess of NaZarin, niece Of the card
nal, had lost G1,000.00 she died in ab-
solute want.
The acknowledged queen Of Ameri-
can wonlon gamblers wa Lonna Pa
quita. who was born in Texas about
1850, but early wont into Ncyico 10
rule over outlaws and cowboys. The
little Lonna was scarcely twelve years
OF age when she fell in with az old
time gambler named Qualetor, who
taught her every trick known to the
gamblers art. She made her first ap-
D%earancc il 7aso del Norte. She was
only 2 child, and the rough gamblers
laughed at her.
Bot they soon found that they were
10 match for her. and that cvrn her
teacher, Qualctor, was . tnNGcrfoot
compared With the child. With the
passing years Lonna PaQuita grew 10
be q beautiful woman, Her hair WAS
as black rs night, she had eyes that
c~onfounGod those of the gamblers Who
played with her and q voice rs sweet
ana Sl!EcrN as Il boz. She WIS as
handsome 4 ona as one could wish
to sec, but With heart CT ice and nerves
Of iron, Ter SINAI. whitr hands could
manipulate the cards With a skill that
deiiel The watchfulness OF the k2encSt
gambler.
There were many people who thouGht
it was merely !Ncl, that followed her,
but the luck Kept up TOO long, and The
gamblers who knew IL few tricks them
selves understood that i was art"
Still, 10 one was eve known to catch
her cheating. Before she was twenty
Lonna PaQuita WAS in New Mexico
leading 4 gang OF the worst characters
Of the southwest.
Her death occurred IN 1879, and was
tragic, Some lawlcss acts had been
committed by Il body OF Gr"ascrS. NnG
search was made for them. IIonn0
PaQuita WAS found to BE tEeir leader
and was caught. she only laughed
when sh" was taken. and proposed that
q game of cards be played to see
| Nvhn-l,nr ,I,n. rl,n,,Ij rn GOO, ~ LIN knr-