Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-07
Miseellaneuls Rsading.
ONE WoMAN's QUICK EYE.
The Directors of Monte Carlo Paid
Her 100000 to Stop Playing.

Her 100000 to Stop Playing.
Within the last few years the In
crease of gambling among women has
been appalling. The dazing successes
of few have been cabled to all parts
of the world; the tragedies Of the
thousands who lose have not been told.
Spread Of the gambling fever among
women has alarmed the management
Monte Carlo hates scandals and
suicides. But what can be done? Each
year sees greater numbers Of the fair
sex wooing the tickle god; each year
there are an increased number Of sui
cides; each year adds to the number
Of adventuresses.
Men, as a general thing, take defeat
bravely and desist. Women" says
gambler who has been to Monte Carlo.
learn to stop-never. They will play
If they have to steal the money"
Nearly every one who has been to
Monte Carlo has heard Of Mamma"
Viaud, a little, bent old French wo-
man, a widow, who has played for
years.
Mamma" Viaud played roulette each
day from morning until night. Her
beady eyes, twitching nervously. saw
nothing but the ivory ball as it fell
into the CELL AS they watched her
staggering from the gaming tables late
at night people pitied her.
Her whole soul, her life, seemed alb
sorbed in the awful desire Of winning.
The old woman at times lost heavily
for her; then she regained her losses.
For a long time she was enabled to
live and continue her feverish pursuit
Of the game.
One night the old woman lost nearly
all her store. AS she passed from the
table despair in her eyes, her atten-
ton was attracted by another Wheel
She stopped and bent over the table
Again and again the wheel spun around
and stopped. The old womans eyes
sparkled A flush suffused her pallid
cheeks.
AS she left the room she clapped her
hands, and her laugh-a shrill, mock
ing chuckle-started the gamesters
as ominous, uncanny.
Better watch the old woman!" one
Of the official lookouts told a detec-
tive. He followed Mamma" Viaud to
her hotel. He listened outside Of her
door. There was no alarming sound
In a short while she extinguished her
lights, and evidently had retired.
The following evening she reappear-
ed in the gaming hall. Her eyes still
sparkled, her cheeks were still flushed.
With her were several notorious game
sters. They approached a table.
Mamma" Viaud began to.play.
She won. The gamblers, who had
loaned her money, watched. She play
ed a second time-and won-and
third time-and won. The gamblers
looked on amazed and saw the old wo-
man raking in thousands Of francs.
During the evening the old woman
sat by the table, playing persistently.
Her winnings doubled, trebled, quad
rupled, and piled up about her.
The management became alarmed.
A consultation was held. Special de-
tectives were sent to watch her.
Scores had gathered about the table,
looking on breathlessly at her wonder
full run of luck. The detectives re-
ported to the management that MANI
ma" Viaud was playing certain COM
bination of numbers that invariably
won.
One of the directors besought the
old woman to desist playing; the bank
would be broke, he declared. She
smiled and continued to play.
The director offered her s5O,OOO to
cease playing. He doubled the figure
if she would tell him the secret Of
her success. He importuned her to
take 100000, $250,O00, only cease wag-
ing her successful battle for gold.
Finally he offered her 100000. Ac-
cepting this, Mamma" Viaud gath
ering together her fortune, told him
very quietly that in passing the table
the night before her quick eye had de-
tected that the ball Of this particular
wheel stopped at a certain place at
regular intervals. The managers ex-
amined the wheel, found that it was
out of order, and congratulated them
selves upon having compromised with
the old woman.-Philadelph North
A