Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-06-02

year sees greater numbers OF the fitf
Sex wooing the tickle god each year
there are an increased number OF sui.
cides; each Senr. adds to the number
OF adventuresses
Men, as a general thing, take defeat
brayely aud deslst. "Women.', saws
gambles who mas been to Monte
Carlo, learn 10 stop--neysr.. They
will play II they nave to steal the
money!
Nearly every one WHO has been to
Monte Carlo has hearS OF ..:,Iamma"
Viaud, little, bent old French wo.
man. q widow, who. has played for
years! fS sg tne. 4
Mamma, viaud played roulette
each day from morning until night.
Her beady eyes, twitching neryously.
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
absorbed in the awful desire OF win.
ming The old woman Mt times lost
heavily-for her.: then she regained
her losses. For long time she was
enabled to live and continue her few.
erish pursuit of the game.
One night the old woman lost near.
Fly all her store. AS she passed from
the table, despair in her eyes, her at.
tention was attracted by another
wheel. She stopped and bent over the
table. Again and again the wheel
spun around and stopped. The old
woman's eyes ,sparkled A flush suf.
fused her pallid checks.
AS she left the room she clapped
her hands. and her laugh-a shrill
knocking chuckle--stRrtled the game
sters as ominous. uncanny.
Better watch the old woman!" one
or the official lookouts told detec.
tive. He followed Mamma" Viaud
to her hotel. He listened outside of
her door. There was no alarming
sound. In short while she ex,
tinguished her lights, and evidently
had retired.
The following evening she reap
peared in the gaming hall. Her eyes.
still sparkled, her cheeks were still
flushed. With her were several no.
torious gamesters.. They approached
table. Mamma" Viaud began to
play.
She won. The gamblers, who had
loaned her money, watched. She
played second time--and won-and
a third time-and won. The gamblers
looked on amazed and saw the old
woman raking in thousands OF francs.
During the evening the old woman
sat by the table, playing persistently.
Her winnings doubled. trebied. quad.
rnpled, 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 MAN.
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 $4,000 to
cease playing. He doubled the figure
II she would tell him the secret OF
her success. He importuned her to
take 100000, $3.50. 0O0.y anlys cease
Wagsng her successful battle for. gold.
Finally, he offered her $4,000. Ac-
cepting this. "Mamma" Viaud, gather
ing together her fortune. told him
very quietly that in passing the table
the night before her quick eye had
detected that the ball of this partich-
lar wheel stopped at certain place
at regular Intervals. The managers
examined the wheel, found that it.
was out of order. and congratulated
themselves upon having compromised
with the old woman.