Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-07-30
Gambling in Fashionable West
End, London, Heavy.
N any Womsn Are victlms-one Loses
Trousssau Money Sent BY Her Fa.z
ther In Indla--Fins Free
s'ssS Meals for Losers.

dence that q certain area OF fashion
able London Is infested with gaming
establishments, some open from early
afternoon to early morning. In and
around Piccadilly. st. James street.
Sackville street, Hyde Park corner
and sloane street the gambling bells
flourish. Large sums frequently are
expended for suitable accommodation.
In one instant young of1cer living
near st. James palace was able to;
let his flat for ego (tl0O) a night for
six weeks, he himself going to live
at one Of the hotels in Northumber's
land avenue.
I While there Is no suggestion OF
cheating at these places. gradually the
capital OF both winners and losers -
absorbed by the "kitties" or percent
age OF the house"
Several girls who recently made
their debut in society and many young
married women are to be found IN
three OF the gambling houses near
Bond street. & Some Of these young
women are very lucky, but the unac-
countable possession Of large sums OF
money. often results in trouble with
the mother or husband. s5;
One case in point 10 that OF man
occupying an important post In India.
Last Christmas he sent his daughter
e $50 (s1,250) to enable her 70 buy the
trousseau for her approaching mar
Rage. Accompanied by her sister. the
GIRL came to London on shopping
expedition. On the way they called
on cousin who took the two sisters
To : restaurant for lunch. The con-
versation turned on card playing and
the bride-elect expressed desire TO-
zee one OF the places where gambling
was carried on. Z. e s5:ss ~ .lig
Nothing IL easier" said the cousin.
Occasionally I have = 'hutter my
self. = = s5
II half an hour the cousin WAS deep
in .chemin de fer The two sis
tiers soon followed her example, and
within an hour the trousseau money
had disappeared and . note for E06
(3425), signed BY the widowed sister,
was in the hands Of the house. The.
London cousin was unable to help. %,
there was nothing for It but to write,
home. The mother sent an angry let
ter and ! check for 300 ($1,500), all
she could raise ct her bank. A day OF
two later the sisters returned home
and tearfully confessed that the 6 SOC
likewise had gone in an attempt to
recover the first amount. The wed-
ding has been postponed indefinitely '
The wife Of : member Of parliament
is known to have squandered In card
playing three or four times the E 400
! (32.OOO) her husband receives In re-
turn for his services to his country.
She has confessed to losing f1.46O
(S7,250) since the end Of last year.
Another woman who freQuents gam
ing house close to the Brompton ora
tory, Is practically destitute and has
the brokers In her home at the present
time. $}5 .t
These card houses are not the
worst places in London for gam.
blers," said : we'll known broker in
some private houses the stakes are ex-5
ceedingly high, whereas In many reg
.Glar gambling places lots Of punters
seldom win or lose more than e 5
(S25). Out Of that the pYpter pays
five per cent. and has good supper
free and all his drinks. There is al
ways a table covered with cold meats
and raised pies. Sometimes oysters
are provided, also cups Of soup and ex-'
cellent wines. Every kind Of drink
and table water Il! to be had. The
loser OF s1O (50) also gets his sup
per and drinks without charge. Stop
the present lot Of gambling and there'll
be others going within six months.