The Elbert County tribune., 1913-07-25
Gambling in Fashionable West
End, London, Heavy.
Many Women Are VletIms-one Loses
rousseau Money Sent by Her Fs-
ther In lndla-Flne Free
Meals for Losers.

London.-An investigation by the
Standard has produced abundant evil
dence that a 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 hells
flourish. Large sums frequently are
expended for suitable accommodation.
In one instant young officer living
near St James palace was able to
let his fiat for ego ($100) a night for
six weeks, he himself going to live
at one of the hotels in Northumber-
land avenue.
While there is no suggestion OF
cheating at these places, gradually the
capital of both winners and losers is
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.
One case in point is that of man
occupying an important post In India.
Last Christmas he sent his daughter
9250 ($1,250) to enable her to buy the
trousseau for her approaching mar
riage Accompanied by her sister. the
girl came to London on a shopping
expedition. On the way they called
on a cousin who took the two sisters
to restaurant for lunch. The con-
versation turned on card playing and
the bride-elect expressed desire to
see one of the places where gambling
was carried on.
Nothing is easier" said the cousin.
Occasionally ! have 'futter' my
self"
In half an hour the cousin was deep
in a "chemin dc fer" The two sis
ters soon followed her example. and
within an hour the trousseau money
had disappeared and note for fs5
($425), signed by the widowed sister.
was in the hands of the house The
London cousin was unable to help, SO
there was nothing for 1t but to write
home. The mother sent an angry let
ter and a check for E300 $1,000. all
she could raise at her bank. A day or
two later the sisters returned home
and tearfully confessed that the 9300
likewise had gone in an attempt to
recover the first amount. The we'd
ding has been postponed indefinitely.
The wife of a member of parliament
is known to have squandered in card
playing three or four times the 9400
(s2,00O) her husband receives in re-
turn for his services to his country.
She has confessed to losing 91,450
(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.
These card houses are not the
worst places in London for gam
blers,' said a well known broker. In
some private houses the stakes are ex-
ceedingly high, whereas in many reg
ular gambling places lots of punters
seiuoIn win OF ioee lhois ehaH d
(s25). Out of that the punter 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 is to be had. The
loser of R10 (50) also gets his sup
per and drinks without charge. Stop
the present lot Of gambling and there1l
be others going within six months.