Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-07-29
Gambling in Fashionable West
End, London, Heavy.
Many Women Are Victims-One Loses
Trousseau Money Sent by Her Fa-
Their in lndia-Fine 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 "a 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
DOld oIIcSI. OOIlC VI IliCoO SOdAi6
women are very lucky, but the unac-
countable possession Of large sums of
money often results II 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
$3.50 t&I250) to enable her to buy the
trousseau for her approaching mar
riage. Accompanied by her sister, the
girl came t. London on a shopping
expedition. On the way they called
on a cousin wlo took the two sisters
to a restaurant for lunch The con-
versation turned on card playing and
the bride-elect expressed a desire to
see one of the places where gambling
was carried on.
Nothing is easie@" said the cousin.
Occasionally l have 'futter' my
self"
In half an heur the cousin was deep
in a "chemin de fer" The two Sis
tiers soon followed hsr example, and
within an hour the rousseau money
had disappeared and y note for 985
($425), signed by the widowed sister,
was in the hands or the house" The
London cousin was unable to help, so
there was nothing f0r it but to write
home. The mother sent an angry let
ter aud check for G300 ($1,500), all
she could raise at her bank. A day or
two later the sisters returned home
and tearfplly confessed that the $500
likewise bad gone i'll an attempt to
recover tho first amount. The we'd
, dug has been postponed indefinitely
The wife OF member Of parliament
is known to hav'j squandered In card
playing three or four times the .e400
($2,00O) her husband receives in re-
turn for his services to his country.
She has confessed to losing 61,450
(S7250) 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
seldom win or lose more than G5
(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 G10 (5O) also gets his sup
per and drinks without charge Stop
the present lot of gambling and there'll
be others going within six months.