Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-08

j..
Playing big odds. they are often huge
sums ahead. Sometimes. however,
they are huge sums zen retard."
+ !: 8
GENEROSITY is generally part of
~ the gamblers character. When
he wins. he invariably tips the
"croupier" looking after the table
Should he fail to do this or show
himself mean. he wins the disap-
proval of the entire table. a disap-
prevail that is generally manifested
openly.
A case occurred in Nice where a
Greek, about to open the game, asked
girl behind him to cut the cards.
Now. it was known to all that this
girl had lost her last sou on the
green tables. When the Greek won
100000 francs with this new shuttle
r. murrur went around that he might
give the girl a thousand for bringing
him luck. A young American be-
hind him was particularly angry
The hand was then passed to the next
player. Frenchman on the right
who had also shown signs of anger
and who. winning 1000 francs, called
the girl over. Take this thousand
little one he said, for bringing me
luck The Greek could not very
well ignore the challenge. Take this
thousand from me-" he said. Now,
said the young man behind the girl.
pointing to the Frenchman. you can
give monsieur back his thousand" The
whole table roared. The Greek got
up and left, Disguised. Needless to
say, the girl kept the 1000 francs
till she sat down and lost them again
at another table.
Girls are more careless gamblers
than men. The fact that it is often
not their own money may have some
thing to do with it. One French girl
in Nice, having lost all her ready
money. took off her necklace. worth
several hundred thousand francs.
and called over the changeur; that
Is, the man who changes money for
chips" and vice versa. The neck
lace was not taken, of course, in
such formal way. However, there
are always money lenders in gam
bling rooms out to buy jewels at
think that five minutes later they
are going to be able to buy their
treasures back again.
Old women are numerous around
the tables. Superstitious, they al
ways attach great Importance to the
people they sit down with. Often
they pick out some unfortunate man
whose looks they don't quite admire
nd Il
bad luck. Should he pass behind
them while they are at play they
will promptly get up and change
insulting him.
They spend most Of their time in
the rooms watching to see who is
winning. Immediately some one who
has won gets up, they make straight
for him or her and try to borrow.
Often they have with them a young
woman Of some charm. whom they
pilot with old experience. 1t is a
well known fact that there is a GER
tain group of this type, composed
of both men and women of all ages,
who make their living in this way.
Many Of the girls who form part
of the attractive squad in such
places are DeIeVed to be allowed
their room and meals by the hotels
and casinos. Although this method
of drawing people to the resorts may
have been used to start places, It Is
pretty sure that it is not much in
use at the present day The girls
who are well known in these places,
either notorious by some past event
or simply known to the crowd haunt
ing them, could be counted on ones
finger tips.
TINE sad cases are those who come
l. down to the resorts with hope
nothing but hope. They are the small
gamblers. They generally fail
down." Every one knows that II
takes capital to beat the tables. At
the beginning of the season these
people have high hopes. They dash
into the rooms, dine and wine
heavily. Since ready money is such
a necessity. ali they take they sign
for. One Frenchman who had lost
all ne had at baccarat one night in
Cannes was very perturbed because
he had what he considered an abso-
lutely sure winner picked out for the