Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1928-08-23

when the Saratoga gamblers were
brought to the white light Of publicity.
Racing With Little liner
Take for instance. little Inez and her
father. They 10 70 Saratoga for the
races. Father has wad, little Inez
has wad, too, Of curiosity. Hand
In hand they go to the race course.
Father" asks little Incz. as they
enter the race-course, what are all
those men playing at the tables"
Checkers" answers father. He
is liar. The men are playing faro
and other such games for the simple
minded.
Inside, father stops and hands a
card to a man whom he addresses as
Bill. "What did you give him card
for, father?" asks little Inez.
at was calling card. dcarie, 70
card was fathers bet on the first
race. The bookie will mail him
bill or check at the end Of the day.
Father" asks little Incz as they
pass a swinging door, why are all
those men standing against the coun-
Ger ~
They are thirsty, my darling. and
they are drinking lemonade"
What man! Lying again. The
counter is the clubhouse bar and the
crowd within are drinking the best
whiskey, gin and beer obtainable in
an illegally wet country.
If little Inez weren't finally put TO
bed around seven. father would have
to tell her a few more whoppers. She
might ask about the room behind the
at the various clubs and
roadhouses where father and mother
spend their late evenings. She would
want TO know, of course, why people
stand around green tables and watch
little balls rolling In Lowl while |
they throw bright colored disks on !
green baize cloth. Father Ii spared
that.
So much for the sporting activi-
ties Of the town. In the evening when
the lights are on beneath Saratoga's
beautiful shade trees there Is much
quiet gayer Of another sort There are
those who wander about the paths Of
Congress Park where the band plays.
They stroll past the fountain erected
to the memory Of Spencer Trask, a
bronze lady Of no particular purpose
made IN the best butter mold sculpture
of Daniel Chester French. Nearby is
the large shell Of what was once Can
fields memorable gambling pavilion.
its rocco glories gone and its large
halls now devoted TO the consumption
Of Saratoga's justly famous curative
waters.
Our Own Israel Putnam
For the visitor who goes to Saratoga
to see sights, those from Windham
County. Connecticut. will be interested
in the old inn sign which hangs on the
veranda, Of the old and gigantic
Grand Union Hotel. Here, in crude
he viii find our own Israel
Putnam losing his trousers as he div
ed into the den after the traditional
wolf A relative OF General Putnam
founded and conducted the first hotel
that stood on the sight of the Grand
Union. Remembering with pride the
prowess Of the redoubtable Israel he
bad the wolf den picture painted for
his sign. IL swung 10 the breeze for I
many years and finally. when the /
property passed out Of the hands OF /
he Putnam heirs the old sign was
eaned to the Grand Union and hangs /
n the protection of the inner porch.
The Smith brothers-A. Emanuel |
md his prosecuting namcsake-have
lot stopped gambling or liquor selling 1
Il Saratoga. Nor have they dampen-
"a the ardor of the turf-enthusiasts.
Those who would visit Saratoga for
Is gayeties, both legal and illicit. will
Ind them, we venture 10 predict. Much
5 done in the name Of politics. Little
4 what II done is Of a serious nature.
So il is with Saratoga in the season
# 1928
e. v. b.