Year: 1872

Daughters, Husbands and Wives Play


ut Baden.B Baden.


re. C. Fulton's letter in Baltimore American


spent several hours yesterday in the
vicinity of the gambling tables and
watched the game and the players very
closely. My conclusions were thai the
profits of each of these four tables were
not less than $4,000 day. or $4,000
for the whole. The constant change
that is going on among the players indi-
Gates that the losses of each are compar-
lively light, and that the numbor of
players of each table during the day is
probably seven hundred Every mo-
ment some one draws off and leaves.
with his money all gone, endeavoring to
conceal the chagrin which is too appa-
rent to one who closely watches THEN
counterances His place is Immediately
taken by another, who, in his turn. is
cleaned aud departs Some of the play
ers bring large amounts Of gold with
them, and play heavy, betting some fifty
to a hundred dollars on each dea! of the
cards or turn of the wheel These |
closely watched, and saw the last gold
coin depart Some, as their stock grew
low. would send for more, but most of
therc withdrew, assuming a careless and
nonchalant air AS ! passed around
among the tables it frequently happened
that scarcely one who was playing Il
half hour previous remained. but their
places were filled by new aspirants TO.
fortunes favors.


A, some of the tables mothers and
their daughters were playing side by
side, at other husbands and wives, and
lover and beiroihed. 1t was curious to
watch their rising and failing for;unes.-
In numerous instances | witnessed wives
endeavoring to draw their husbands away
from the tables, but the etiquette Of the
gambling saloon required that it should
be done by signs rather than by words
In one case the wife stood by with
trembling lips and saw her infatuated
husband lose handful of gold coin, un
til the last one had slipped through hi'
fingers. He then rose and they quietly
walked aMay arm in arm. In about tel
minutes they returned, and the HUSBAND
took bis seat at the table with abou
thirty gold coin in his hand. He played
wildly, laying down from three to fiv'
coin at each bet and when he would wi,
he would leave the whole amount on tn
numter. Finally they were all gone bu
three, and both now seemed in distress
The ife leaned over his shoulder, whis
pered something in her husbands ear
when he handed her the three coin ant
left, she taking his seat. She playe'
cautiously and gradually won. having
when | saw her. about forty Napoleon
in her hand. The sign Of sorrow on he
countenance had departed, and she wa
looking around for the return of her hus
band. Whether che Withdrew before he
luck changed | know not but an hou
after when returned to the table Meth
er husband nor wife were there.


The young man whom l left at the ia
BILE on the previous night with his pock
cts full of gold that he had won, was no
to be seen about the saloons to day


Whether he continued to play and los


or whether he retired with his winnings


| do not know, but as it was near tn


closing hour the latter was most likely
) The woman who retrieved her forum


by following and initiating his bets wa


however, early on hand yesterday morn
ing. and was very flush. l passed til
2 table several times during the Afternoon
and she was still playing, but on return


ing after tea she was sitting on one


the sofas, her countenance too plainly il


dicating the result Of her days ventur
Several times she held up her hand b
fore her face to conceal the act of W
:, ping away her tears. and this was but
several similar instances that passed u