The Scheme of Things

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 80, 1 October 1938, Page 19

The Scheme of Things

By M.H.C.

A curious but quite interesting thesis on "Gambling as an occupation for women* found in a formerly fashionable magazine of the year 1907 makes a number of statements that may, or Ktfiy not be true, certainly that women &t the time were decidedly "hard cases" so far as gambling was concerned. It is rather a surprise to find from the writer that gambling of all kinds was so common among women then. '' Nowadays when the craze for bridge has become so general—almost universal—it is possible to believe that this game has largely developed the wish of women for a game of chance with money, more or less, on its results. It is possible also nowadays to hear of women who will not play unless the stakes are a certain sum, sufficient for a good deal of money to change hands during an afternoon .or evening of play, while others stick straightly to a very moderate amount, "just enough to give an interest to the game." But there are few, indeed^ who will play for the pleasure of the game, with nothing else^ attached, even a "prize" of some sort for highest or lowest score or a hidden number.

The writer mentioned starts with the woman who went to Monte Carlo, or some other well-known gambling resort, determined to have some kind of "luck" which would enrich her beyond the dreams of avarice. She adds: "The gambling instinct in women is nearly always built on this shifting immoral foundation of gain. For Which reason to gamble produces much worse results from the moral standpoint than it does in men." This sentiment is largely open to question. It does not do in stating opinions to herd people together in great sections, but it is necessary to scan what is known of the general results of gambling, and the bad results are certainly -more spectacular in men than in women.

At the time of writing it was noticed that there Svas a great increase in.the number, of women who went to gambling places just for the purpose of gambling. The question is asked whether this^was not one of the social mistakes in 'the women of the time? Could tJaey go home, after a period of hyper-excitement and intoxicated by a season at Monte Carlo, and settle down quite happily to the everyday round of home and domestic life? Again, it is asked, if the daily scrimmage from one card party to another, with, it may be, high stakes and a pound or two on the rubber, makes a quiet game at home seem ridiculously tame, and boring? Another critic of the period was of opinion that with the increase of gambling spirit home was becoming just a convenient sleeping centre when places of amusement were closed. This sounds rather amusing nowadays when places of amusement are seldom closed, and the 1907 time of arriving home has now developed into getting in at daylight after an unwholesome meal of bacon or sausages. This would have surprised the people of the Edwardian times considerably.

Then the question of "putting a bit on" a horse is discussed. The writer found that it was more than common for women to. have their,, own "hookies,"--and, "as no nian remains a hero to.his valet, so no woman was a heroine to her favourite Turf agent. S.They," and girls much younger" than many of the women gambjers, used their charms to wheedle tips out of the sporting men of their set. This apparently . grev^ to a great height at that time, arid probably continues in full

force to this day when the spirit of gambling certainly has not decreased. The essayist goes on to state that it was a common thing for lawyers, doctors, and other professional men to be approached by enterprising femininity of irreproachable lineage asking how much per cent, they would allow on patients and clients resulting from the lady's supreme- talents as a tout! Others, it is stated, made money by house-selling or letting, bringing prospective buyer and seller together, and

ft.

netting something quite good from the effort Again, it is stated that nice profits were made from recommending this or that outfitter for men or women, and getting business put pleasantly in'their way from worthwhile people. In fact the writer, who by the time she had come to this point in her thesis, had become thoroughly disgruntled with women, says that there was an everlasting commissionhunting and an absorbing passion for a percentage on everything. All being