IN THE TIMES OF THE GEORGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12248, 11 January 1902, Page 8

IN THE TIMES OF THE GEORGES

(Queen.)

To gamble—i.e., to play extravagantly (or money, us lexicographers define the wovd, seems to be part and parcel of human nature, and, like most other vices, it is common in every quarter of the globe. An old writer hits very truly pointed out that "if ii person takes pleasure in playing at cards or dice, there is no reason why lie may not amuse himself in that manner, (|iiite as innocently as in painting, dancing , , music, hunting, or any other similar diver sinus," hut the history of gambling elearlj shows that the man or woman who succumb? to its influer.ee rarely, if ever, realises the significance of the word moderation. Dicing in this country is said to date from the time of the Romans, ancient chroniclers recording that clergymen mid hishops were fond of the pastime, and itwas not long before enactments were necessary to guard the unwary player from Iwiii" ideated by the use of false, dice. Shakespeare tells us that cards were a fchionable amusement in the reign of Henry VIII. and, indeed, Bishop Latimcr illustrated his remarks in two famous sermons by a series of similes drawn from familiar card games of his time, while a glance at "Pepys's Diary" toon proves ihat the Restoration brought card-playing and the use of the dice once more into proini-m-i'ce. During many reigns Royal personages were accustomed to play at the Groom Porter's, that office, in fact, not beinj; abolished till the reign of George 111, snd ii. is rather a. curious coincidence that gambling in this country probably readied its zenith soon after that occurrence—viz., during the times of the Regency awl when George IV was King. In the two plays now'running at West Kml theatres which represent those happy-go-lucky years references are frequently made to the fashionable vice of the day. "RccUy Sharp" warns Amelia. Osborne not to let her husband play of an evening with Captain" Cniwle.y, and the scene at Crockford's in

"The ],ast of the Dandies" reminds the spectator that it is almost impossible to overrate what took place in tho old fishmonger's celebrated gambling lumre. Crockford's, of course, lias always occupied a prominent pusition in the anin's of gambling history, mainly, perhaps, r-n account of the great, names associated with it, but there were several other cliil>« and establishments which ran it fairly u'.mv, and it must not be forgotten that hdirs of rank kept public gaming houses. Ashton, in liis "History of Gambling in England," quotes several extracts from The Times, which let in a good deal of curious light on the doings of these Circes. I'nr instance, on March 13, 1797, it was recorded that informations were heard at ihe Public Office, Marlborough street, against Lady Buckinghamshire. Lady Elizabeth Lultrcll, Mrs Shirt, and Mr Concaiiiion for playing faro at Lady Buckinghamshire's house in St. James's square, and it came out- in the evidence that these fashionable dames were accustomed to play at K. 0.. I'ouge et Xoir, etc., from about 11 or 12 till 3or 4 o'clock in the morning. Each fair delinquent was fined £50, and Gillmy ill a caricature depleted Lady Buckinghamshire tied to Hip cart's tail, and receiving a flogging from Lord Chief .Justice Kenyon. v.'hilo her two sisters in misery are beholding the sad scene from the uncomfortable embraces of the pillory, the placard "Foro'* Daughters Beware" drawing attention tu the recent criminal proceedings. A little later on another paragraph records the universality of gambling by rcmaiking that "at some of our first boarding schools the fair pupils are now taught to play whist and casino. . . It is calculated that

a clever child, by its cards and its novels, may pay for its own education," and before 1793 had dawned the same journal informed its raadcr.t: "So completely lias gambling got the better of dancing that, at. a private ball kst week, a gentleman asking a young lady, from Bath, to danco the nr-xt two dances, she very ingeniously replied: 'Yes, i? you will play two rubbers at Casino.'" Though not, strictly speaking, gambling, the contest between "Mrs" Thornton and Mr Flint, which occurred in 180-1, led to a good deal of betting, and consequently loss of money. The advertised information stated that there would bo "a match for SOOgs and IOOOgs byefour mile!!—between Colonel Thorntor.V, Vingarillo and Mr Flint's br h Thorr.nlle,

by Volunteer. Mrs Thornton to ride he* weight against Mr FJiut's." The match came of? on the Knavesmire, in the pressncc of a crowd estimated in numbers at something like 100,000, but the lady, whose dress ivu.e "a leopard-coloured biidy, with blno sleeves, the rest huff, and blue cap," unfortunately lust, though, on another uceasion, slir is said to have achieved the distinction of beatinir the famous jockeyBuckle, in ;. two-mile match, by half a neck. On this auspicious occasion she worn a purple cap and waistcoat, nankeen coloured jkirls, purple shoes, and embroU dored stockings. In the curly days of George 111 gambling clubs were comparatively few, Almack's, the Cocoa 'free, and White's being perhaps the ninst important, unci at the first-named one member, having won only 12,000gs in two months, retired in disgust: but tho dawn of the Regency gave a stimulus to these establishments, which, of course, were for the use of "members only." The celebrated dandy, "ISeau" linnuiiiel, was naturally a. high player, and one night at Brookes's in a very short time won 300gs from Alderman Combe, of the famous brewery. The beau, gathering up his winnings, bowed low to his opponent, and remarked. "Thank you. alderman: for the future I shall never drink any porter but yours," but received a Roland for his Oliver in the unexpected reply, "I wish, sir, that every other blackguard in London would tell me the same.' . As a rule these high-class clubs naturally proved tho ruin of their frequenters, but'one of the exceptions was General Scott, the father-in-law of the (then) Duke of Portland and also of George Canning. Of strictly abstemious habits, he consistently avoided" high living, with the result thai the formation of a, whist party always found him clear-headed and cdol. This advantage, added to a thorough knowledge of the game, enabled himto win by honest means & fortune of something like £200,000.