FASCINATION OF BRIDGE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12411, 22 March 1911, Page 5

FASCINATION OF BRIDGE.

FEMALE SLAVES

(Special to Herald.) CHRISa'CHURCH, this day. | A grave social evil Avas referred to last night by Mr H. G. Ell, M.l\* m an address on "The Danger of Ixsgalhied Gambling." He felt it incumbent upon! him, he said, to mention the gambling] that was at present indulged m by wo-j men m this country at bridge parties. He had it on the authority of a lady mot m Christchurch, who occupied a good J position m life, and who moved m it-he | best society circles, that it had not been i Bafe for her to. make afternoon calls j for years. She could walk into friends' houses, and Avith the' exception of half a dozen, find ladies, playing bridge and I smoking. He also had it on the authority of a leading dentist that the greater part of his ousiness was tho whiteriihg of women's teeth, blackened through smoking no doubt when playing bridge. Ho (Mr Ell) knew he laid himself open to ridicule m making the allegations, he had. but he had believed it his dutyi to publicly draw attention to the evil that undoubtedly existed. One evening ;recently a gentleman friend of his eojng home m. a tram car met a lady friend and asked her Avhy she looked so Worried, and she had retorted, "And jso would you if you had lost your months' allowance playing bridge." A gentleman m a high position m life m Nety Zealand had told him that lady friends of his Avere wont to assemble of a forenoon, pull down the blinds of the house, Witch on the electric light, and piirablo at bridge all the .morning. Were he (Mr Ell) not absolutely sure of his facts he Avould not tell them. The lady,hchad.!n v ntiorwd wa* not by any means a sentimentalist, and she was referring to instances of tho evil that prevailed to-chiv, and from a desire that the facts- should be known. Be Avould not come nearer home. ■■ He had, heard statements m regard, to UMslehnrch, but instances m. other "places served to emphasise the point just as well, and it was ho good/ stirring '.up .bad "blood hero.