TRIP TO MONTE CARLO

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 31, 6 August 1919, Page 7

TRIP TO MONTE CARLO

AND HOW IT WAS WORKED

A good story is told of how a party of New Zealand Mounteds on leave from Egypt were in Marseilles, and, wishing ,to visit Monte Carlo, found they could not get passes, so " tried it on" with astonishing, and, as the narrative shows, most gratifying results to themselves. A member of the party, writing to his father in Wellington, says:—"l must tell you how three of us got to Monte Carlo. After putting in a day or two' in Marseilles, we made up pun minds to see 'Monte Carlo, but we could'hot get passes. ' Being so near and yet so far from such a place was unbearable.. So one morning off we went to the station to catch the 11 o'clock train. At the station we found that it was the " train de luxe," and that it was impossible to go without a permit. We tried to square tho police sergeant, but it was no good, and we were just about desperate when the unforeseen happened. A sergeant from the R.T.O.'s office came rushing along the platform and asked us if we were a party for the train, and we answered yes. (So we were!) We had two Australian friends with us. ' Well, jump aboard,' he said ' everything is fixed, the fares are paid, also meals, and there will be someone to meet you at Nice!' So we did not say much, but jumped aboard as quick as we.knew how and got out of sight. It was great; we did not know how long we would reign. Whether the proper party was oh the train or not we had no means of finding out, and when lunch came round, and a very swell waiter came along, to escort us into the dining-car, we did not know what to do because the other party might turn up. So we-refused. But in about 10 minutes another one came along and pointed out that everything had been ordered before for us and paid for. So this time we went, and with us an American captain who was in our compartment. We had already told him the joke and he thought it was fine. Anyway we had a great lunch, and made much of it. At Nice another police sergeant met us and gave us full particulars where to go and what to do. We stuck to the train to Monte; %vere shown all over the Casino and everything of interest, but no one except those in 'civic' clothes is allowed to bet. Then we caught the 7.p.m. train to Nice as arranged and arrived there at 8.30 to find a lady guide there to direct us to our lodgings, also to » restaurant, Vhero everything was ready for us. Now, I suppose you are wondering when we will get caught. Well, we did not .get caught. After spending the night at Nice we left for Marseilles and -arrived there just in time to get the train for Havre. What do you think of that for a joke? The real party was to have been Australians and New Zealanders and tha wrong party was, too. Where the other party got to we can't make out, and we are still wondering who is going to foot the bill! The trip from Nice to Monto Carlo is one of the most beautiful in the world !" '