GAMBLING AT MONTE CARLO

Evening Star, Issue 18339, 28 July 1923, Page 13

GAMBLING AT MONTE CARLO

mmm stories. [By Frederick Stubbs, F.R.G.S., for thfe ‘ Evening Star.’] To obtain admission to tho famous Casino one has first to show one's card and obtain a ticket. This ticket is gratuitous, and may bo renewed. But if the visitor wishes to attend for a longer period than four days lie must now pay a tax. As a rule there is no difficulty, but any person under age or with shabby clothes or dirty boots is politely rejected. Tho atrium, or largo inner hall, is generally thronged with promonaders. It reminded mo of tho lobby of tho House of Commons, only it is much larger, and tho company is very different. Most of tho promenaders are fashionably dressed, some of tho women even after tho war with magnificent gowns and jewels, and, of course, there are many cocottes and demimoiidaincs. Monto Carlo has a powerful attraction for what may be described as tho depraved clement *of tho moneyed classes, though not for these alone. Passing through tho vestibule, one enters the gaming salogns—immense, handsome apartments filled with long tables for roulette or trente et quarante. Tho rooms are brilliantly lighted and furnished with comfortably upholstered seats and spacious mirrors, whilst tho walls are decorated with superb oil paintings. But the rooms are not as gay and beautiful as before tbo war. Tho decorations are much faded, and there are not nearly so many finelydressed people. The rooms, too, are kept too warm and arc badly ventilated, the physical atmosphere being as bad as the moral. THE TABLES. Tho tables, of which there are about twenty, have a single row of seats round each, always filled, behind which stand one or two other rows of players. The croupiers, in neat, black clothes with black tics, sit in the middle of the tables, with the players on either side. It is said that there are no pockets in their clothes, lest they should be tempted to secrete money; but whether this is true or not I d'o not know. Then, besides the croupiers, there is at each table a chef-do-table sitting at l?o end in a high chair keeping watch on the play, and also a number of liveried servants and officers in plain clothes walking about ready to note any irregularity. At tho roulette tables as small a sum as five francs may be staked, but at the others not less than twenty francs. For two wcelcs I visited the tables and watched the play. (No! I resisted tho temptation to siajco anything myself.) It was a very fascinating study. Hero were beautiful girls and handsome youths, probably visiting tho tables for tho first time; old men and white-haired women with one foot already in tbo grave, yet with straining eyes keenly following tho spin of the ball, - the fall of tho card, tha.t meant loss, or gain to so many, and perhaps ruin to some. In former times piles of gold and silver could bo seen upon tho tables, and money seemed to lose its accustomed value. Forty or fifty pounds would bo staked by one person—then there would be a dick of tho ball, tho fall of a card, and hundreds of pounds would be raked in by the croupier ns though it wore dirt. I mvself once saw a Spanish prince lose 100,000 francs, and a tew days later an Englishman lost £32,000. One often thought, as one watched money being poured out liko water.on luxury and vice, (hat it was not to bo wondered at that tho working classes were discontented. Tho few had such a superabundance, tho many such an insufficiency of means. Tho one class revelled in extravagance and ureless luxury; tho other lived over on tho frontiers of want.

But it is different to-day. Tnere are no piles of gold, and only very small piles of silver. Most of the money staked is in paper, which has not nearly so fnsci mting an apjH’ara.nce, ever, though it may be worth many pounds. And 'ho stakes ara much r, mailer; many clients are “small players”—i.e., people who live in third rate hotels or in furnished lodgings and make gambling their cole business. Amongst such one sees grotesque, lamentable types of lumanity, with the faces of tigers or jackals, feminine birds of prey; avarice in every font arc, clad in faded finery. Some aro roulctre thieves, who walch for (ho inexperienced player and appropriate in's winnings. A friend of mine', an English lawyer, was once victimised by these people, whilst an hotel acquaintance confessed that ho was not above profiting by the embarrassments of the inexperienced If detected, it was very easy to plead a mistake. SYSTEMS AND SUPERSTITIONS. Many of tho gamblers play on a “system,” and it is pathetic to see these sit ting or walking with their pencils and bits of paper anxiously working out some scheme by which they may boat tho bank, and adding long hues of care to their faces in tho process. But the chances are always against them; no “ system ” can nullify the law of averages There is little room "for skill. Tho merest tyros are often tho most successful. If only a man continues to play he must lose. The ones tho bank most fears are those who, after winning a few pounds, desist. But tho great majority return, and eventually lose all they ha,vo won. The only sure way of making money by gambling is to compile a “system”—and sell it. The shop windows are full of these “systems. ’ The true gambler will catch at any straw, and, though not a religions man, is extremely superstitious, constantly on tho look-out for some indication of tno lucky number, as tho following story —not new, but partly trus, I believe —wll show: — ' AMUSING STORY. An English gentleman went one Sunday to the Anglican church, but, as is not uncommon, slipped out as the hymn before the sennon was triven onr. It vans No. 32. Ho then sair.Ured up to the Casino, and as he entered the gaming rooms heard number 52, Red, called by the croupier. “Bless my soul,” exclaimed he, “that is the number of tho hymn; be hanged if I don’t stake on it.” "He went from table to table, staked always on number 32, and won £SOO. Next Sunday, to the perplexity of tho chaplain, half tho congregation left during the hymn before the sermon and rushed off to the Casino. After this (so the story runs) it became the rule never to give 'out a number under 37 i before the sennon.

Some frequenters of the tables carry charms and mascots; some even hold holy images in their hands. Whether tho croupiers can influence tho spin of tho ball or not I am not sure, but from what I have read and beard I believe they can, and do. I believe that after long practice they are able to exert just that amount of muscular force that will probably land the ball in that portion of the circle that they desire. This does not mean, of course, that the table will always win, but that the croupier will generally bo able to avoid disastrous losses.

It is a mistake to think players are demonstrative at the tables. Now and amiin one may see the color come and go, but as a rule little sign is given. It is bad form to exhibit any sign of joy or chagrin. At , the worst, one gets up wearily after a run of bad luck and walks sadly out of the room. In some cases, of course, defeat means min. Not a few come here as a forlorn hope, with a view to retrieving their fortunes. A man has been unfortunate in commercial speculation, or has overrun tho constable in some other way, and so gathers what means he has left and stakes it at tho tables in the hope that by some fortunate coup his fortunes may he restored. Personally, I have known only one who succeeded. As a rule it is the other way; the law of averages la too strong, and then despair or even suicide may ensue. SUICIDES AT MONTE.

I once tried to discover the number of suicides that take place, but it proved a hopeless task. There must bo a good number, however. Two occurred whilst I was there. A medical friend told me that he knew of six cases that had _ occurred in one season, I myself visited the little cemetery up the hill where many were buried. If a case occurs in

the Casino every trace disappears in a few minutes. The body is whisked away by the police, preserved until it is ascertained that no one is interested; then, at the end of the season, I am informed, is placed in a case, weighted, and taken out to sea. Most of those who commit suicide, however, owing to irretrievable losses do so after they have left the town. It is, of course, not in the interests of the Casino that any suicide should take place there, and careful watch is kept against any attempt. A TABLOID STORY. Apropos this, I onco hoard *an amusing story at Mon to Carlo of an American gentleman who was playing at the Casino. He wisely resolved to stake only a limited sum, and if ho lost that to play no more that day. He lest all but a few francs, and as he placed these upon the table observed to a lady by his side: 11 These are my Last francs; I shall play no more.” Ho then took from his pocket a small box, and taking from it a white tabloid placed it in his month His recollection of what followed was somewhat hazy, but im appears to have been seized by four stalwart attendants and taken into nn ante-room, where a powerful emetic was forced down his throat. For tho next ten minutes he was not in a condition to talk much, bat subsequently managed to explain that bo was simply taking a dose of quinine! CONCLUSIONS.

My visits to tho gaming tables at Monte Carlo and other casinos have only served to confirm me in the view tlia‘ gambling is a serious social evil, and leads to more misery than happiness. At tho same time, it is only fair to say that, as far as Monte Carlo is concerned, no one is tasked to play. Ono may use the splendid reading and writing rooms without paying a penny. How many institu tions are there in tho world, whether religious or secular, equally generous? I was impressed, ’.oo, with the courtesy of the officials; every where one was treated with the greatest politeness, which is by no means the case in .all institutions. It must not be forgotten, too, that a largo portion of the profits is spent an objects of public utility. Where a player lias lost all his money, and he can show that it was a considerable sum, the directors will purchase a ticket and send him home with sufficient money to pay for hie ford «n route.

It is said that on one occasion a. German ironclad anchored at Villefranche. and tho captain, gambling at Monte Carlo, lost not only his own money, but that with which be was to pav his crow. Thereupon, it is said, he demanded of the directors that they should return the latter; otherwise lie would br.ng his ship round, bombard tho Casino, and then blow oat ins brains. As an officer and a gentleman he could not surviv-* the exposure, but to save others he would blow up tho Casino first. They returned iti

There are other things at Monte Carlo besides gambling t Beautiful gardens, charming scenery, music. One cannot include the pigeon shooting amongst the beautiful things, for it is disgusting to any true sportsman. It simply consists in lotting oirds out of a trap whilst the “sportsmen” stand a few paces oT and shoot them, strewing thj ground with blond and feathers. Tt is a mean, cruel business. And these are not the only pigeons at Mon to Carlo. There i;ro human pigeons—born to bo plucked—cheats, pickpockets, thieves. It is not a place for the weak and inexperienced, especially if they carry money. It lakes a strong man to resist its fascinations and penis, _ and the average man will not lose much if ho lakes his holiday at some equally beauti ful, but lew sfxciting, place.