THE SOUTH OF FRANCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15223, 22 May 1920, Page 6

THE SOUTH OF FRANCE.

GISBORNITE AT MONTE CARLO. Writing from (lie Hotel tic Paris, Monte Carlo, under date March Ist, Mr. W. U. Miller, states:— I am spending the winter m the souili of France and I do not know of any more delightful place m the world at this time of year— bright sunny days ana cool refreshing evenings. Taking Nice as the centre, all the towns are within two hours' run by motor car or train, and there is always, something to tfo— carnivals at Nice, racing and golf at Cannes; pigeon matches, the Casino and Grand Opera at Monte Carlo, ami other attractions at -Mcntonc, Cap ' Martin, San Rerao, or one ban, rest m the glorious sunshine on the Casino terrace amidst an abundance of llowers and gaze out on the blue waters of the Mediterranean. The crowd is decidedly smart, though distinctly cosmopolitan. At the moment we have here three reigning monarchs, a couple of dukes, a Russian prince^, hall the nobility and I should say mosi of the ultra-smart demi-monde of Europe, war profiteers by the score, as well as the usual crowd who come for health ana because living is cheap to those who don't play or attempt to kick the high spots. To give you an idea of the mixed crowd that assemble at these places m the season— at the table I played at m the Casino the other night I noticed Melba, Violet Lorraine, the Shah oJ Persia (who badly needs a, bath), a couple of the demi-monde and a Russian Princess, and at other tables playing and looking on I saw Lily Langtry, the DuKe of Westminster, Solly Joll. Gertie Miller, Lord Lonsdale, the ex-King and Queen ol Portugal, as well as quite a number ol Australians and New Zealanders. Ol course nearly everyone loses; it is quite the exception for anyone to get away with anything. You hear of people breaking the bank at Monte Carlo, bui it is not done. I saw Monseur Hennessy, the famous manufacturer of 3-star, win 250,000 francs one night and lost most oi it the next day, While I have been here several have won ar million francs and last it later. I do not . know of anyone who has ,tsken' any away with them One London theatrical manager Is said to have, lost £40,000 during his two weeks vacation here. I saw him lose £2,00( myself one night. t Rumour hath it thai fouY suicides have taken place this weeJ — one woman tf.id away with herself neai the tables— and yet everything is con. ducted with wonderful decorum and th< slightest hitch as regards behavioui would nvjan your admission ticket woulc not be renewed the next day, and 60 th< world goes 0n... Personally I only play as a pasting and my stakes are as a rule decidedlj limited. The first five days I went to th( Casino I amassed 700 francs, and ther they caught me bending. Looking at t table I noticed that the red had been vi four times running ?o I promptly put i louis (20 francs) on the black— red canu up so I doubled with w on the blackred again. I had then to 'put on 8< so up it went, red again; m for a pennj m for a pound so up went ICO, red again thqn 320. "Rouge" says the croupier and up went- ray cop. Rouge again Well all I had oh me, barring Bank o: England notes,, was 380 francs and : planked that ,qn. "Rouge," smiled th< croupier as I qufetly left the table with out oven; a franc to tip the cloakroon attendant as he handed me my bat, coa and cane, and J walked back to the note' thinking how'lucKy I was not to have hald mo re' francs on me.' It sounds quit< a lot, but I onlyilost 1610 francs, so allow ing for my previous winnings and th( favorable rate of exchange, 1t onlj totalled something equal to a modes day's racing at a Poverty Bay Tur Club meeting. The Prince of Monaco and the company who run this wonderfu "health resort". only made seventy mil lions profit last year so no doubt thej need the money. April Bth.— Since writing the above have returned to London to meet my otc friend E. J. Carroll, who is directing Sii Harry Lauder's . South Arican tour. H< returns to England m June, when w< shall probably operate together m a bi« dramatic production at a West Em theatre. Meantime I am dabbling a bi m amusements and sitting on half-a-dozei boards as consulting director. So I an filling In my time profitably and pleas antly. As a boy m Gisborne and late: ;\vhen leaning up against the post a ■ Miller's Corner I u<?ed to dream of on< (lay of doing something m London, ant now I have realised my ambition. I seems quite easy if you can only wai for the opportune moment and then i •little bit of luck.