Monte Carlo.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 9112, 5 July 1898, Page 1

Monte Carlo.

Prom aa interesting article on Monte. -*Sj Carlo, the world's gambling denj.,^! written by Mrs Alice Louogbeny f&M an American magazine, we slip th§J| following interesting extracts.- '19 The present Casino of Monte Cario 11 was started by Francis Blancede Hont- Ji burg, about 1862, under the reign oT'll Charles HI. of Monaco. It is exclas*|H ively for strangers. The Mouegasqne»iifi or, in fact any one that earns his livel^'ll hood in Monaco, is not allowed tago\J| to the Casino but one day in the y««r, -Sh November 15, the fete of Priooe A&-.. 'M bert. On this day the tradespeople *|i may enter the play rooms ; it u«Jt« Jjl the only day in the year that thefl Casino closes at five o'clock intiheJla afternoon. The bank spares no «*-'■% pense in illumination and nreworkav|fl to make the Prince's birthday the gty-<:!9 est fete of the year, and it jh gr^jjjjjfJlß with joy by every true MoDegasq«a..^M Sometimes the tradesman that bas tbv sB passion for play will enter the rocm»'^ on that day with his entire saviogs.tfpji the year, that he may try his lack afe/ill the temple of fortune. Strangers am "fli given cards of admission to the Casino''*iji with the simple request that tbej bsrfi renewed at the expiration of a certai* .J| time. They then have accfts to tb* J9 concerts, the reading rooms and the *fl play-rooms When neither the ogam-^9 nor the theatre is at Monte Carlo, for^|a which one must pay from ten franks 548 up, according to the talent, there am'*a| generally two free concerts a day. It rjjli fact there are 125 musicians employed^-!] by the Casino. The reading rooms *.jaa are lit by electricity and oil lamps, :"fl Thero are sixteen writing desks abond-j^ antly supplied with the Casino. ||v stationary, and the tables are cov«r»i!?ll with the daily newspapers in all tho^gH languages of Europe, besides the mafft-'la zincs and weekly papers of all Datioßt^'fl In the play rjoms the saying is that "J| one never knows how much the rest of « the world gambles until he goes to;jfl Monte Carlo, and no ether place wne»' sJ j gambling ie sanctioned is so well con* '"ot ducted. No smoking, eating or drink- -19 ing is allowed, and for the sligfrestf-^P disturbance one would have bis card off :. admission taken away. Thebaa%m - a stock company with a capital of Xllf^ 000,000. The stock sells quite higfc -- It is a common error to think «hea' „ the bank is spoken of as being broke*/ •■■ that the whole company has.come X» o, grief, while in reality ie is simply on#- v table that has run out ana nwrif'. J. suspend payment until it it has senfet.^o for money. A little black flag is hoirtt^'l? by the table when the bank is brokWIV The bank of Monte Carlo is not with««sbl''» Christian charity, and in case«Nrha« ; fe| it is known that persons have laid aw^l their money* on the table, will gfWIH them sufficient means to return ts^M theu^omes. The bank has also its p*fr>fil sionere. 'lhere ( is one old gentlemaii |fl who wan once a wealthy cituen «C^4 Monte Carlo, He beggared hkanett at '*:■ play. The«bank now gives aid «^9 yearly income on which he lifiig'^fl modestly and allows him beside a Utf!ta£d9 extra money that be may hare thf'^9 chance to recover his lost fortune. Ja jS all, 1290 people are employed to ni'j the Casino and gardens, which is, .*""?s■ good field of labor for the Monte-il gasques. There are forty hotels a* .^1 Monte Carlo, and the best -chops mt' a London and Paris are represenlefl }WL them during the seasin. At xk*m places the prices are very high ; for- M thdse that are "en vine," as the say. *M ing is, will rush out and spend their 'M winnings most extravagantly, kwm*iisM ing full well that if they do not pat ;^| the money out of their hands th«y wJK '^W lay it back again on the tables. It is ;M possible, however, to get groat bar> 9 gains with the turn of the tide, whan 'JM the people will Bell for almost anything 1« their former purchases. Even the J| poorest at Monte Carlo drink wine, 'II and while there are- man} fountain* to a«!d to the beauty of the place, a 9 drinking tap is never seen. M