A MILLIONAIRES FREAK

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue II, 8 January 1898, Page 31

A MILLIONAIRES FREAK

Mons. Blanc, the founder of the Casino at Monte Carlo, which really means Monte Carlo itself, was very eccentric. If he had ever been young there is no record of the fact, for he is always described as a little old gentleman, clad in a long eoat, and walking with the aid of a yellow cane, without which he was never seen during his waking hours. Though enormously wealthy, he was excessively thrifty in trifling matters. and would haggle like an old clothes man to save a franc on articles for his personal use, though he thought nothing of expending hundreds of thousands of francs in beautifying the Casino and the miniature city. He was never known to play at the tables excepting on one occasion, and then it was a somewhat costly experience. While on a visit to the Wiesbaden Casino with Mme. Blanc, he was in the habit of accompanying her on a morning stroll each day. During one of these walks Madame complained of the heat of the sun. and requested her husband to buy her a parasol. Accordingly the two entered the shop, where Madame selected a very pretty artiele, worth eighty francs—abou. £3 Is —which M. Blanc, with a scowl and a muttered grumble, paid. When the Casino opened at noon great was the astonishment of the croupiers and the visitors to see M. Blane place two louis on the red at one of the trente et qnarante tables. The attendants hastened to get him a chair, but this he declined, saying he was only going to remain a few minutes. When the cards were dealt he won. and. taking up his winnings, left the original stake on the table. For a second time he won. and had now got back the price of the umbrella. But not content, he ventured another two louis, which this time he lost. Somewhat annoyed at this, the founder of the place doubled the stake and won. thus getting back the cost of the umbrella again. Determined, however, to regain his

two louis, he staked them again. only to se e them raked m by the Ixtnk. Thus he kept on winning and losing-, but never able to recover the two louis, till at last he found himself twenty-five louis out. all the gold his poeket-liook contained. A thousand franc note he hail was quickly changed and swallowed up. Then. la-coming exasperated, he cashed his cheque for a large sum. and. sitting down, commenced the battle in earnest. Houtafter hour passed, but M. Blanc, his eyes fixed on the treacherous jiasteboards, never budged from his post. He kept on planking- down heavv stakes until the last deal was declared, when, calmly rising, he seized his vellow cane and made his wav through the gaping on-lookers into’ the open On reaching home he found Mme. Blanc playing -patience' with a pack of cards, the offending parasol Itving on the table. •Madame.' said the old gentleman, 'do you know what that thing has cost me?’ ’Mais otti. mon ami. It. cost you eighty francs.' 'Madame.' rejoined he. 'you are mistaken. 1 have just paid the bill--91.000 francs.' Madame's sunshade had cost no less than L3.G10.