The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-20
DESPERATE GAMBLERS.
Two Well-Known French Gamblers How
Albert Wolff Won and Lost Mil.
lions Of Francs.
wilkes Spirit Of the Timss.l

There are some very peculiar oharao-
tiers among the Partisan clubmen. In
O former letter 1 had few words to say
on the subject of young Marquis de
Castellane, who,. during the last few
years, has gained rather an unenviable
notoriety from the numerous sorapes he
has fallen into. Castellane Is most in
vetefate gamester. one Of those men
who would play with any one for any
thing. Not content with being one of
the heaviest turf spectators. his entire
existence is passed at his club, follow
ing the phases OF some monster game
OF boccardt or ecarte. From his scared
and colorless features, his nervous. irri-
table manner, one can tell, without any
very searching scrutiny, what vieeit Is
that possesses him. At q single glance
any one can see that his days, and nights
are passed at the gaming table. A few
years ago Marquis dc Uastellane went
in for political honor he was named
Deputy, but even when this coveted
distinction was obtained he was unable
to give up his petted foible, but
seemed to plunge into play with greater
5est. It has often been remarked that
| the men who DIRE devoured by this in.
| tense love Of gaming are the most un-
lucky, and the more they lose the more
| they become attached to their fatal fail
| lane; his losses were fearful, but he
went on playing more heavily than ever,
| risking his patrimony and his estates,
| until his relatives felt themselves called
upon to interfere. As the French
| phrase Ia, he was placed under the
| supervision OF a judiciary council. That
| Is to say guardians of his fortune were
| appointed, and his associates were for
| hidden to play with him on credit Such
terrible showing up as this, II neees-
sary check to the gambler. was a. severe
| blow to the Deputy; and. Of course. his
political adversaries fairly reveled In
| the soandaious disclosure, and harped
| DO pitilessly upon the painful theme
that at last the patience of Marquis de
| Castellane could hold out no longer, and
| he challenged one of the most aggressive
of the hostile soribblers. The affair went
off in smoke. however, and the young
Deputy was permitted to resume his
nightly little games unmolested. He Ia
still one Of the most assiduous habitues
of the gambling clubs, and at the races
| may always be seen making heavy
| book In the ring. He had ''streak OF
luck" lately. He was dead" on the
French horse Jongleur, who easily won
the Cambridgeshire, with odds Of forty
to one, an offer against him ZIP to the
start. Marquis dc Oastellsne had in
vested 200 louis on the crack, at forty !,
so he won 5000 louis. or $4,000. This
was o neat little winning In It's way, but
the MARQUIS was rather Disguised than
otherwise to think that he had bet 80
little on the horse, and had missed the
| chance Of netting O million or two at n
single coup. Compared TO Castsllans's
previous losses, his gains on Jongleur
were o. mere drop in the bucket, just
| enough to whet his appetite for more.
Since his lucky 'haul" he has plunged
into card and turf speeulations with o
new zest. like giant refreshed, and
probably his pallid, wasted face will be
constantly seen this winter around the
ronge-et.,totr table at Monaco.
Another Of the Partisan gambling. no
| liabilities Ia Albert Wolff, curious
character In more respects than this
one, Wolff Ia now one OF the chief
critics of the Figaao, that witty, flip
pant, all Partisan sheet, and is oonsid-
cred one Of the cleverest men of the
French press. His lively articles, dash
ed off with ready, trenchant, facile
pen, are eagerly read whenever he
deigns to throw them on paper, between
while. during the short intervals whom
he is not engaged in some heavy game.
As his name indicates, Wolff is Ger
man. He came to Paris some twenty
years ago, friendless and penniIess,
barely acquainted with any other lam
guage than his own, but determined TO
force his way into some position. He
thought journalistic notoriety the most
easy OF attainment, and strove for seve-
raj years to become successful littera-
teur, Those only who know by bitter
experience how narrowly exclusive.
how lacking in enterprise and initiative
Ia the French press land trust such
| inf fms f0tu 40
ciate how bitter and disheartening
must have been the receptions OF the
young German; how rude his rebuffs
and his repulse. For several years
Wolff suffered all the pangs of sensi-
tive spirit; crushed by the harshness
and indifference of those who had ar
rived, to use the picturesqe and express
sive French phrase. Wolff himself says
that he almost surrendered during this
period Of doubt and distress; bat at
last his struggles were successful, and
he soon took a high place among the
Paris journalists, gaining @ reputation
for brilliancy and wit which he has
since sustained. As soon as Wolff felt
that his position upon the press was Sc
cured, he manifested taste for the
gayeties Of Partisan life, which was
probably fostered during the long pc
Rod OF disappointments and privations
through which he had passed. High
play was his chief vice. He soon be-
came frequenter OF the gambling
clubs. and passed his whole time around
the green cloth. Wolff possessed all
the requisites of first-rate card player.
He Ia cool, wary and observant; bold in
gain and prudent In loss. Like many
Of his countrymen. he has rather a
mathematical turn Of mind; 30 he
soon completely mastered the rules
Of the games in vogue at his clubs
and applied them with peculiar skill
and daring. For several years Wolff
has been renowned as one OF the best
card players In Paris; he was constant
and won large sums very frequently.
Not very long ago Wolff was known to
have won some three millions Of francs
in two years, and he should have fore
| 81 worn play when he found himself such