, 1878-01-26
aCELEBRaTED GAMBLER.
uov n. Won and Lost Millions Of Francs.

uow 0~ Won and LOST Millions oI Erancs.
There are some very peculiar characters
among the Partisan clubmen. In former
letter had few words to say on the sub
iect of young Marquis de Casteilane, who,
during the last few years, has gained rath-
er an unenyiable notoriety from the nu-
merous scrapes he has fallen into. Cas-
tellane Is a most inveterate gamester, one
of those men who would play with anyone
for anything Not content with being one
Of the heaviest turf spectators, his entire
existence is passed at his club, following
the phases OF some monster game OF bac-
carat or ecarte. From his scared and col
orless features, his nervous, irritable man
ner, one can tell, without any very search
inp scrutiny, what vice 1t is that possesses
him. At single glance anyone can see
that his days and nights are passed at the
gaming table. A few years ago Marquis
de Castelane went in for political honors I;
he was named Deputy, but even when
this coveted distinction WAS obtained he
was unable to give up his petted folble,
but seemed to plunge into play with a
greater Zest. 1t has often been remarked
that the men who are devoured by this
intense love of gaming are the most un-
lucky, and the more they lose the more
they become attacked to their fatal fail
inc. IL was so with Marquis de Castellane !;
his losses were fearful, but he went on
p,aving more heavily than ever, risking
his patrimony and his estates, until his
relatives felt themselves called upon to IN
terfere. As the French phrase is, he WAS
placed under the supervision of Judiciary
council. That is to say, guardians OF his
fortune were appointed, and his assQciates
were forbidden to play with HIM on credit.
Such a terrible showing up rs this If a
necessary check to the gambler, was Sc
we're blow to the Deputy and, of course,
his political adversaries fairly revelled III
the scandalous disclosure, and harped so
pitilessly upon the painful theme, that at
last the patience of Marquis de Castellane
could hold out no longer, and he challeng-
ed one of the most aggressive OF the hos
tile scribblers. The affair Went off IN
smoke, however, and the young deputy
was permitted to resume his nightly lit
tie games" unmolested. He is still one
gambling clubs, and at the races may al
ways be seen making a heavy book III the
ring. He had streak of lucl, lately.
He was "dead on the French horse jon
gleur, who easily won the Cambrldgeshire,
with odds of forty to one, an offer against
him up to the start. Marquis dc Castel-
lane had invested two hundred louis on
the crack, at forty, so he Won eight thou
sand louis, or thirty two thousand dollars.
This was a neat little winning in its way,
but the Marquis was rather disgusted 9TH
erwise, 10 think that ne had bet so little
on the horse, and had missed the chance
of netting a million or two ut Single
coup Compared to Castellane $ previous
losses, his gains on Jongleur were mere
drop i'll the bucket, just enough to whet
his appetite for more. Since ms lucky
haul he has plunged into card and turf
specuiations with new Zcst, like Il giant
refreshed, and probably his pallid, wasted
face will be constantly seen this winter
around the rouge-et nor liable at Monaco
Another Of the Partisan Gaming nOta-
blities is Albert Wolf, a curious charac-
ter in more respect than this one. Wolf
is one Of the chief critics of the Figaro,
the witty, fippant, all Parisian sheet, and
is considered one of the best men of the
French press His lively articles, dash shed
off with ready, trenchant faclle pen, are
eagerly read whenever he deigns 10 throw
them on paper, between while, during the
intervals when he Is not engaged III some
heavy game As his name indicates, Wolff
is German He csme to Paris some 20
years ago, friendless and penniless, barely
acquainted with any other language than
his own, but determined To force his way
into some position. He thought Journal
istic notoriety the most easy OF attainment,
and stroye for several years to become Il
successful literatcur Those only who
know 10y bitter experience how narrowly
exclusive, how lacking in enterprise and
initiative is the French press (and | trust
such unfortuuateS are few can appreciate
how bitter and diSheartcning must have
been the receptions Of the young German
How rude his rebuiis and his repulse For
several years Wolff suffered all the pangs
of a sensitive spirit; crushed by the harsh
hess and indifference OF those who had ar
rived, to use the picturesque and express
i've French phrase, Wolf himself says that
he almost surrendered during this period
of doubt and distress but at last his
struggles were successful, aud he soon took
a high place among Paris journalists, gain
ing a reputation for briliancy and wit
which he has since sustained. As soon as
Wolff felt sure that his position upon the
press was secured, he manifested taste
for the gayeties of Parisian life, which was
probably fostered during the long period
of disappointment and privations through
which he had passed High play was his
chief vice. He soon became frequeuter
of the gambling clubs, and passed his
whole time around the green cloth Wolf
possesses all the requisites of tirst-class
card-player. He is cool, wary, and OBJ
servant bold in gam and prudent in loss.
Like many of his countrynen. lie has
rather mathematical turn of mind, SO
he soon completely mastered the rules of
the games III vogue at his clubs, and ap-
Piled them with peculiar skill and daring.
For number OF years Wolf has been re-
noWned as one of the hest card players il
Paris; he was constantly lucky, as, good
players generally are, and won large sums
very frequently. Not very long ago Wolff
was known to have won some three mil
lions OF francs III two years, and he should
have foresworn play when he found him-
self such large gamer. Three millions
is large fortune, even in these days Of
high expense and extravaganza and in
the widest dreams of his youth Wolf can
never have imagined himself the possessor
of such a sum. Bat even this cool, eau
tious German WAS unable to resist the
constant, neyer-allayed cravings for gain
which always lead the gambler 10 his min