The New York herald., 1879-09-30
GAMING IN PARIS.
CRoUPIERs, CLUBMEN AND QUESTIONABLE COM
MrTrEEs-LATEsr INTERVENTION OF THE
PREFECT OF POLICE.

CRoUPIERs, CLUBMEN AND QUESTIONABLE COM
MrrTEEs-LATEsr INTERVENTION OF THE
PREFEcT OF POLICE.
The club which opened in the Rue de Ia
Chaussee d'Antin, in the same premises where the
English Club started some three years ago.
has, says the Paris correspondent of the London
Globe been closed by order of the Prefect Of Police
The "Cercle dc pExposition" was founded by re-
publican Deputy NJ de Saint-Martin. and assisted
by the croupiers who shared the percentage levied
ON each game with him and his colleagues on the
committee. There is nothing easier than to start
club in Paris condition of its being open to every
one. The modas operasds consists finding eligible
premises. There always . crowd of hungry
croupiers roaming about tho boulevards ready
to bring the money to keep the game going;
they will make certain advances in exchange
for the privilege of sharing the profits and
Of lending money TO the players An imposing CON-
mittee is formed. with statesman who will put his
shown the door OF the Corps DiplomatiQue general
who has sold the plans Of the forts to the Prus
SLAMS. count who his title to the Pope, and q
notary : stray prefect or two &c There is no hest
tation the usurers and Greeks who get up these
clubs tell the committee what profits can be made
and the requisition is sent into the Prefecture de
Police at once. The authorities, once squeamish
in giving permission to open clubs. have adopted
been attempted, and the boulevards have become
almost uninterrupted line of clubs. The regular
playing members are recruited on the bOulevards ut
the races or the theatres. Any one who is known
to be fond of cards dine for nothing four days
out of at least. His morning letters
to contain invitations from the president Of certain
club requesting the pleasure of his company to din
Baccarat follows, q matter OF course. The
player risks his money against the skill Of those who
are sitting round him. and should he be able to
battle the adroitness OF his fellow worshppers st the
shrine OF fortune his good luck In always neutrAlzed
by the famous percentage. Now and then club is
closed. The Commissioners OF Police and his men
walk into the room. inform the manager and
members present that the club In closed. and
permit each 10 leave with his money. al
thsagh ell coin and notes confscated when
gambling and betting houses seized. When the
"Ccrcle de lExposition" closed on Saturday
night rush was made for tho doors. and the moni-
bcrs had " be called back to pick up their money.
which was lying on the table. This Incident. per-
haps insignificant in itself. q pretty indi-
cation NJ to the company the gamblers were accus-
toned to frequent. The motive assigned for such a
step by the authorities was that number OF young
men under age permitted to frequent the club.
recruited from among the youths who have just
left school and ape the man on the boulevards, at
the Circus. or at Mabille OF an evening. The COM
mittee of the club have filed the usual protest
against such accusation stating that IL any young
men were admitted they were the sons Of members.
and waited for their parents in the reading room.
M. de Saint-Martfn has seen his colleague. M.
Andrieux Project of Police. and IL IL said that the
club will again before long.