Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-05-31
MILDRED RUSsELL's LETTER.
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GRAND HOTEL,
MONTE CARLO, May, 1885. J
We have been down 10 Nice once OF
twice from here, and ut our last visit
the town looked dreary and forsaken,
consequent upon the end Of the season.
MANY of the shops and hotels are al
ready closed, and others have notices
on them that they will remain open but
= few days. The trees lining the long
Avenue dc Ia Care. one OF the cnis,
business streets Of the town. are IN iui
Leaf. and besides giving much appre-
cisted shade they are also ornamental.
The gardens of the villas are in their
elory of summer foliage, and are much
more beautiful than they were month
400. Each time we come back to Monte
Carlo the beauty Of its situation, the
charm Gifts gardens, and thepeculiarit'es
Of the rsmbling-rooms strike us as forcl-
bIv A. on our first arrival. To get
ANYTHING like a clear idea OF the kind
Of Mace il is il must be remembered |
that, judging from what one sees, it is
the most orderly place in the world,
and might almost vie with Quaker
settlement in this respect. Besides, its |
streets are SO clean they would make |
New York blush. IL that city had any |
blushing power. The fresh, pure air and
the sea-breezcs make it very healthy,
and the extreme quietness is soothing to |
any one seeking rest. The visitors,
who include al ranks and occupations,
have only to refrain from entering the
Casino TO derive benefit from these ad-
vantsges, which, however, compared
with the rival ones, are too insignifi-
cant 10 be very influential.
THE SUICIDE STORIES.
The stories Of suicides and similar
calsmities are exaggerated, il, indeed,
they arc not invented. to give morbid
interest TO the place. Most OF the
heavy losers at gambling take their i'll |
luck with stolid resignation, for, as
rule, they have become Injured to hard
blows in LIES struggle, and one more
or less does not affect them much. Or
course they feel the blow, but gen.
orally bear it unflinchingly. 1t is the |
good luck, TO which they are not so
thoroughly accustomed, that rouses er
element and one reason for the whole
affair being so monotonous is that
winning to any great amount seldom
happens. Fresh visitors arrive con-
stantly, and rush over to the Casino in
the best spirits, with the idea that
they are going to win for
tune. They often win enough at
the beginning to afford them ground
for continued hopes. Then the luck
changes, but the remembrance of their
first gains encourages them to perse-
we're in their efforts to retrieve their
losses even down to risking the last
louis they have in hand. The contrast
between their buoyant manner on
arriving and their subdued appearance
on q heightened stay, often made with
the hope Of recovering their money, is
easily noticed. The reluctance Of the
heavy losers to leave Monte Carlo is
marvellous. There seems to be some
irresistible power clutching fast hold Of
them and riveting them to the spot
which has halfruined them, or even
played them worse tricks. They cannot
give up the belief that few lucky
turns will bring back their lost gold.
ROULETTE.
The fierce playing at roulette, which
received fresh impulse by the success
of the Russian / mentioned in my last,
still continues. l saw a Frenchmap
stake s louis Ia louis-s4) on No. &c
and IL louis on the adjoining squares
these stakes he afterwards increased,
ndplsyed thirty turns on the same num-
bers, with the intention Of winning enor-
mously, as the Russian had done.
Fortune, however, this time, with its
tangible wheel, and no imaginary one,
was against him, and his numbers failed
to appear sufficiently to prevent his
losing 10000 francs. He was then
reduced to playing with single 5-franc
pieces. An Englishman and his wife
played jointly one afternoon for
many rounds, with heavy stakes.
Both were extremely anxious over adj
yenturing so much Of the money they
had probably worked hard to save.
The woman was fat and short of breath,
and painted distressinAy. The man sat
with his lips apart and his eyes fixed on
the number they had chosen; and both,
between the turns, made calculations
as TO how much they should win. They
did not hesitate to continue their play,
and showed grim determination, not
withstandiDg their excitement. They
had aroused the attention Of the other
players; but they themselves took
no notice Of any one, for it was
q supreme moment to them, and
as if life and death were at is
sue. At last their number having
turned up the man took the roll Of bills
won, which, however, did not compen-
safe for the stakes placed, folded them
and put them in his pocket. Then both |
rose and walked away, still absorbed |
in themselves, but composed and re-
signed, as il fate had struck them and |
there was no help for it.
A BIG STAKE.
just after they left the roulette
table an Englishman came up and staked
5000 francs in less than five minutes in
the most reckless manner, and lost
them. Then he crossed the room and
abused his luck TO sympathizing and
suffering friend, but both soon recover
cd their spirits and went into the next
room and played trente ct quarante the
rest Of the evening. Fortunately they
were both rich. Looking on at
the gambling is an unpleasant ex-
perience, and from all accounts par
ticipating in it is a painful one to
large majority Of the players. Some
times it is appalling to see how much
people lose, and one moves off in dis
gust. Now and then somebody wins
considerably and is temporarily happy,
and by an effect Of animal magnetism,
suppose, the bystander feels bright
and gay as IL ray Of good fortune had