St. Paul daily globe., 1888-06-18
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MONTE CARLO.
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4 Glance at This Famous Home

4 Glance ct This EamQus Home
ro6sss &c. & 0Rspee'
Before play commences, which it does
at II or 12 O'Clock, according to the sea-
son, solemn professions may be seen on
their way to the salon, First come two
attendants in livery, carrying between
them money chest, and close behind
march tie croupiers who are to begin
work, and of whom there are seven to
each table. Four of these sit facing
each other on either side of the roulette
board in the center, and one at each end.
The seventh, the chef ola partie, as he is
called, percheS himself on a high stool
close behind one of the pairs of Group
lerS at the center, keeps a lookout all
around, and is appealed to in any case
of dispute. ''Je dOmine," are the words
in which he expresses his position.
Each of the cr0upierS, the chef de
partie excepted, is armed with long
handled rake, which, as it has no such
work to do, is strengthened at the foot
by plate of brass. The bank notes are
placed in boxes. the money counted out
and the louis and tive-franc pieces ar
ranged in long rows standing on their
edges, so that they look like gold and
silver snakes. Each of the four crOu-
piers at the center has snakes of both
cOlOrs to look after. Those at the end
of the tables have nothing to do with
raking in or paying out the money lost
or won; their business is to put stakes
on or rake winnings off for those who,
unable to secure seats at the table, are
croWding around outside, to get change
Tor them as required, and to keep order.
And now is the tiure to begin; the
rakes of the croupiers facing each other
at the center are laid across the table,
head to head, their long, thin handles
appearing beyond the elbows of the men
about to yield them with so much skill.
The croupierS at the top and bottom lay
their instruments close in front of them
at right angles to the length of the ta-
bic. which is long enough to accommo-
date about twenty players besides the
croupiers. and eight shorter racks. un-
shod with brass, are placed ready for
the use of players. All is now prepared
for the attack. the garrison is perfectly
drilled and disciplined, and amply sup
piled with the sinews of war. Table
and men together form one machine,
machine that plays without committing
mistake, never made reckless by dis
aster, never rendered foolish by success.
Open the doors, then, and let all who
Will approach and do battle. Daily the
challenge is accepted, the chairs are
seized at once, the forces are ready to
renew the assault. Many of the players
produce pocketbooks or sheets of paper
ruled in every conceivable way; these
are the believers in systems or martin
gales. Others are content to use the
cards and pins supplied by the attend
ants; others again neither know nor
care what color or number last came up,
NAV nj rH 10 FOL
them. When those who mean to play
have put on their stakes, the croupier
in charge of the roulette board, who
has several times uttered the warning.
'Messieurs, faites vos jeux," gives the
ball spin in one direction, the revolv-
ing disk spin in the other, and the
battle begins in earnest.