Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-14

louis or two as the price of the entertain-
ment. Although you may not get nuts for
your money and fun for nothing, as at the
country shows, you will at least get fun for
your money"
But it was of no use, play he would not,
so I turned to follow the game of hand
some but sad-looking ELgiishwoman who
persistently staked on the first transversal,
and as persistently lost.
And now L must explain what transver-
sal is. The board is divided into 81 squares,
in - rows of 8 each, numbered from 1
to 36, with an extra space at the top for
zero. Zero is the banks advantage over all
players, and it can hardly be called un-
reasonable, being only one chance extra in
81. equivalent to q commission of about 21I
Fer cent on the stakes. This does not seem
to be exorbitant when one remembers that
not only are those splendid rooms kept up
out OF it, with large staff of croupiers and
walters, but also that the concert hall and
the lovely gardens are maintained, and ex-
cellent mnsic provided both INSIDE and out
side, free of charge. Nevertheless, it is said
that the bank can afford to pay ESQ, 1000 a
year to His Serene Highness Tor its privi-
leges; and paragraph went the rounds of
the papers recently to the effect that the
profits for the previous month alone ex-
be formed OF the enormous turnover.
But to return to the table. As already
stated there are II rows of three squares
each; these are called transversals, or trans
versals of three numbers and two adioin-
ing rows form a transversal of six.
Our beautiful compatriot placed louis alter
louis on the first transversal, but every
number on the board seemed to turn up ex-
cept 1, 2 and 8, and at last she rose and
left, sadder-looking than ever, and evident
ly cleaned out.
I glanced round for Twinnie, but he was
nowhere to be seen. Going off in search,
soon saw him at another table, actually
blushing in spite of his 40 odd summers,
and looking furtively around in the way
every one appears TO do when he plays for
the first time. 1 kept out of sight, and
when the croupier said, "Messieurs faites
lie jeu," was much amused to see MIN Law q
5-tranc piece on the red, with the air of
man at whom the whole world is gazing.
lie jeu est fait''-"Rien ne va plus fol-
lowed at brief intervals; then the ivory hall
having settled in the space numbered "a in
the wheel, he called, "Vingt-quatre, Noir.
Paire ct Passep'-and poor Twinnie's piece
was raked in. Again came the monotonous
Gentlemen. make the game" but Twinnie
stood firm, and the ball ceased rolling with
out any lurLQer sake from MIN.
$50 you have been gambling" I said
coming forward.
"Oh, just francs to be able to say that I
have tried my luck at Monte Carlo" he
"Win or lose, 1 made up my
mind only to try once
''Then," said I, 81 must do something for
the establishment. We can't use this gor-
geous place whole evening for francs"
So changing two Napoleons Tor eight
pieces, began. To my astonishment they
lasted for two hours, my little store rising as
high as 300 francs, but finally dwindling
away TO NOTTINGHAM odd 5-franc piece had
on entering following the others. We had
lost 80 francs between US, but thought we
1ad pretty good value Tor our moneY.
But alas J although my own conscience
gave me no trouble, TwInnie never missed
;hance OF teasing me on the subject
Next morning, when settling the bill of the
Hotel des Anglais at Nice, L objected to
certain unconscionable charges, whereupon
winnie declared that because the man had
,ot my 45 francs was becoming stingy. We
Tired carriage and drove by the Route de
q Corniche to Mentone, passing through
several curious, picturesque old villages,
,erched on the rocks, and surrounded by
Vineyards. At one OF these, about half way,
WINNIE wanted to know if he was to die Of