St. Paul daily globe., 1890-04-27

doubtful.
Those industrious people who, thanks
to some high protectors, have sbcceeded
to obtain from the prefecture an author
ization to open club. do not neglect to
surround themselves with a committee
composed of men known for their artis-
tic and literary talents, aud hide them
selves behind these names, which serve
as alag" on the wall. They choose
convenient club premises, giving pref
erence to those situated on the grand
bouleyards, in the center of the real
Paris movement. between the Made
leine church and the Rue Drouot,
and i'll close proximity to eStab-
lished clubs, from which they con-
slider it duty TO draw clients. Next
comes the installation of the club. Lux
ury before all. but all intelligent luxury,
without gilt, that shocks one, and with
out cloud" hangings and curtains. On
the contrary, they are heavy old 'tapis-
SERIES" and the walls are decorated
here and there with several good pict-
ures. In the drawing rooms, sea of
light, heavy Oriental carpets, an army
of footmen in sober but rich livery,
obeying everybody with readiness and
SlNluS tllC VI iltC " ClOO
members, who have not even a house
maid of their own, and alas! varnish
their boots themselves in the little
rooms they occupy in the same 'fur-
nished'' house.
g
The club is thus established. and the
gambling customers begin to float into
the ''saIons." Until 4 O'Clock in the
afternoon they are reading papers, prac-
tice at billiards, or, owing to the fatigues
of the preceding night passed at the
baccarat table, sleep in peace on the
large and comfortable sofas and easy
chairs; others leaning on the mantel-
pieces discuss the interesting events
aud topics of the day, before they pro-
ceed to the gain of the one or the losses
of the other. :,
Punctually at O'Clock a club EN-
ploye crosses the different salons, an
nouncing with loud voice: Gentle
men. there are fifty louis in the bank"
At this news, sleepers, takers. readers,
leave their dreams. conversation and
newspapers. and rush into the gambling
room, which is filled in tWinkling.
The ''Salle de Bacarat'' is a high, spa
cious, splendldly decorated place, illu-
minated by large lamps, hanging
down on heavy chains from the ceiling,
and covered with green shades which
are put on them to protect the eyes and
pockets of the gamblers. The punt
ers'' take their seats around an
oval table, six on each side, which is di-
vided into numbered compartments and
in the middle of which the banker is
seated with the ''crOupier'' in front of
him, with the rake in his hand. Gen
tlemen, the cards pass" is his cry. and
after opening the package and shutfling
the cards, he hands them over to the
banker.
The game now begins, and counters
are planked down on the ''tapis." If
the banker wins several ''cOups," some
of the punters grumble and make OBJ
servations, what in club slang
is called "makimg music" or they
murmur between their teeth that the
''sery" is not natural" If, on the coll
trary. the banker after having lost a
certain number of '.coups" wins again,
the musical" punter complains still,
and affirms that this can only happen to
him, that he closes always when wager
ing higher stake" The first banks
are generally led by the s'lighters," who
make the game go Until the more serious
gamblers arrive, which is between $50
and 7:3O. 1t is then that the heavy
gambling begins. and at times there is a
small fortune ON the table.
Then comes along an Englishman who
puts five hundred louis in the bank.