The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-12

prospect for wealth. He was as poor as
Jobs turkey. The principality of Monaco
contains only eight square miles; it's popu-
lation is just 1000 souls. The territory
is mere barren rock. For a century
it has had some fame as a water
ing place, and between the income
from visitors and a little fishing, and a lit
tie smuggling, the inhabitants contrived to
exc out q subsistence, but | doubt if the
prince had an income equal to $1,000 a
year. Tn principality was of old much
bigger, but since the Napoleonic wars, it
was reduced pretty much TO a rock, q ruined
castle, a fishing village and high sounding
title.
About 1855, storm clouds began to gather
over the famous gaming places of Germany.
III reign of Spa and Baden and Homboufg
was drawing to a close. Public opinion
was against them, and the revival of the
German military spirit and national pride
BODIED them i'll. Nobody saw this more dis
tinctly than Francois Blanc, the proprietor
OF the casino at Hombourg, where he had
long rel9ned as a master, and where he had
created an Eden-after the fall of course
amid the somber forests of Rhenish Prussia.
Blanc began looking over all Europe for a
suitable abiding place, and when IN 1860
hing William of Prussia demanded of the
lelchstag the suppression of gambling in
Germany. NJ. Blanc had made up his mlnd
that Monaco was the place for him, and so
he turned up there one tine day in March
with the pul Sc of a Rothschild and the airs
or u conqueror.
He was not the first to pitch on Monaco
as an available place for q great gambling
system. In 1e5G Charles Ill. had granted
a concession to Napoleon Langlois and Al
bert Aubert. They had a capital of $780,
OOO francs, and they started roulette and
rouge ct NOR tables i'll the city of Mo
naco in a house right opposite the princes
palace. They used to have play from noon
to 5 p. m. daily; but they never made a
success. The place was not very accessible
and only half attractive. 1t was not adyer-
tlsed at all, and it made no profit and no
progress. They sold out on December 81 to
M. Daral. in whose hands the game proved
an utter and disastrous failure.
In 1905, however, the foundation stone of
the Casino was laid by the prince de Valen.
eldest son of Charles. The site
chosen was tho bald and barren p%romonto.y
of Speluges, about a mile distant from Mo-
naco itself, and, while wo k advanced
slowly on 1T, a new agreement for a thirty
years privilege waS made III October, 1913,
with three SPECTATORS, Lafevre, GfIoIs and
Jagot, who starte4 tables in temporary
quarters. These three had a big idea. II
was approximately the same that has been
realized. but they lacked union among
themselves and business ability and enerpy.
They called the growing casino the Elysee
Alberto, but they quGireied with their ar
chltect, III. Gudinot, and the outlook was
for another emphatic failure when III. Blanc
apaenred upon the scone.
Nj. Blanc ailahted one morning from the
tram Mt Nice and drove up to Monaco in a
carriage. There is IA train now, of course,
tho whole way. He walked into the office
of the partners and laid on the table a port
folio contoining l.70o,0d0 francs $3.50, 0uO.)
Il am in a hurry to get back to Par,s,'
said he. will you sell me your concession
for this sutn?'
But" they began.
81 give you three hours to reflect, while |
breakfast and take 4 stroll"
Three hours later, the bargain was made.
The formal transfer took place on March
81, 1860. On April l6, a new agreernent with
Prince Charles was ratified, providing for IL
thirty years concession, with two ,ears'
grace, to finish the casino.
Under tho infringement of Blanc the rock
OF Speiuges became the estate of Monte
Carlo; the gambling paw ION developed into
the Cercle de E~ttangers. An army of Ital-
Ian galley slaves transported millions OF