The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-06
PARADISE OF GAMBLERS.
The Curious Little Independent State OIL
Monaco.
INTERESTING TOWN OF MONTE CARLO.
Al Lively and Bcau,ifui spoi-Bissory OF Its
Establishment ms Gambling 'eht'e'
How the Getting Is Conducted.
For Tho Times by Hon. A. NJ. Koiloyl

beautifal Riviera. between France and Italy
Its peoulc. aroused 10y the contagon Of the
French revolution. had demanded Of Honore
III certain reforms. aud on his refusal t.
grant them. had sent him packing to Join the
numerous mouarchs "out OF a job with
which Europe then was full. When tie Allies
met AT iaris it was gonoraiiy supposed That
Monaco wonld be lOintd 20 Savoy. but u
happened that isdlo,ran had once had n
furious Irritation with one of the Irinccsses,
Grima.di. Oi the relgnng house % Monaco
and the orande dane pleaded with him so
earnestly for the integrity OF her nome that
the dipiomatst yielded and tie independence
Of the smallest state IN CErstcndOm owes us
existence 20 AN amour
And SO i happened that Prince Honore ",
80 whom .his brother Honoro ILL.,, ~ great
tnerst with. th" cares OF " crown, had ceaei
hi claims. Started ont in The winter OF 1914 10
from Pans TO resume the throne
On the morning Of the "a OF March. ie}5. he
was quietly snOo2ing IN his carriage near NICE
and within twenty miles OF his destination,
when "A c0uple Of gendarnes halted him aOd
begged him 10 dismouut. as g me ono was very
ANXIOUS to interview hun at head quarters.
Hisatrile uncomfortable, even for people
vino are not princes 70 encounter an enforced
halt so near their Journey q end. hut Wuskets
have 70 bo respected and ll0noTe ~. followed
his captCrs.
Bon Jour. mon cousin, said n saturnne but
smiling gentleman IN whose presence he found
himself and he made haste o. answer. pre-
fixing his response with sire. - for there was
Napoleon VINO had landed the day before
from flba.
The emperor begged him t. take q place in
bis carriage. Is ne was about 20 start for Paris
md even promised to make him Project OF
Monaco which J should have said had been
previously annexed 10 rance but the prince
replied that be had iust Travelled over that
road and was not enam1red Oi it. and the en-
peror started alone. The famous "huudred
DAYS followed AMI Waterloo and ST. Helena.
and a second time. in the Congress of Vienna
Ialleyrand saved the Independence Of No
nac0.
CURIOUS LITTLE sTATF.
1t is a curious little State for the most part
perched upon long, rocky pr0montory. tut
ting ont about ten miles east Of Nice. quarter
OF 3 mile into the Mediterranean.
But tho most curious feature # it's history
is that it is the only State IN the world whose
people pay no taxes. It's government. It's
police. lis standing army of less than hun
dred mem. It's municipal improvements all
its expenses are paid Cor it and all paid by
the gambling cluD of Monte Carlo.
MONTE CARLO.
Monte Carlo ia the portion Of the State of
NiouAcO WIiCu ~ elluAltu Oh lilt lDUlUltUU.
1t is not half the size Of Richmond but the
sun shines on no loveiier spot III all the course
of day or wear. A mountain some rom fr,t
high-la COmiche-sweeps around from the
shore Of the Mediterranean ut the east to the
same shore on the west. enciFchng IN It's aims
n spot where every Hover and tree Of Europe
sheltered from every cold wind that can blow.
thri,es IN tropical iuxurience. And then the
promOntOry of Monaco intervenes on the
southwest. completely cutting of the mistral,
the only wind that Ia ever dangerous coming
from tine south. while near at hand beauti-
ful cove for which Monaco forms perfect
breakwAter furnishes "a secure spot for boat
ing and bathing. MD beyond the matcblcss
waters of the Mediterranean spread their
blue pillows TO far OIL Africa No spot on the
Riviera Is SO sheltered aud If it WAS not the
greatest gambling place II would be the
greatest health resort on the earth
OPENING OF TIE GAMBLING HOUSE.
In 1856 a number of European gentlemen,
with q capital of lalf-a- million Of fraucs. Oh
tanned from the reigning Prince permission TO
open q gambling house there and the Prince,
who l. now on the throne. then mere youth
O couple Of years later laid the corner stone
of the edliCe which was TO be named the
Elysee Alberto Abou; tins time it Lecame
apparent that the authorities of Homburg and
Baden Baden were going TO close the gam
bling houses at those p aces. Oua morning IN
March. 1860, Baron Blanc, tho proprietor Of
the largest gambling establishment in HON
burg. arrived ut Monte Carlo and called on
the directors of tue Eysee Alberto. saving
"Gentlemen. have IN NY pOcket-bOOk 100
900 francs. which I OBer YOU for your conces-
sion. / ain going to my breakfast aud will re-
turn III M hour. Give Inc Your decision then
rs am going back to Nice tins evening
When he returned his proposal was accepted
and on the 3l>t Of March 1850. tho contract
was signed, giving linn the concession Tor
thirty years.
srMPrVOrS ESTABLISHMENT
Thus arose the most famous and sunptuous
gambling house the world has ever seen. II
consists IN part of two immense HILLS. de
cOrated with a taste and prodigalIty without
parallel. aud adorned with paintings and
sculptures by the most renowned OF living
masters a theatre built by the famous archI.
tect of the Grand Opera-Huuse of Paris. and
park which Tor The variety and beauty of |
Its flowers and trees has 10 match sin like |
space on earth. Temperatures seem to hn,e |
been annihiihtcd here Nowhere have ever !
seen such perfect palms the product Of the |
tropics; nowhere such hrs and pines |
tho product Of tho Alps. And this maichless |
coast the paradise OF flowers has by reason |
OF It's exceptional position bloomed ont here |
into floral wealth which surely has no cntu- |
peutor on the globe During tho winter a |
band OF sixty performers. numbering some of |
the hrst sOIOlst OF Europe. PLAYS twice day |
ana the stars OF drama never fail during the |
season 10 give many Representations. at tho !
theatre. Reading rooms whore tho standard |
journals OF all the earth are found: sumptn- |
ous smoking rooms writing-ro0m, all Tree to |
every visitor; are provided; an army of ser |
vnnts IN livery meets You everywhere and |
answer every wish: in a word everything
That money can buy or taste suggest or Luz, |
nry inspire meets IN ths cOnsummate TEMPLE |
OF the Goddess of Fortune
One thing. however distinguishes il from |
all other palaces of chance. You can get |
nothiug 10 eat and except a glass Of ire /
water. nothing 10 drink. IN all these gildod |
balls. AMI IN the gaming Rooms you cannot !
smoke even cigarette.
THE CANES DESCRIBED.
Let me describe the games.
On entering the outer hall clerk asks Won |
fof your visiting card and then demsnds yOnr /
occupation and the name Oiths hotel at which |
you are stopping ali of which he enters IN - /
book. IhiS preliminary inquiry Is necessary
because Of an arrangement with tho Prince Of |
Monaco that none OF his subjects cen ever he
admitted 10 the Casino and the manar.rs will
not, Ia addition. permit the entrance OF any
one under twenty-one years OF age either
male or female
=, The questions having boon answered and
tue description entered. a card IL handed Won.
ono Oh winch enclose On entering the
gaming hall proper you notice LARGE nI,rnb.r
OF .ong tables. ali crowded with PLAYERS bnt
sohN Two games ara played Al the
,afsef number Roulette" at tie other
iten'e ct Quannte.' As roulett. *
.he more popular game describe IL arst 10
greater popularity depending partly an tho
tact tact That the stakos here may be as loqy as
ia H p,cces' whle at the other nothing under
hat D.