The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-18
EXIT MONTE CARLO.

The last public gambling-house in Europe
is about to be closed. Under the pressure
brought to bear on him by the Government
Of France tine Prince of Monaco has re-
fused TO renew the lease of Monte Carlo,
though the rental was 100000 a year.
When the states of Germany were CONSOLE
dated by Bismarck some twenty years ago
gambling was gradually suppressed, first at
Baden, then at Homburg and finally at
Wiesbaden. Amateurs of rouge -et= nOire
then took refuge on the border of the Med
iterannean, and for q quarter of century
Monte Carlo, within an hours ride CT Nice,
has been the only resort of European lovers
of play. 1t is delightful spot situate on
the edge of the bluest and most beautiful
sea in the world, in the heart of a fairylike
garden, under a lovely sky. For several
years the bay has generally contained a
score of yachts; on the roads priceless
horses have raced back and forth from
Nice the society has contained the bright
est and gayeSt members of the fine world of
Paris, London, Vienna. ST. Petersburg and
Rome. Beauty and fashion mingled with
fame and power. Everything was con-
Quoted in princely style. People were all
dressed as if for a bail or a court reception.
The best cooks in Europe catered for the
guests, and the most perfect orchestras dis
courSed the newest music. Occasionally
the serenity of this elysium would be dis
turbed by the suicide of some one who was
so ill-mannered as 20 blow his brains out
when he had lost his money. But life at
Monte Carlo was generallyan endless chain
Of revelry.
Now all this is ended, and as Thackeray's
man sad there is not a place in Europe
where q gentleman can lose a fve-pound
note if lie wants to. The stock exchanges
are in full blast and offer to spectators OPP
portunities of dropping thousands on set
Ting day. There was Panama Canal lot
terry the other day in Paris, and at Naples
there are dozen. But there is no public
green table anywhere, with a croupier and
banker in full Dress where a stranger can
tempt fortune and put his luck to the test.
Gambling has not been stopped, but it has
been driven from public halls into private
houses. There will be no more baccarat at
Monte Carlo, but lover of the game will
find plenty OF opportunities OF INDUCING his
taste in the drawing-rooms of his friends.
There is nothing new in the transition.
Under the first French republic, and until
the first empire was solidly established,
many a door in the Palas Royal at Paris
was the entrance to a gambling-house,
which was open to all. Napoleon closed
them, and compelled the gamblers to estab-
lish clubs of their own. So in New York 4
few years ago. There were at the time of
the war more than score Of gambling
houses in that city which we've as open as
a church, and they did rafting business.
After the war most of them were closed !;
the few which were permitted 10 survive
escaped suppression by paying toll to the
police and promising to admit no strangers
to their rooms. We all know how it is here.
| There are sporting pariors' in this city,
| but the old-fashioned open gambling houses
which stood wide open on the streets have
| passed out of existence
The idea is prevalent that the inveterate
| gam bier will find way to gamble in spite
| of any law which may be enacted. Him
the law does not appear to modest, so long
| as he plays with people of his own class
| but when he ropes in outsiders he does so
| az his risk and peril. Our own laws on the
subject are stringent if they we're faithfully
| executed. In Paris gambling is carried on
at clubs which are established for the pur-
| pose. The name and address of these clubs
must be registered at the police office. So
| long as no complaints are made and no scan
Gal created they are unmolested; but if any
| provincial reports to the Prefe"t of Police
that he has beer fleeced, or if the neighbors
! denounce the clubs as nuisance, the police
make descent, the law is enforced with
| full severity, the property of the clubs is
| coufscate1, and the officers serve a term OF
| Imprisonment