The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-16

subsequently John Alphonso Published an
edict with the same object.
But it all proved useless. By the time OF
the grand monarque no season was INSULT
able, no sum too great. Mazarln played as
be lay upon his deathbed till he became too
weak, when he got some one to play for
him; while the Duchess de Berry lost, in
one night, 100000 livres. This was under
the regime of John Law, a Scotchman, who
conceived the extraordinary idea OF setting
up a public bank for gambling, in order to
restore the finances of the country. AS
matter of fact, he brought the state to the
verge OF ruin.
More recently-untiI 1888 company in
Paris had the monopoly OF all The gaming
houses In that city, for which privilege they
paid the state yearly 5000, 600 francs, or
about e24,000. There is grim humor in the
tale of banker named LIE Blanc, who was
asked one day by a novice, "DtteS MOI, est
ce que le rogue gGgne on te 1olr?' DE an
swered, Monsieur, Je blanc gd9ne touN
jOurS."
In England, laws against gambling have
grown up, as it were, by accident. In the
twelfth year of Richard II. laws were pro-
Inulgated for the suppression OF games in
general ard subsequent enaotments culmi-
mated in the more definite statute OF Henry
VIII. This antocrat repeated former acts,
and added to their severity, because, the
more useful to the state, particularly the
practice of archery.
Quite incidentally other results of inordi-
nate devotion TO various pestimes are mem
toned, such as impoverishment, crime and
neglect OF divine service. Gradually the
law concentrated itself upon games more
strictly of a gambling nature-though the
definition was, and is, by no means easy.
For instance, quoits. tennis, bowls and cud-
al avit
1915. Gearge II. attempted TO check high
gambling by making the penalty for being
convicted of losing from SO to $50 within
the twenty four hours fine of five times
the sum lost, which was to go to the parish.
Another valiant effort was made by
George III. 1t had always been the custom
TO play hazard at the court on Twelfth
night This was discontinued in 1862, and
all gambling forbidden in royal palaces.
The end of the eighteenth century is par
ticularly famous for the number of promi-
nent men who systematically gambled, and
for the hight Of the stakes. OF this Walpole
tells q characteristic story about certain
Lord Stavordale, who, when still under u
years of age, lost Ell 200 one night, but re-
covered it by one great hand at hazard.
Whereupon he swore great oath: Nov,
il had been playing deep, / might have
won milliousm Famous above all other
gamesters stands Charles James Fox, who
began playing at the age or IA under the
direction OF bis father, Lord Holland. So
APT a pupil did he prove that, by the time
he was "a, his debts amounted to $4,000.
These were all paid by his indulgent father,
who had started him on the path Of vice.
Fox was very unlucky in his play, as tho
following verses relate;
If-he touches card, II be rattleS box,
Away fly the guiness Of this Mr.. Fox.
He has met, I'm afraid with so many hard
knocks,
That cash is not plenty with this Mr. Fox
And he always must lose, for the strongest of
locks
Cannot keep any money for this Mr.. Fox.
Yet he was little troubled by his reverses.
One morning Besuclerc found him after a
particularly ruinous night calmly reading
Herodotus; and when he expressed surprise,
Fox remarked: "What would you have me
do when have lost my last shilling9"
Much more serious than the stakes with
which even Fox tempted Fortune were
those played for two men bywhom the police
reported in 1912 as having been found in the
Hampstead road. One was on a wall, the
other was hanging by his neck from a lamp
post, Just showed off"
They had tossed all day, frst for money,
then for their clothes; lastly, for which OF
the two should hang the other. Lotteries,
at one time legal and very popular-as they
still are abroad-are FIRST mentioned in
1863. William III. declared them q pub
lie nuisance, excepting those held IN