The sun., 1895-05-19

Carlo Casino dependent TO any considerable
extent upon italian patrons, 10 would have
70 close its doors. As 1t is, the managers OF
the gambling house have seriously discussed,
1t seema, the expediency Of closing 1t during
the summer months, because at that period
American tourists are usually to be found
in Paris, Switzerland, or the French water
ing places, while Enslishmon - rule do
not leave their island until the London
season is over. It II said, also, that during
the warm weather severe competition exists
at Aix-les-Bsins Ostend, Dinsrd, and other
summer resorts.
The other cause to which 10 imputed tho
decline in the fortunes Of Monte Carlo oper-
stes during the winter, which IL the most
lucrative season Of the year. We refer to
the fact that at that time the rooms arc
inconveniently crowded, and, for the most
part, by persons who contribute but little
or nothing to the income Of the establish
ment. From the opening of the gambling
house at noon until the closing Of 1t at IL p.
M. the rouge ct notr and roulette tables are
surrounded by serried ranks Of onlookers,
three or four deep, the majority OF whom
have no intention Of risking dollar on the
chances of the games. The presence Of these
detrimentals prevents many persons pre-
pared to risk large sums from getting close
enough to the tables to play with any ease
or comfort, Consequently, those prospective
customers go away Disguised, to the mani
fest disadvantage of the bank. Another
thing that tends to discourage serious play
ers is the constantly increasing number Of
well-dressed rogues, male and female, who
do not play themselves, but purloin the
stakes of the players. Incessant are the
complaints provoked by such petty larcenies,
but no resoluto or effective efforts are made
to restrain the stake stealers.
Particularly offensive to tho admins
tration is the exclusion OF players for high
stakes by the practised and cool-headed
punters whose modest purpose is simply to
make q living out of the games. These men,
we are told, never risk more than dollar,
and invariably leave the tables after win
ming or losing about ten dollars, not to re-
turn until the following day. They are not
believers in infallible systems; they simply
play waiting game, relying on the
doctrine of averages, and their operations
are said to be, as Q rule, successful,
owing mainly to their infeNible adherence
to their plan Of going away immediately
after winning or losing certain sum.
They dart into the rooms the moment the
clock strikes twelve, manage to secure
seats, and, when they retire, generally have
friends behind them who slip into the va
Gated chairs, and thus keep away the richer
patrons whom the bank is anxious to at
tract. All previous attempts at barring
out these improbable visitors have proved
unavailing, and recently it has been sug-
gested that an admission fee of dollar
should be charged This proposal has been
rejected by tho managers on the ground
that 1t would tend to restrict the company
to professional gamblers, whereas. II all
well-dressed persons are allowed to enter
the rooms q certain proportion Of them will
succumb to temptation.
Even were gambling to be abolished, or
voluntarily given up, at Monte Carlo, the
place would be still frequented, for nature
has done much for it, and art more. There
are few summer watering places on the
Continent moro fashionable than is HON.
burg. although it is many years since public
gambling was tolerated there, and were the
Casino founded by M. BLANC to be closed
tomorrow, Monte Carlo would continue to
be highly favored winter resort. But the
extinction Of gambling there seems distant,
when we observe that, notwithstanding the
decline in receipts complained of, the rev.
enue OF the Casino Company last year ex-
which originally cost SO apiece, now COM
mand upward of $425 on the Paris Stock
Exchange.