The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-12-12

rage, eager to see all that was to be
seen, I found, as all tourists do. much
to charm and delight But my thoughts
we're on the bonds had to sell, and
was glad enough when at O'Clock our
train drew into the depot at Frankfort
My reader will recall that payment
upon all United States bonds payable to
bearer, as mine were, could not be
stopped. and 80 far as the innocent hold
or was concerned he was perfectly Sc,
cure. But the custom among bankers
was, whenever any bonds were lost by
theft or fraud, to send out circulars con-
tanning the numbers, asking that any
parties offering them might be ques,
toned and held. But as American bonds
were sold In millions all over the con-
tinent, and were passing freely from
hand to hand. as a matter Of fact little
or no attention was paid to such circu-
lars; but, Of course, had strangers Of
direputable appearance offered bonds
in large sums the lists might have been
scrutinized and awkward questions
asked Therefore felt trifle nervous
and determined to run no chance Of los
ing my bonds, at least not all Of them.
So resolved to go to Wiesbaden, some
10 miles away, stop at some hotel under
different name, leave the bonds there,
and take the morning train for Frank
fort, conduct my negotiations, and re-
turn to Wiesbaden every evening. It
was at this time easy to lose ones iden-
tity in Wiesbaden, for the town then
was, along with Baden Baden, the
Monte Carlo Of the continent, and adj
venturers, men and women, from all
over Europe focked there in thousands
to chance their fortune in the gambling
halls Although little in advance Of
this portion Of my history, will here
relate an adventure Of mine there some
years after the period Of which / am
speaking
will, however, preface my narrative
with brief account Of the history of
the place. The city Of Wiesbaden, pre-
vious to the Franco-Prussian war Of
1870, was the chief town of one of those
petty principalities which were plenti-
fully sprinkled over the face Of Europe
Since the old Roman days the town had
been famous for its hot springs, and con-
sequently for its hot baths, and a good
many people-during the winter par
ticularly-resorted there to battle and
to drink the waters. As matter Of
course, the townspeople, as the custom
Of such places is, have recorded many a
marvellous cure, ranging all the way
from headache to hydrophobia- But still
the town was Of little Importance save
locally. The petty ruler, with a title
longer than his income, lived in the pre-
tentious castle, beguiling the time by
smoking cheap cigars or ordering ON
banquets whose piece de resistance con-
sisted Of gebratene gans und kartofeln,
the unlucky bird being tribute in kind
from the farmyard Of some peasant sub
ject living in miserable hut ON black
bread.
But a change was impending. A
mighty wizard had visited the place,
with an eye quick to see the possibii-
ties Of the situation, with a brain to
plan and hand to execute. His name
was Francois Blanc, the head Of the
great gambling establishment at HON.
burg. Vast as were his ambition and
achievements, he was man of the sim
plest tastes
To see him-as I often have-in his
seedy coat, his old fashioned spectacles
on the tip of his nose, one would have
taken him for country advocate whose
widest dreams were Of a practice Of
1000 thalers year, with an old gig
and wheezy mare to haul him around
the countryside from client to client.
Before his Wiesbaden days he had been
the guiding spirit in the direction of the
splendid gambling halls, the Casino at
Homburg. Blanc was impervious to
flattery-a hard headed, silent man,
man without enthusiasm and without
weaknesses, who kept a lavish table and
ate sparing.y himself, who had wine
cellar rivalinR that of the autocrat Of
all the Russias and yet contented him
self with slipping harmless mineral
water, who kept and directed huge
gambling machine mighty conglom-
GRAFTON Of gorgeously decorated halls,
wine parlors and music rooms, crammed
U0y oAu AASAo ny SAOuy 0AO CACAG0u
throngs, but himself never indulging in
anything more exciting than an after
dinner game Of dominos or quiet
drive with his wife through the country
lanes
Thus this Francois Blanc with per-
feet equanirnity watched the Thousand
thousands If butterflies and moths Of
society scorch their wings in the terrific
flame that glowed in his Casino, while
he looked o. cynical observer. despis-
ing the fools enraptured with roulette
and fascinated with rouge ct noir.
But one thing he was not afraid Of.
and that was spending money. To COM
pass his business ends he laid it out Law
ishly, and in the end he drew all Europe
to Wiesbaden. Still broader and still
deeper he laid the foundations Of the
fortune that ultimately grew to colossal
proportions But he did not make Wies-
baden famous without keen opposition.
He made the fortune Of the beggarly
Prince Karl and the whole hungry crowd
Of royal highnesses in spite of them