Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-08-16

1870, was the chief town OF one Of those
petty principalities which were plenti-
fully sprinkled over the fnco Of Europe
Since tho old Roman days the town had
been famous for its hot springs and con-
sequently for its hot baths, and good
many people---during the winter par
acknowledgements there TO battle and
to drink the waters. As matter Of
course, the townspoople, as tho custom
Of such places ~, have recorded many q
marvellous euro, ranging all the why
from headache to hydrophobin But still
tho town was Of little importance save
locally The potty ruler, with title
longer than his income, lived in the pro-
tentious castle, beguiling tho time by
smoking cheap cigars or ordering ON
banquots whose piece dc resistance con-
sisted Of gebratone gans md knrtoffoln,
the unlucky bird being tribute In kind
from the farmyard Of some peasant sub
ject living in a miserable hut ON black
bread.
But n change WAS impending, A
mighty wizard had visited the place,
with an eye quick TO see the possibli-
tics Of the situation, with brain to
plan and hand TO execute. His nnmo
was Francois Blanc, tho head Of the
great gambling establishment at HON
burg Vast as were his ambition and
achievements, he was man of tho sim
plost tastes.
10 SEQ him--as often hnvo-in his
soedy coat, his old fashioned spectaclcs
on tho tip Of his nose ono would have
taken him for a country advocate whose
widest dreams were of Il practice Of
1000 thalers a year with an old gig
and wheezy mare to haul him around
the countryside from client 10 client
Before his Wicsbadon days no had been
| the guiding spirit in the direction Of the
splendid gambling halls, the Casino at
| Homburg, Blanc was imperviouB to
hnttery--a hard headed, silent man,
muu without enthusiasm and without
weaknesses, who kept a lavish table and
alto sparingly himself, who had n wine
cellar rivalinR that Of the nutocrat Of
| all the Russias and yet confronted him
self with slipping u harmless mineral
water, who kept and directed u huge
| gambling machine mighty comglom-
Grafton of gorBoously decorated halls,
| wine plrlnrs and music rooms, crammod
day aud night by giddy and excited
thrungs, but himself novor indulging in
anything more exciting than an after
/ dinner game az dominos or quiet
drive with his vito through tho country
lanes.
Thus this Francois Blanc with per.
| y 4
thousands Of butterflies and moths Of
society scorch their wings in the terrific
flame that glowed In his Casino, whlo
| he looked on cynical observer, dcspis-
ing tho fools onrapturOd with roulette
and fascinated with rouge ct noir.
But ono thing he was not afraid Of,
| and that was spending money. 10 come
| pass his business ends he laid IL out lay.
ishly, aud in the ond lac drow all Europe
to Wicsbaden Sull broader and still
deeper no laid the foundations Of tho
fortune that ultimately grow to colossal
proportions But he did not mako Wies,
baden famous without koon opposition.
He made the fortune Of the hoggarly
Prince Karl and the whole hungry crowd
Of royal highncssos in spite Of them
selves, At every fresh opposition no
simply opened his purse and golden
shower foil ON thom,
It required a hard head to Withstand
the attacks made ON him when il boz
came known that no had bought up
both prince and municipality and pro-
posed to make Wiesbadon par excellence
tho gambling city Of the continent. But
despite OF all, he pushed on his plans TO
wonderful success. A great park was
laid out and stately buildings arose, all
dedicated to the goddess of chance. Slim
was the chance the votaries Of the game
had in his gorgeous halls. He threw out
his money In millions hut he knew tho
weak, foolish heart OF man, the ogotim
OF each and every ono Of us, that leads
us to ignore for ourselves the immuta-
bio law Of numbers So he counted up.
on his returns, and never counted IN
vain.
AS | say, he had hard head to with
stand tho attacks made upon him Ev.
cry day the post brought hundreds Of
letters containing propositions or threats
from people who had lost their money
and demanded its return with fierce
threats, pitiiul supplicaticns and warn
ings of intended suicide, place. date and
hour carefully specified, so thore could
ho no mAtake, and moro than one at
tempt was made upon his life. But tho
equanimity Of Francois Blanc was equal
to all adventures Threats, prayers.
temptations, left him untouched. This
man OF ice, self possessed, cold, indiifer.
ent 10 the ruin Of tho thousands OF vic.
Tins of his win, had u fad or a fancy
1t was for raising rod and white roses,
and while the mad throngs werp fuster.
ing in frenzy around the tables in his
halls at Hoiuburg, wiesbadon and Monte
Carlo he, hoe OF trowel in hand. would
be training and transplanting his roses,
solicitous over nm opening bud or de-
ploring the ravages OF an insect, or,
again, refusing all Invitations, no would
sit down with his wife TO dinner Of
boiled turnips and bacon, washed down
with q glass OF vichy water and milk
This was tho town and these the scenes
constantly occurring there.
Now for my adventure In 1870, Just
before tho warclord burst, covering all
that part OF tho world, was stopping
for some wooiss al the Hotel Nassau. II
stands In the main street, opposite the
park gate leading to the Casino All tho
| world MANI o., kktcahaln,, g.. ~.