The herald., 1896-07-05

| the gorgeous paraphernalia.
| But to a look into the heart OF this
sarcastic little beauty, this petite crea-
| ture which is courted by the creme de
| creme of Europe and in return fiaunts
| their virtuous remonstrances back into
| their faces.
| In the midst of almost impossible COM
| binations of living and growing beauty
| IN the world of foliage cleaning whlteiy
| in the brilliant sunshine, stands the fa-
nous Casino, the greatest gampilng es
| tablshment in the world. surrounded
| by its retinue of restaurants, pawnsnop'
| etc, erected for its convenience. Ier-
raced gardens, tropical vegetation, rare
exotics, wonderful pathways through
| bowers of roses and geraniums-ail IN
all making up as near as seems possl-
| BILE to the imagination a veritabie gar
| den of Eden. Its grounds are monu-
ments of enormous expenditure ana pa
| tent, unremitting toll The soil IS en-
| tirey artificial, brought here by innhite
labor and expense; most OF the terraces
are cut from solid rock, and the veivety
grass covering the soil yields delight
full shade for the eyes. Lemon, orange,
lime and fig trees grow IN proluslon
here, with the prickly pear ana pains,
and myriads of flowers on all SIDES add
to the enchantment of the place. In the
winding paths leading to the retreats
where reflection is allowed indulgence.
more than one slave to the passion OF the
play has wandered to reVolVe IN MS
muddled brain how best to end 1t all.
Then there is way down to the sea
to quiet spots where the water is deep
and still-which have played the finale
in the drama of many life driven to
seek the silent shelter and confide its
troubles to the element which never be-
trays them.
The heart and soul-the essence of
Monte Carlo-is this Casino. In the
-ten Il
hum. sort of background of sound;
the whirring of the implements of the
game, the subdued conversation the
cold, mechanical voices of the dealers
announcing results
Upon one side of the hall is a splen-
did panel painting representing Morn
ing" in the shape of a beautifully exc
cuted female figure with the appropriate
contempt for superfluous artificial integ-
ument, for such surroundings; on the
opposite side-a priceless conception of
Evening" similarly costumed. Above
the long array of tables or counters
through the length of the hall hang dec
Grated lamps for the convenience of the
patrons: the seats are nearly always
occupied during the busy hours. The
carved ceilings, the lavish surroundings
within produce strange effect upon the
the visitor, when he reflects upon the
cause of it ALL Nobody sees him. though
The most distinct sounds in the Casino
are the voices of the operators Some
times the result is against them, but only
for a time. The ethics (and policy of
the place forbid heotation in paying
dues. AS they pour over the shining
gold to the winner. not tremor is visible
in face or manner The dealer knows
that eventually he will have it back
again, and permanently too. / is simply
loan of short duration and large in
terest yield-a human soul sometimes
floats away with the last franc; and the
security-the fascination of the game.
Nulgarity is exception here; the pro-
ductions of Worth and Virot and their
brother artists in the service of woman
KIND. are seen here in a majority. Loud
and boisterouS conversation seldomroc-
ours. The refinement visible in this gath
ering is not of the gloss or tawdry order
only the incongruity of the surround
ings detracts from it. Familiarities
which take place in this society during
the progress of the game never assert
themselves when from under the spell
The dangers of the play form a bond OF
Freemasonry between the participants.
md Liberties in address and conversa-
uon are taken unconsciously which
would at other times bring flush of in
dignation or blow, yet now are unno-
ticed.
over there, just beside Jew blazing
with diamonds, who is directing the play
of two women, evidently mother and
daughter, sits an old Russian, bearing
the decorations of nobility upon his
breast and the deep lines of experience
upon his face. With features set like
iron he is watching the coming result.
Now the wheel begins to slow-slower-
sloWer-then it stops. The rouge is call
ed; that turn of the wheel had carried
with it to the immovable old man that
which WOIlll have phanoa1 the
of some lives.
Next to him sat richly attired wom-
an, her face flushed under the glare of
the lamps Still young, with handsome.
patrician features and of refined bear
ing. In company with her was Ger
man. evidently of the most cultivated
type. Both were intently watching a
little ivory bal just started swirling
around a small amphitheater in the out
fit before them. The centrifugal motion
kept the little sphere from rolling down
the santing interior. But gradually
the motion slackened; it began to de-
Vlate-like the pure life from its original
straight course, when confronted with
unrecognized emptations-began to de-
viate from its track; it hesitated sheered
little as the erring footsteps do for a
moment when a sorrowful reproach
from some beloved source reaches the
memory of the Observation-Disclosures
uncertainly-then it staggered-touch-
ed one of the pins-and as the good angel
with sob of sorrow-no, I mean a groan
of grief and misery-broke from the
tightly closed aristocratic lips of the
woman, as the ball. buffeted to and fro
by the obstacles in its path, finally roll
ed into a depression on which was writ
ten misfortune. Her companion also
lost, and more heavily. and his eyes,
bloOdshot with late hours and dissipa-
ton. CLEANED redly with suppressed
rage and disappointment.
AS the night draws on the excite
ment grows and the endurance weakens.
The garsh light discloses pallid faces
and eyes glittering with the fever of the
play. The spell is on in its full power.
1t possesses even the experienced hab-
itues of the place. for the spirit of the
game is as essential to the mental bal
ing outcast a thing which few hours
before might seem trivial, now would
create a tragedy. And tragedy does
play it's part here. Sometimes the deal
ers and old habitues perceive it's pre-
monitory symptoms, and for few mo-
ments they are reused a little from their
cold Indifference and composure to
watch the fateful procession of events.
A CHASTITY face, trembling hand, wide
open eyes staring fiXedly at the fatal
mechanism which will in a few seconds
tell its secret. There is no middle
ground. If the result be against the
house the color comes back to the corpse
like face for little; but the end is most
frQoupptlV uot far off He iS too far