The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-11

pie who have wagered on the red are
paid the amount OF their stake. while
those whose money was on black lose.
II any one has placed his money ON
the number seventeen he Is paid thir-
ty-six times the amount he wa9ered.
There are many different ways OF plac-
ing the money. 1t may be put on .
space at the foot of any tier Of twelve
numbers. In which case q person 10 paid
those numbers Is called. Or he may
place IL on the dividing line Of four
numbers, in which case his winnings
are nine times his stake. Most OF the
play, however, is made simply red or
black. as in this way given sum will
last longer and thus give the gamblers
more time at the tables. but which
ever way he plays he Is certain In the
long run to lose, and for this reason.
whenever the ball falls into the COM
partment bearing the cipher. which
III naturally happen once In thirty
ven times, the croupier rakes in all
the money placed on the board. II is
this seemingly small percentage In
their favor which enables the company
to maintain the superb rooms, to pay
the expenses of the principality Of
Monaco, and to declare large dividends
to their stock holders. For them 1t Is
very safe business for they Nake
practically no risk.
BREAKING THE BANK.
The man who broke the bank al
Monte Carlo does not exist. What is\
known as breaking the bank Is this:
At the beginning of each days play q
certain sum is placed on each table.
1t sometimes happens that by an ex-
traordinary run of luck, a player wins
all of this sum, and, of course. what
the bank has won from other players
at that table. during the day. In case
such a thing happens. which 1t very
rarely does that table is simply closed
for the day, but the play goes on at
all the other tables just the same. 1t
rarely happens,s however, that the man
who has succeeded In this pseudo
"breaking the bank" has the resolution
to keep away from the tables, and the
next day Is usually the banks turn.
The highest sum that can be wagered
In one stake at the roulette tables IL
six thousand francs, the lowest, five
francs. In another room, however, are
two tables known as the gold tables.
where only gold or bank-bills may be
wagered, and at which the stakes may
run as high as twelve thousand francs.
The game at these tables is trente-
et-quarante. but 1t Is not as popular as
roulette, which is the game at which
most Of the people play.
WATCHING THE PLAYERS.
1t Is very interesting to watch the
| faces of the players. Most Of them
keep a record of the winning numbers
| on little cards printed especially for
that purpose, under the delusion that In
| that way they are able to tell what
numbers are likely to come afterwards.
OF course the fact OF a number having
won once can have no bearing on the
probability of its winning again, but 1t
is hard to convince these people OF
that fact.
We hear a great deal Of the terrible
| faces one sees at the tables Of Monte
Carlo, but truth compels us to admit
that as usual thing the losers take
their losses philosophically. In fact.
the most of them have the appearance
of being able to afford 1t, and great
many of the people who frequent the
place know perfectly well that the
chances are against them, and only
take certain sum with them each day
and If that sum is lost, play no longer.
Not every one has the will power to do
this, however, and in that lies the evil
of the place, for the largest fortune Is
sure to melt away i'm time If its possess
| SOr stays long enough III tne tdult.
In addition to watching the tables
| the visitor can hear an excellent con-
cert, given by one of the best orches-
tras in the magnificent concert hall.
This is all absolutely free to him, and
1t Is probable that a great many peo-
pie are led to make their first play at
the table with the feeling that they
would like to pay something for the
concert, which is such a one as We
would pay, a couple of dollars to hear
in America. If they lose they are safe,
but If they win it will take all their
will power to prevent them going on
playing such Is the fascination of the
game.
TO CHARGE ADMISSION.
Next year it Is proposed to abolish
the free entrance plan, and to sell sea-
son tickets for one hundred francs. II
| this Is done it will be an excellent thing
! for the man who would pay one hun
dred francs, or twenty dollars, for the
privilege of gambling there would be
! very likely to be able to stand the losses.
! The most terrible thing now about the
place Is that the facilities for entrance
being SO easy, a great many people Of
moderate means are lead to start on
a course which usually ends in their
utter ruin, too often giving them q
place in that little plot of ground which
Is the best argument against Monte
Carlo the suicides cemetery.
Winford j. Northup.