The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-04-28
THE MAN WHO MADE MONTE CARLO.

traits Of the Man Whose Peculiar Enter
prise Ruined Thousands.
One evening In the days Of the second
empire a crowd of men were reading the
evening paper In salon in the Rue de Ri
voli.
"Ah," said one, breaking the silence,
$50 five millions are still wanted to finish
the new opera house."
A silent listener took up pen and fill
ed in and signed a check for that amount
without a word. By and by, when the
new opera house was finished, that silent
man was somehow the only person forgot
ten in the distribution Of seats for the
grand opening night.
Charles Monselet is responsible for this
curious little anecdote, the hero Of which
was Francois Blanc, director OF the Casino
of Monte Carlo. Blanc was man Of vast
ambition, born fnancier and admins
traitor, who might under certain condi-
tions, have been a Rothschild but who
lives in history as n mighty organizer of
gambling enterprise. and was really one
of the simplest of men. To see him in his
brown overcoat, his gold spectacles half
dropping off his nose, one would have TAX
en- him for petit RENTER, whose widest
dreams were of the construction Of n little
grotto in his little garden, with little plas-
ter rabbits, and a fountain which, like
Wemmick's, would almost wet the back
of ones hand
Before his Monte Carlo days he had been
the guiding spirit in the direction of the
Casino Of Homburg. Benazet, according
to his flatterers, was the Louis Quatorze
of Baden Baden. Blanc, who was imper-
vious to fattery, might with equal justice
Ia, Oh CoIhart - ,b,,rf
A hard headed, silent man Of bourgeois
exterior, man without enthusiasm and
weaknesses, who kept a lavish table and
ate sparingly, who directed huge gam
bling machine and permitted himself no
more exciting dissipation than a quiet
game of billiards after dinner. 1 have
heard 1t said in the Tattersall family that
old Dick, the founder of the historic cor
ner, never made bet of more than a pair
OF gloves in his life.
So Francois Blanc rose superior to the
attractions of his own table, despised
trente-et-quarante and was afraid of rou-
lette. What he was not afraid Of, how
ever, was spending money. To compass
his business ends he laid 1t out lavishly,
and he might, so they say, have been cred
tied with many acts Of genuine benevo-
lence and public spirit, whereof the story
of the opera house at Paris may serve as
an example.
After the war the glories Of Homburg
and Baden departed, and on their ruins
rose Monte Carlo. Monte Carlo was the
great, the crowning achievement OF Fran
oois Rianc's lifeLtie desert cape, which,
by mere force Of millions, he turned into
one of the most wonderful Of the gardens
of the Mediterranean littoral. But 1t was
not done without keen opposition. He
made the fortunes of the Nicols in spite OF
themselves. At every fresh opposition he
simply opened his purse, and the golden
shower fell in the sacred name of local in
terests. Nine. Blanc. the most excellent
of wives, was tower Of strength to him
Where questions of art and elegance
came in, hers was the directing spirit, ant
the good man, whose thoughts and tall
were of figures and finance, was content
that her taste should crown his work. Il
needed hard head to Withstand the at
tacks that were made upon him. Ever,
days post brought with it a hundred prop
ositions and threats. They were peopl,
who had lost their money and demanded
its return with fierce menaces-specula
tive and inventive people who proposed
combinations; there were even tempta
tions offered of the kind which assailet
the sainted Anthony, pitiful application
ant. warnings of intending suicides-plac'
and date carefully specified, SO that Their
should be no mistake.
Once, even at Monte Carlo, the Will
Blanc was actually assailed, aud two sery
ants were seriously wounded In its defense
But the equanimity of Francois Blanc wa
| equal to adventures. Threats, prayers, al
| \ a. l.. 4.