The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-13

true MonegasqUe. Sometimes a trades
man that has the passion for play viii
enter the rooms on that day with the en-
tire savings of the year. that ne may
try his luck at the temple Of fortune.
Strangers are given cards of admission
to the casino. with the simple request
that they he renewed at the expiration of
a certain time. They then have access to
the concerts. the reading rooms and the
play rooms. When neither the opera nor
theater are al Monte Carlo. for which one
must pay from 10 francs up, according to
the talent there are generally two free
concerts day. In fact there are 125 mu-
sicians employed by the casino. The
reading-TOoms are Tit by electricity and
oil lamps There are sixteen writing
desks abundantly supplied with the ca
sinO stationery. and the tables are COW
cred with the daily newspapers in all the
languages of Europe. besides the maya
zines and weekly papers Of all nations.
In the play rooms the saying is that
one never knows how much the rest OF
the world CANDLES until he goes 10 Monte
Carlo, and no other place where gambling
Is sanctioned IS so we'll conducted No
smoking. eating or drinking is allowed.
and for the slightest disturbance one
would have mis- card of admission taken
away. The bank is a stock company with
a capital of ESQ 600 The stock sells
when the bank is spoken OF as being
broken that the whole company has come
10 grief. while in reality IL is simply one
table that has run out of funds and
must suspend payment until IL has sent
for more money. \ little black flag is
raised by the table when the bank is
broken.
The bank of Monte Carlo is not with
out Christian charity. and in eases where
il is known that people have laid all
their money on the tables. will give them
sufficient means 70 return to their own
homes. The bank also has its pensioners.
There is one old gentleman VINO was once
a wealthy citizen of Monte Carlo. He
beggared himself at play. The bank now
gives him a yearly income on which he
lives modestly and allows him beside a
little extra money that ne may have a
chance to recover his lost fortune.
Among the English that return TO
Monte Carlo every season one family is
notable. The husband has the passion
for play. From his estates in England
he has an income of $4,000 a year. OF
which the greater part is laid on the ia
bles- Sometimes he wins heavily. and
for this great delight he is willing at
other times 10 become almost impOver-
ished. a faithful old nurse of the fam
lily was sent away last winter when she
requested that her wages should be rais-
ed two pounds a year.
In all 1890 people are employed TO run
the Casino and gardens. which is
! good field of labor for the Monegasques-
/ There are forty hotels in Monte Carlo.
and the best shops of London and Paris
1 are represented there during the season
At these places the prices are. very high;
| for those that are en- vein, as the saying
| is, viii rush out and spend their winnings
most eXtravagantly, in knowing fun well
haf Z hey 4 r,rr+ fle -
| their hands they win lay it back again
I on the tables. It is possible, however, to
/ get great bargains with the turn Of the
tide. when the people will sell for almost
/ anything their former purchases.
/ Even the poorest at Monte Carlo drink
/ wine, and while there are many fOun-
( tains 70 add beauty to the place, a
/ drinking cup is never seen
So things go in this land Of sunshine
/ and flowers.