The times., 1898-11-13
WICKED MONTE CARLO.
The Tragedy and HumOr of the
Cuaino
(From the Ludrate Nag

ltrom the Ludgate Magdzinc.)
The large sums that are carried away
from here are very few and far betwe en-;
generally what is won in one day is lost
the next There are no amusements of
any kind. The administration looks after
this detail with admirable judgment:
everything is absolutely concentrated in
the Casino. This is the magnet pur ct
simple. You have delightful concerts free
of charge, theatrical performances with
the very best of talent at extremely mod
crate prices; but all within the walls of
the all-absorbing Casino. Very few can
resist the magnetism of play. If you win
even small sum you feel obliged to con-
tinue; IL you lose you wish to regain, and
so it goes on until in the end you have
dropped more than you can we'll afford,
and are obliged to retire a sadder but
wiser man, or woman, with the option Of
applying to the Casino authorities for the
wherewithal to return home (this request
is never refused player who has lost)
An evening, or even afternoon. in the
rooms is a study for a lifetime. The in
describable air of dou6t deathly stiffness.
pervades every apartment; the strained
look of even the onlookers. the peculiar.
dense atmosphere. the sickening odor of
scent (mingling with even worsel. a queen
of the demi-monde shoulder TO shoulder
with an English duchess (democratism
prevails here to an excessive degree), is
neVer-to-be-forgotten picture. Watch
the faces of the lnveterate gamblers who
pass their time between this den of vice
and Ostend. Interested In nothing but the
roll of the ball or the turn of the card.
forgetting entirely beautiful nature out
side, having no other thought but of play
and sleep, probably induced by artificial
means the haggard look and sunken eye.
the trembling hand, all tell their tale. The
pleased smile of the fair young English
bride as she arises from her place at the
table. the smile of congratuation from
her immediate neighbor, the extremely
friendly croupier, who only too well knows
that she will return again and leave what
she has gained and more besides-it IS
all study The dense crush of humanity,
the heat. the intense excitement. the mag
nificent jewels and costumes-one is more
| than satiated; for the outsider 1t becomes
nauSeous.
You leave the rooms with a sense of op-
preston and glad to breathe the pure air
of heaven again and gaze upon the beau
ties of nature which God has provided in
such magnificent abundance. For the
/ beauties of this spot are endless; sea and
sky are constantly changing. Even on
| gray or gloomy days, which very rarely
study in tone. Strange to say, one never
! has the feeling of being at a seaside place
| in Monte Carlo. There is an utter lack
of the briny or exhilarating effect of salt
water, and but for the boundless horizon
! of the Mediterranean you might as easily
| imagine yourself at either AK les Bains
or Spa. But for the occasional visits of
private yachts there is scarcely ever a
sail to be seen, and never passing steam
ars or ba 1attt s-fIl har ie
| sense of isolation in any way and the
| charming little place is always brimming
over with gayety, always crowded with
| the very creme of society of all countries
great celebrities jostle each other, and
pretty and smart women predominate.
Monte Carlo. to be thoroughly appre-
ciated and properly studied, should be
visited more than once, and then for 4
| longer stay. The general public who
have a run over there for week or ten
| days and lose a hundred or two on which
they expected to amuse themselves on
their return to Paris, and then storm
against the Hell on Rock" are not al
ways to be considered. l one day over
heard guide to party of exceedingly
simple-looking Germans-the usual tour
ist lot, side-elastic boots, etc.-tel them,
Gentlemen, here is the celebrated Cast
no. the gambling hell of the world. daily
men and women are ruined and duped at
the tables. The most selected spot for
suicide is just to your left, under the
pam trees; although you will find no
bodies there now, in the morning plenty
will be carried away. If you wish to en-
ter gentlemen, do so. ] shall await you
at the cafe opposite 1t was all too COM
ical for words. but such is the general
idea conceived of one of the most charm
ing and fascinating spots in the world.