Evening star., 1898-12-03
MONTE CARLO.
The Tragedy and Humor often wit-
nessed at the Casino.

trum the Judgate Magazine.
The large sums that are carried away
from here are very few and far between:
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 moderate prices: but
all within the walls Of the all-absorbing
Casino. Very few can resist the mag
netism of play. II you win even a small
sum you feel obliged to continue; IL YOU
lose you wish TO regain. and so Il goes on
hth uhth IN the end you have dropped more
than you can well afford and are Obliged
10 retire a sadder but wiser man or wo-
man. with the option Of applying 10 the
Casino authorities for the wherewithaI TO
return home (this request is never refused
a player who has losD.
An evening, or even afternoon in tho
rooms is study for a lifetime The iude-
scrioaoie air OF doubt, deathy stiffness,
pervades every apartment: the strained
look OF even the onlookers the peculiar
dense atmosphere. the sickening ouor OF
scent (mingling with even worse). a queen
OF the demi-monde shoulder TO shoulder
with an English duchess Cdemocratism pre-
Nalls here to an excessive degree). is a
Observation-Disclosures picture. Watch the
races OF the tnveterate gamblers who pass
their time between this den of vice and
Ostend. Interested in nothing but the roll
OF the bali or the turn of the card forget
ting entirely beautiful nature outside hav-
ing no other thought but of play and sleep
probably induced by artificial means, the
haggard look and sunken eye the trem-
bling 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 congratulation from her immediats
neighbor, the extremely friendly crouDier
who only too well knows that she will re-
turn again and leave what she has gained,
ana more besides-it is all a study, The
dense crush of humanity, the heat the in
tense excitement. the magnificent Jewels
ana costumes-one is more than satiated;
Tor the outsider 1t becomes nauseous
You leave the rooms with a sense of on
preston and glad to breathe the pure air OF
heaven again and gaze upon the beauties
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 occur there
IS Always an interesting study in tone.
Strange To say, one never has the feeling
of being a a seaside place in Monte Carlo
There is an utter lack of the briny or eN-
hharatlng effect of salt water, and but for
the boundless horizon of the Mediterranean
you might as easily imagine yourself at
either AK les Bains Spa But for the Oc-
caslona visits Of private yachts there is
scarcely ever a sail to be seen and never
there is never sense Of isolation in any
way, and the charming little place is al
ways brfmming over with gayety, always
crowded with the very creme of society OF
all countries-great celebrities jostle each
other. and pretty and smart women pre-
dominate. .
Monte Carlo to be thoroughly appreciated
and properly studied should be visited mora
than once, and then for a longer stay Tha
general public. who have run over there
for a 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 a Rock
are not always to be considered. / one day
overheard guide to party of exceedingly
slmple-looking Germans-the usual tourist
lot, side-elastic boots, etc-telling them
Gentlemen, here is the celebrated Casino,
the gambling hell of the world; daily men
and women are ruined and duped at the ta-
Dles. The most selected spot for suicide is
Just to your left under the palm trees; al
though you Will find no bodies there now
IN the morning plenty will be carried away.
II you wish to enter, gentlemen. do So L
shall await you at the cafe opposite" Ii
was all too comical for words but such is
the general idea conceived of one Of the
most charming and fascinating spots in the
world.