The herald., 1898-11-10
MONTE CARLO
The Tragedy and Humor of the
Casino

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; every
thing 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 magnetism
of play. If you win even small sum you
feel obliged to continue; if you lose, you
wish to regain, and SO it goes, or until in the
end you have dropped more than you can
well afford, and are obliged to retire a sad
der but wiser man or woman, with the op-
ton 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
room is study for lifetime. The indie
scribable air of doubt, deathly stiffness,
! pervades every apartment; the strained
look of even the on-lookers, the peculiar
dense atmosphere, the sickening odor of
scent (mingled with even worse), queen
of the demimonde shoulder to shoulder
with an English duchess (democratism pre-
walls here to an excessive degree), is never
to-be-forgotten picture. Watch the faces
of the inveterate gamblers who pass their
time between this den of vice and Ostend.
Interested in nothing but the roll of the
ball or tile turn of the card, forgetting en-
tirely beautiful nature outside, having no
other thought but of play, and sleep, prob
ably induced by artificial means, the hag-
gard 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 con-
graduation 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 excite
ment, the magnificent jewels and costumes
-one is more than satiated; for the out
slider it becomes nauseous.
You leave the room with a sense of op-
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 at seaside place in Monte Carlo
There is an utter lack of the briny or ex
hlarating 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 sail to be seen, and never
passing steamer or other craft; but still
there is never a sense of isolation in any
way, and the charming little place is always
crowded with the very creme of society of
all countries. Great celebrities jostle each
other and pretty and smart women predom-
mate.
Monte Carlo to be thoroughly appreciated
and properly studied should be visited more
than once and then for longer stay The
general public, who have a run over there
for week or ten days and lose hundred or
two on which they expected to amuse them
selves on their return to Paris and then
storm against the "Hell on Rock" are not
always to be considered. / one day over
heard guide to party of exceedingly sim
ple-looking Germans 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 ia
bles. 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.
If you wish to enter, gentlemen, do SO; l
shall await you at the cafe opposite
1t was too comical for words. but sucb is
the general idea conceived of one of the
most charming spots in the world.-Lud.
gate Magazine.