Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-10

divnation known to these orientals, he
worked out the probable result of the first
turn of the wheel for the next afternoons
play. Much annoyed, later on, at all the ex-
element the tale caused and by the solicit
tations to do it again" that came to him
from all sides, the Cambodian prince made
light of the whole affair, trying to turn 1t
off in joke.
And Is there an animal for each num-
Der of the roulette wheel?" they would ask
him.
"Oh. yes" he would answer.
And what was the beast? And how did
you spot him?"
How He Knew 1t.
at was the lobster" the prince answered
one of his tormentors, land 1 knew 1t be-
cause lobster salad had kept me awake the
night before"
Another and less occult reason why the
Cambodians are willing to have the winning
beast chosen by a president instead of be-
ing designed by mechanical chance was
given to me by another member of the
Cambodian troupe of the exhibition.
There is always certain possibility OF
cheating in all games of chance said this
philosopher. DO you think the turn of the
roulette wheel need be always fair? Why.
there are experts in Cambodia who can
throw the ball into any of the thirty-six
compartments they please, and, If what l
hear in Paris be true, such experts also
exist at Monte Carlo. Now, cheating for
cheering, if there is any cheating go ng
think it Is fairer that the public should get
a chance at it now and then. At Pnom-Penh
you can buy tips on the presidents decision
1 am not prepared to assert that the hon
orable old gentleman gives them out; but 1t
is fact that they often turn out to be
good tips.
"And how does it differ from horse rae
ing in your own country? On your race
tracks everybody is betting on some tip or
other, some sure information as to which
horse is certain win Is If thought dis
honorable? Not at ALL So it is with the
presidents decision of the winning beast.
Remember that the old man chooses the
winner the day before the people buy their
tickets. Sealed up in an envelopes pic
ture of the lucky animal is sent by sure
| messenger to each and every gambling CEN
ter of the country. When the messenger
arrives in the town or village he delivers
| the envelope to the concessionary This
| latter has a fixed commission. so he can
| ford to be perfectly honest He attaches
| the envelope to the top of a pole in a pub
lie place The people gather round. At the
| consecrated hour-usually O'Clock in the
cool of the evening-the signal is given.
and one of the most agile boys climbs up
| the pole and tears off the envelope.
"'Who wins?' the people cry.
| 1.-The oyster, or the elephant or what
| ever it may be. The word crculates from
| these nearest to the outer throngs Then,
| later. every may view the stamped
picture of the winner that has come from
PnomP PENN, the capital. 1t is perfectly
| fair
1t would be perfectly fair if one could
be assured that the president-that hon
| orabe old man"-did not give out the tip
| to his friends of the royal family, that
| little by little they manage to suck up all
the wealth of their confidng people This
is what the French resident declares to be
| the case.
| Trust me-" says the old King Norodom;
II am your king and your father. If run
| the game you need have no fear"
| Trust me-" says the French resident. 81
represent the protectorate, and l am your
protector. If l run the game you need
| have no fear"
And there the matter rests. But certainly
it is well-protected people.
| STERLING HELLO