The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-06-05
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A TRUE STORY or The PRlN-
ClPALlTY OF MONACO.

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on the shores OF the Mediterranean
there lies between France and Italy
the little kingdom of Monaco. 1t mum
bers fewer inhabitants than large
Nillage-in all 1000 and is In extent
so contracted as not to boast more than
double that number of acres. But, on
the other hand, 1t has real prince
who possesses II palace, has court,
ministers, bishops, generals and an
army-not, to be sure, large army, GO
men, still nm army-nor Is the revenue
large Duties are indeed, as elsewhere,
imposed upon Wine, alcohol aud tobac-
co; but, although the people conscien-
tiously drink and smoke there are not
enough oRs them, and the prineeling
Moall certainly be unable TO feed his
eourtiers and himself had he not the
special resource of Il gambling house.
There people lose or gain, as the ease
may be, but the keeper always profits
and therefore pays heavy dues 10 the
princeling. He can we'll afford TO do so,
as his establishment Is In Europe
unique Similar places formerly exist
ed In some of the German principals
ties, but years ago on account of fire.
queut catastrophes they We're suppress.
ed, \ player, carried away by excite
ment, would lose all his own money
and sometimes even TINT of others and
then commit sui, idu 80 tie Germans
forbade their little princes TO keep
gambling houses, bat no one could for
bid the potentate of Monaco, and that
is why he has monopoly.
Therefore all the lovers of trcntc ct
quarante rush to his kingdom and for
his benefit despoil themselves. Hon
est toll does not enrich" says the Rus
Sian proyerb. The princeling knows
that the spring from which he drains Is
impure but what can he do1 It would
not he more honest to Increase his In
come by raising the duties on alcohol
and tobacco. man must live. So the
princeling relgns In peace, makes mon
ey and, like real sovereign. lives sur
rounded by courtly ceremonial. lie re
wards, Furnishes. reviews his troops,
holds councils and promulgatrs laws,
Just like other rulers, only ON n smaller
scale.
Now, some years since a serious
event took place in the kingdom.
murder was committed The inhablt
ants OF Monaco are peaceable folk, and
nothing of the sort had ever before tax
en- place among them The judges met
and, as was proper. set about judging,
All was done according to rule-public
prosecutor. lawyer. jury, long and con
sclentious debates. Then. In accord
ance with the law. they condemned the
assassin to death. So far, SO good. The
sentence was submitted to the prince
ling. aud after his ratification all that
remained to be done was to execute 1t.
But an impeachment presented Itself.
The country possessed neither guillo-
tine nor executloner
After mature consideration II WAS de.
cidcd that 10 obtain the loan OF a mas
terly cutter off of heads, together with
his apparatus. the French government
should be addressed and that at the
same time inquiry as to the cost Of the
move should be made Eight days lat
er the answer was received. The
French government consented TO send
the gulllotlne and the executioner. As
to the expenses, they would amount to
10000 francs.
The matter was referred 10 the
princeling. His majesty thought the as
sassin was not worth that price. Six
teen thousand francs for the neck Of
rascal! All. no, indeed! 1t would In
that case be necessary to Increase by
francs yearly the taxes Of each citizen
The people might resist.
A council was held. and 1t was decld.
ed to address the same request TO The
king Of Italy France Is a republic
and republics do not respect CTsars,
but the King of Italy, brother, might
be less extortionate. The reply was
immediate. For the consideration OF
1900 francs, which would also cover
the expense OF transportation, the ltaI-
Ian government declared its willing
ness to lend the apparatus and special.
lst
This was cheaper, but yet too heavy
nm expense to incur for such a wretch
1t would still be necessary to tax The
citizens Again the council met. At
great length they debated as to how
the matter might be more economically
ncttlcd Why could not they employ a
native soldier and bchcad the rascal
al tGmeI
The general was consulted. lie quite
properly might order one OF his war
riors to cut off the head, since that Is
their trade. and, after all, what else Is
war? The general spoke 10 bis men
but one and all refused to perform the
task NO sir" said they. We have
not had sufficient practice"
What could be donef They reflected
and yet again held council a com
mittee was formed. a commission and
subcominlsslon 4 way was found
for the death penalty must he substi