Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-06-24
"A Fortunate
R@CriminAl.
A TRUE STORY OF THE PRIN-
CIPAliTY OF MONACO.

o*oxo*o*o#o*o*o*oxoxoxoxo*O .
On the shores Of the Mediterranean
there lies between France and Italy
the little Kingdom Of Monaco. 1t num-
bers fewer inhabitants than large
yillage-in all 7,0OO-and Is in extent
double that number of acres. But, on
the other hand, 1t has a real prince
who possesses a palace, has court,
ministers, bishops, generals and an
army-not, to be sure, n large army, 60
men, still an army-nor Is the revenue
large. Duties are indeed, rs elsewhere,
imposed upon wine, alcohol and tobac-
co; but, although the people conscien-
tiously drink and smoke, there are not
enough OF them, and the princeling
would certainly be unable TO feed his
courtiers and himself had he not the
special resource Of a gambling house.
There people lose or gain, as the case
may be- but the keeper always profits
and therefore pays heavy dues to the
princeling. He can well afford to do so,
as his establishment Is In Europe
unique. Similar places formerly exist
ed in some Of the German principali-
ties, but years ago on account Of fire.
quent catastrophes they were suppress
ed. A player, carried away by excite
ment, would lose all his own money
and sometimes even that Of others and
then commit suicide. So the Germans
forbade their little princes to keep
gambling houses, but no one could for
bid the potentate of Monaco, and that
is why he has q monopoly.
Therefore all the lovers of trente ct
quarante rush to his kingdom and for
his benefit despoll 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 do? 1t would
not be more honest to increase his In
come by raising the duties on alcohol
and tobacco. A man must live. So the
princeling reigns In peace, makes mon
ey and, like a real sovereign, lives sur
rounded by courtly ceremonial. He re-
wards, Furnishes, reviews his troops,
holds councils and promulgates laws,
just like other rulers, only on a smaller
scale.
Now, some years since serious
event took place in the kingdom. A
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-
ance with the law, they condemned the
assassin TO death. So far, so good. The
sentence was submitted to the prince
ling, and after his ratification all that
remained to be done was to execute 1t.
But an impedlment presented itself.
The country possessed neither guillo.
tine nor executioner.
After mature consideration It was de-
cided that to 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 guillotine and the e1ecutiOner. As
to the expenses, they would amount to
10000 francs.
The matter was referred to the
princeling. His majesty thought the as
sassin was not worth that price. Six.
teen thousand francs for the neck of a
rascal! All, no, indeed! 1t would In
that case be necessary to increase by 2
francs yearly the taxes Of each citizen
The people might resist.
A council was held, and 1t was decid
ed to address tie same request to the
king of Italy. France is n republic
and republics do not respect Caesars
but the king of Italy. a brother, might
be less extortionate. The reply was
immediate. For the consideration OF
1900 francs, which would also cover
the expense of transportation, the Ital
ian government declared its willing
ness to lend the apparatus and special
list.
This was cheaper, but yet too heavy
an expense to incur for such wretch
1t would still be necessary to tax the
citizens. Again the council met. Al
great length they debated as to how
the matter might be more economically
settled. Why could not they employ O
native soldier and behead the rasca
at home?