Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-11
LIE PALAIS ROYAL, A. Iisner and Eleventh Sts


surreptitiously conveyed from the SPOT
where 1t was first discovered to the sup
posed scene of the accident the better to
suDstantiate the explanation given
1t Is astonishing how the gambling habit
dominates some people. l knew one lady as
an habitue of the rooms at Monte Carlo
with whom gambling became such an alb
soreing mania that she made several ap-
plications to magistrates, and also to the
resident doctor of lunatic asylum, and
used considerable efforts to get herself
placed under restraint as being the only
means by which she could be prevented
from gambling. Not being successful she
managed to get incarcerated in another
way. by forging a check for 600. though
she had no need of the money. and she got
two years imprisonment. Her story was
fully told In court. which probably account
ed Tor her not getting longer sentence.
Born Gamblers Way.
The persistence with which born
gambler will pursue his own ruin Is ex-
traordinary. Many years ago a major in
the army who had just inherited f25. 600
came to Homburg. Being aware what an
incorrigible gambler he was, he took the
precaution of paying three months in ad-
vance for his board and lodging at the ho-
tel .and. Furthermore. handed to the landlord
5000, which the latter was instructed to
hold in trust for him and on no consider
ation whatever to repay to him until he
had returned to England, no matter how
much he might entreat him He began at
the trente-et-Quarante table by winning
f6. 600
Next day he netted IS, 600 Then he al
ternated his transactions between trente-
ef-quarante and the roulette tables but
the refait and zero occurred so frequently
that In few days his capital was reduced
from tl6ooO to 10 shillings, and finally to
nothing. Then he went to the landlord OF
his hotel and ordered begged and entreat-
ed him to give him his $4,000 The land
lord refusing, he went and borrowed ESQ
1nct
his watch and chain, jewelry and all his
clothes except what he stood up in, re-
turned to the tables with f4O and again
lost every farthing
The hotel landlord being still inexor-
able. the gambler got up in the night
broke open the money till in the bar. helped
himself to the money therein-about til
depositing in the till his l Z and a letter
authorizing the landlord to recoup himself
from the 5000, and next day went to the
tables. lost the t15. and as the landlord re-
FUSED to give up his 5000 until he reached
England. he departed by the first train
available, the landlord taking his ticket for
him.
After reaching England. no sooner did
ne receive his $1,000, less the Els and trav-
eIing expenses deducted by the landlord,
than ne once more set out for Homburg
Ihls time he was armed with a system
which he evolved during his journey, and
IN which he had great faith. but In few
days he had lost every franc, and the last
after he was porter and was carrying
vlsltors luggage up from a carriage to
the very hotel at which he had himself
stayed in former years.
There are, Of course, some habitues
or the rooms who play carefully and know
when to leave of. At Ostend there was
an old fellow who used to come to the
rooms every day at the same time Just as
If he were going to his business, and would
sit there hour after hour marking the
chances on his card, and at last when
ne thought there was certainty would
stake small sum and win the price of his
board and lodging for the day and go home
again 1t was said that he always man
aged to win his days keep, and never did
any other kind of work
THE methods and superstitions of habit
ual gamblers at the tables are often curl
Gus. They will back the red because they
have met soldier in the street. or the
black because they have seen a parson.
Stalking ones money on the number Of
ones room at the hotel is an old favorite
fancy. They will back the day of the
month. their age. last birthday, the num-
Der of buttons on any ones dress. or the
dates of saints days in the calendar. Some
of them carry little so-called 'talismans
about with them. others are believers in
'mascots' or luck-bringers.
MascOts.
A nobleman who was familiar figure
at Monte Carlo some years ago happening
to see hunchback more than usually de.
formed selling matches in a London thor
oushfare. took him into his service. nomi-
nally as an assistant to his valet. and took
him with him to Monte Carlo for a mas
cot. and whenever he played inyartah,v
had him with him. ''
Il remember another rich but inyaria-
bly, unfortunate gambler retired adj
mural. who happening to become acquainted
with man who. though he never gam
bled. had the reputation of being lucky
actually engaged him at good salary and
hotel and travelling expenses to accompany
him to the tables and conduct all gambling
operations on his behalf
Some years ago when 1 was an official