New-York tribune., 1903-04-17

looked about at the spectators, numbering
about sixty altogether. and who, without ex-
ception, put stakes On the coming game. A
youth OF twenty, who judging from his appear
snce, might be clerk in a shop in the Avenue
de TOpera. selected his professional player and
backed him TO the amount Of four hve-franc
pieces OF 81 Several bright looking young
women were comfortably seated slipping pink
colored drinks and watching the proceedings
with eager but furtive interest. These girls
were probably sewing hands from one OF the
rleighborirg dressmaking establishments Of the
Rue de Ia Paix, for II was o'clock. the usual
hour for the employees 10 quit their workshops
One OF these girls-she was hazel eyed
rnsdemoiseIle Of. say, eighteen years OF age
opened q well worn leather purse and took from
= z shining dve-franc piece and placed II on
Marva. the favorite billiard professor" just as
people back a crack horse at the races. "Marva
NAY not win. but he viii give me q good run for
my money" said the little girl A well known
American PAINTER soon entered the room, and
after stalking three or four fve-franc pieces took
g seat and ordered q glass Of beer-drinks OF
some kind by the way. are obligatory. The
picturesque audience would have appealed 10 the
analytic genius of a Balzac q Dickens 1
noticed one inveterate old gambler with white
hair and trembling hand who was having very
hard luck. and had lost fve-franc piece after
-e-fr
n-as bv no means the group that one sees at
Monte Carlo OF al the great race meetings near
Paris. Il was crowd OF thrifty, hard working
Youths Of both sexes employed at moderate sal
aries at the retail shops IN the busiest quarter OF
Paris All these youths were being insldlousiy
inoculated with the gambling microbe.
Pretty soon. when all the bets were made and
registered. the game began with the words OF
the manager. Depart" Start. The three
PLAYERS. Marva, Sanchez and Adorjan siraulta-
reously strung" for the lead Marva, sympa-
thetic young Spaniard with q melancholy Ger
vantes-like face was the favorite, especially
with the female portion OF the audience San
chez. & swarthy Castilian with long military
rnustache. walked briskly about the room, cue
IN hand putting assiduously at cigarette
Adorjsn q very steady middle aged player, with
gray hair and musuache, had the appearance OF
an American hotel porter. he wore oark III
fitting clothes and instead Of coat brown
loose Jersey He seemed to be just the man one
would expect 10 handle a big trunk or bring you
a glass OF water. A condition OF the game Is
that three cushions must be taken in making
each shot-a very difficult task. The player who
FIRST scores eight points wins the game me
game was won IN the present instance in twelve
minutes by Adortan. the typical hotel porter
The bets were forthwith proclaimed and paid IN
accordance with rari-rnutuel proceedings one
seventh OF the stakes is each time set apart Iof
the establishment The rest Of the money is
'totalzed' which yielded for every I'VE franc
piece put upon Adorjan the sum of twenty-nV
francs. That IS to say. the lucky ones who Del
on Adorjan won their five francs back Plus
twenty francs pure winnings"
Then the game was repeated with sun more
profuse betting anc SO the hourishing gambling
gees on until 2 O'Clock in the morning. hach
rlsver Eeeus a little book and notes down the
bets made on himself. but he is neither allowed
10 bet himself nor 20 have any share IN the
w.nniugs Each plsxsr receives o daily salary