The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-11
Prince Bariatlnsky Of Russia
Asks Him TO Manage Club.
MASON La FITTE the PLACE
The Club With a Membership Of One Thou.
sand kOtahIss, Is to Remodel tho
Famous Mansion.

Saratoga, N Y, Aug. lion behalf OF
10 900 gentlemen. mobiles and a few mon
offered TO Richard A Garfield the man
agement OF Maison Ia Fitte in Paris. to be
run as a club for gentlemen gamblers OF
| Europe and American.
The proposition was at fret declined
| for reasons that will appear later. but at
the request of the man who made It, It
was taken under advisement and IL etill
being considered by Mr. Garfield.
The offer was made TO Garfield at ClAr-
idge's hotel in London last spring and
was renewed a few days ago The facts
| concerning II came out at a dinner given
| by Garfield last evening TO four friends
from New York
| One was a member of the Stock Ex-
| change, one was a well-known New York
lawyer, another an architect OF much
| prominence and the fourth was an art
| critic.
During the dinner one OF tho party,
who was In London when the propagation
was made, asked Garfield to tell the story.
He did so. and the lawyer Of the party
told II last night Here II is:
a scion OF one OF the oldest families In
Russia, was at Monte Carlo. With him
was Prince Murat. a grand or great
grandson OF Napoleon's famous general.
himself at the. head OF the Jockey club Of
France. The casino was crowded. and
both princes had been shouldered and
jostled a good bit IN their play ut rou-
lette.
Going out OF the place Barfatfnsky re-
marked that there would be much more
sport In the game could the play be car
ried on In a club whose memberEhip
should be limited ana exclusive. Murat
agreed and casually remarked that the
beautiful and historic Maixon La F1tte,
the home for years of the Princess OF
Orleans, and whose interior appointments
today were practically the same as thoy
were In the days OF the Empire, would be
the ideal place for such a club.
PLENTY OF MEMBERS.
Barfatinsky became enthusiasts, and
declared that he would see what could
be done in the way OF forming a club
He talked of the scheme to some of the
leading men in France. and then went
10 London. In both capitals the idea
was received with enthusiasm. Finally
he returned to ST. Petersburg, and he
saw at once that there would be no diff
hculty In getting enough members TO
represent Russia The trouble seemed
TO be the fact that there were too many
who desired membership
Early last spring there was a con-
ference In London. The scheme chrys-
talffzed In the choosing OF an inter-
national committee to arrange the de-
tails. Baratinsky represented Russia.
Lord Marcus Beresford England, Prince
Murat France. two Of the nobility for
Germany and a millionaire interested in
the turf and many corporations 20 rep
resent the United States.
IAN option on the Mason La Fitte.
was obtained and then the prime movers
cast about for man 10 run the club and
rs business. IL was known that Garfield
was IN London. Somebody suggested
his name. 1t is said IL was Prince Hatx-
feld who married the stepdaughter OF
the late Coils p. Huntington, and Bar
iatinsky was authorized to make the Of
fer 20 the great American gambler
The Russian called at Clarldge's and
made the following proposition: Can
field 10 buy the Mason La Ftte and the
eight acres OF ground surrounding 1t for
s42o ooo. TO NJ up the place for the pur-
pose Intended. and open IT,
THE committee. on its part would
guarantee him 10000 members, selected
by the committee. and all the profits OF
the club, including the games. which.
| Of course, Garfield was to back. Be
sides a salary OF $4,000 year as man
ager was guaranteed.
After the proposition Canfield ac-
eording Ia the lawyers story. said:
! Prince Baratinsky, appreciate your
offer. IL is the most fiatter'ng one ever
made TO a professional gambler. but
/ fear you do not know the person TO
| whom you are making II. / am charged
i at this very time by the chief prosecu-
| ting officer OF New York with being a
| fugitive from Justice, and more than all.
With being n thief, and the meanest kind
! of a swndler.
II do not see my way clear 10 accept
| your offer anyway. but 7 will consider H.
! In the meantime I ask you to more
| thoroughly inform yourself about me.
! suggest that you or some Of your
| friends cable 10 New York and ask any
reputable person there who knows me,
a few questions.
HAD THOUGHT ABOUT 1T.
I'm substance. Bsratinsky replied:
| We have heard about your experiences
In New York. and we have drawn our
| own conclusions Having done so we
make you the ofrer However, will give
YOU week I'm which Ia consider 81
THE Russian returned In a week and
| Canheld said 10 him You remember that
among TlS other things. Of being a fueitivs
| from Justice Since 7 have been In Lon
! don I have been informed that | have
been indicted for or,,, keeping gambling
/ face the charge. Therefore must de-
1 cline your offer. When get home I will
! try 70 End man whom can recommend
\ 20 you.
| that the offer has been made 20 Canfeld
and that the committee did not care 10
/ have Mr. Canheld's recommendation of
somebody else. whereupon. II Is stated