New-York tribune., 1903-04-17
Il PARIS GAMBLING CRAZE.
Popularity of Betting on Games of
Spanish Billiards.
Paris, April g.

April u.
Two years ago the game OF billiards, which
attained its apotheoss in Paris during the latter
dsvs Of the Second Empire. was on the verge
Of disappearance. Billiard tables were relegated
20 lumber rooms or TO secondhand shops where
they were offered for sale at ridiculously low
rrices. In the cafes and places of amusement
billiard tables were replaced by card tables. and
-he leading Partisan papers published pathetic
obituary notices over the death Of the French
national pastine. which in bygone days included
among its most enthusiastic adopts Jules Grevy
and Leon Ganbetta- With the year 1908 how
ever billiards in form imported from
Spain entered upon magnificent revival Sud
denly, as if by some magic transformation scene
scores Of dusky little retreats called Billiard
Dives" "Bouges de Billiard" sprang UP in every
quarter Of Paris
These novel gambling dens have now become
the popular rage OF Paris. It is estimated that
the amount Of money staked on skilled players
at these resorts during any given period of
twenty-four hours exceeds $4,000 The games
are arranged 10 last only ten or fifteen minutes
The popular unit Of French money. the silver
fve-franc piece-which. by the way. attained
its centennial anniversary this month. having
come into existence On the seventh day Of the
month Of Germinel In the year XI-serves as
stakes The system OF the pari-mutuel as
adopted on the racecourses Of France and Of the
United States. Is applied to the game of Span
tsh Billiards which has fairly taken Paris by
storm and is doing more TO demoralize the
young clerks and business Of the capital
than horseTacing. cardplaying. les petits
chevaux." any gambling device so far in
vented Billiard gambling has become epidemic
The little billiard dens. which open shortly after
noon. DO thrifty trade until = o'clock IN the
morning. a fearfully large percentage of the
Partisan gambling fad, whose victims are, per
haps almost as numerous as those Of tubercu-
losis or typhoid fever. The game Of Spanish
billiards has become characteristic feature of
Paris 1t is not likely that Americans intending
70 visit France this spring and summer will be
able 70 elude the hypnotic attraction Of this
wholesale method Of public gambling conse-
ouently a brief description Of one Of these pop
ular resorts. forty-two of which are already
hourishing here, may be OF interest
As one walks along the boulevards attention is
attracted by q stream Of youths diving down
narrow stairways beneath signs and posters
with the inscription. Billiard Academy" The
other afternoon. in company with a prominent
New-York dramatic author I entered one Of
these establishments. No entrance fee is
charged. On the wall is posted a list of prices
Of drinks varying from 10 cents for a simple
''bock' OF beer, TO 20 cents for soda lemonade.
Another large sign states that mo one is per
nitted 10 bet on the game who is not familiar
with billiards. and who also has not acquired
experimental knowledge from the professors Of
billiards whose names are posted as taking
part in the demonstrations Of their science" /"
This quaint notice is made TO elude> the techni-
cslities Of the French laws against public bet
ting games Of pure chance. So far. this
empty verbiage has been adequate TO protect the
ests Adjustments from being closed by the police.
II the centre Of the room is a billiard able
Around the room are placed three or four
tiers OF seats. In font OF each seat is a small
bench upon which drinks. either temperance or
alcoholic, are served at moderate prices. A
large framed blackboard the wall bears the
following information: