Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-07
INFREQUENT
TWO TALES OF TICKLE FORTUNE
AND RUINED MEN.
Our Consuls in Europe Have No Sine
cures and Seem to Deserve More
Salary Than They Get.

NICE, France. December IL, 1913.
1 spoke in my last letter of Monte Carlo.
the famous gambling place, and there are
more stories of disaster flying about here
than would fill big book. Every one whom
1 have met has told me some sad tale or
wrecked fortune. happiness or life that has
come under his especial notice. 1 can't re-
member them all, but will give a couple
just to show what Monte Carlo is respons-
ibe for, as the goodygood people would
put 1t.
\ British army officer who had been re-
tired after many years of valuable service
to his country having fair income. came
to Nice to spend his remaining days IN
comfort. He was induced to visit Monte
Carlo. and began to play
1t seemed that luck was against him and
he lost continually. So persistent was his
i'll luck that the people of the bank advised
him not to play any more. He thanked
them. but continued to play until his for
tune was entirely wiped out and he was
absolutely pennlless. He went to the Monte
Carlo people and told them his condition.
They agreed to give him enough to keep
him provided he would never enter the
place again. Az he had no other means OF
support he accepted their offer and lived
on their bounty. After about a year and
a half a rela tive died in England leaving
him a comfortable fortune. He also inner
tied a title. He calculated the amount
he had received from the Monte Carlo peo-
pie and paid it back with interest. Then
he asked that the ban against his playing
be removed. This was done and he COM
nienced to play again. The same bad luck
attended his efforts to win and he lost
this fortune as he had the first one. Then
q similar arrangement was made with the
Monte Carlo owners and again he was
pensioner on their bounty. A second time
was he placed in independent circumstances
hx ba In nd Of relative and
again was the bank repaid Its advances
and the prohibition against the ofhcer's
playing removed only for him to again lose
his money But he died before he had en-
tirely sauandered his last fortune and the
little that was left went to widowed
sister.
Another Englishman. a dentist. who had
made brilliant professional record in
London. sold out his practice for good
sum- and with his wife, came to Nice to
spend the winter. He visited Monte Carlo,
became afflicted with the gambling mania
and played until he was obliged to
send his wife back to England because he
couldn't afford to keep her here. She sent
him money to return, but he gamoled that
away and finally was obliged to pawn his
watch and personal jewelry in order to get
money to defray his expenses back to
London.
Foot Balls of Fortune.
The day was at Monte Carlo watched
the faces of the players. and it was an
interesting study. The greater number OF
those ''bucking the tiger" were women.
and they were Of all ages and conditions of
prosperity They were, most of them, regu-
lars. and knew the game thoroughly They
kept the score card with perfect accuracy.
and knew where "luck" was tending. and
followed the little spinning ball with In
tense interest. Nearly all Of them had
lines about the mouth. giving them hard.
cold expression. Some wore diamonds in
profusion and loud dress. while others were
more soberly alfred But they were all
after the money. and while playing didn't
allow anything to distract their attention
from the game.
There were men. too. who had been play
ing for many seasons at this bank. One,
with gray hair and whiskers, seemed to be
in good luck and had quite pile of gold
coin IN front Of him. The most fortunate
Of the women was of spare figure and
plainly dressed but with an expression on
her face showing half frightened. half anx-
ious. as II the matter of winning was
new sensation. But she was winning all
right. 1t seemed that every bet was a sue
cess. and the pile In front of her became
larger at every turn. Others about the
table saw that she was 'n luck and fol-
lowed her bets, thereby changing their own
luck and becoming successful. ! think
when / left the little woman must have
been about 10000 francs to the good, al
though how much she had lost before her
luck turned wouldn't pretend to guess.
at Monte Carlo. although the season is
backward this year, but you could very
easily pick them out from the regulars.
They walked around, fitted from table to
table. sometimes sitting down and taking
a little f1irt with the wheel. but not remain
ing anywhere very long. and in every way
showing the restless movements Of the
tourist When one of these played and
made winning 1t was considered a good
joke. and If the money was lost it was con-
sidered part of the expenses of the trip.
l have no doubt that the majority OF the
stories about the suicide of those who had
been cleaned out at Monte Carlo are true,
but the present syndicate IS more business
like. 1t Is realized that to have man
go from the gambling rooms into the beau
tiful gardens and blow his brains out Is not
a good advertisement for the place, and SO
1t was resolved to discourage self-destruc-
ton as much as possible. / am told that If
a man is utterly ruined the management
Will buy him a ticket to wherever his home
is and give him money enough to last until
he reaches 1t: but he can never enter the
portals of Monte Carlo again. That gives
him a new lease of life and an opportunity
to build himself up again.
l spoke In my last letter of the histories
of some of the old palaces and Villas in this
place. / have learned a story of the tragic
ending of the last Count Arson. which took
place in the building in which l am now