The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-07-03

mis- on the northwest protect II entire
Iy from the 'mistral," but it is COM
paratively new place, being not more
than fifty years of age, and it is with
out ruins, history. or ancient churches
or other edifces. 1t is embowered in
the foliage of olive and lemon orchards,
and it's atmosphere is redolent with the
perfume of cultivated gardens. There
is also said to be small but excellent
English society here, and there is a
Protestant Episcopal church, with lib
rary and Sabbath School, but society
does not, of course, open it's doors to
every chance sojourner for a few days,
and we were not searching for Sunday
school facilities especially
After you have visited the gorge of
st. Louis, on the border line of Italy,
and picked up few shells on the
beach, and watched the little donkeys
with their huge pack-Ioads of hay, and
wine, and lemons, and chatted with the
washwonen, on the banks of the little
creeks. there is nothing left except to
go to Monte Carlo, and to Monte Carlo
vFe accordingly went. You may go
either by rail or in a voiture over the
Corniche road. We preferred the latter.
The road winds along the side of
the mountains, (which here reach close
to the sea, and which are carefully Gull
tivated from the beach almost to the
summit. You pass beneath the over
arehing shade of the olive groves, and
under the shadow of high walls fringed
with blossoming vines. Old lemon trees
with straw-colored burdens massed
against their delicate green foliage,
scent the air with blossom and fruit;
and through and over the tree-tops and
walls the blue Mediterranean stretches
to the horizon, and curls its white lace
almost at your feet. Seven miles of
enchantment and we reach our desti-
nation.
Everybody knows that Monte Carlo is
the sole survivor of the great gambling
establishments of Europe, those at Ba-
den, Honnburg and Ems, having been
closed many years since. The Monte
Carlo institution belongs to the same
company as that which once operated
in Germany. 1t is situated within the
little kingdom or principaIity of Monac
co, and has its grant of life from the
Prince of Monaco. Portraits of the
kings of Monaco may, be obtained in
any quarter of the civilized world. /
have even seen them among the abor-
igines of the Rocky Mountains on Albert
Hart & Company's playing cards.
Powerful as are its monarchs, Monaco
as a nation is joke. 1t consists of
tumble-down town of a few hundred
houses, on the summit of a rocky pro-
montory jutting into the sea, and few
hundred acres of orchards and vine
yards along shore. It's entire popula-
toni is less than two thousand, its f1eetA
is fishing boat, and its army consists
of three old gems d'armes.
The revenues of the Prince of Mon |
acco are, however, very large, being |
derived entirely from the rental paid
him by the company which owns the |
gambling tables.
The grounds of Monte Carlo are the |
finest of their size in Europe. No equal |
area in any public or private garden |
presents so many beauties and attrac- |
tons The mild climate and sheltered |
situation permit the cultivation in the |
open air of all the semi-tropical and |
most of the tropical plants. while 1T |
does not witl1er the products of more |
northern chimes. There are tall palm |
trees with their trunks shrouded IN |
ivy; there. are walls covered with creep
ers of every color and shade: there are |
fountains environed with aqueous |
plants; there are banks of flowers OF |
every conceiva BILE variety; there are
arbors. and shade trees, and terraces
which are miracles of foliage, and per-
fume, and beauty. BY means of wind
ing paths which are kept in perfect or
der, you reach the summit of thls en-
chanted hill of delights, and find your
self in a court or plaza, facing the
Casino and surrounded on three sides
with hotel cafes, shops and saloons
There is a large fountain in the center,
and. facing on one side the plaza ana
the other side the sea, is the casino
Iiveried servants silently SWING open
the doors; uniformed officials march
quietly up and down. In cloak-roo1h
on the right obsequious men1als receive
your hat and walking-stick. IL you are
unsteady inclined, you may enter
grand concert salon, where every even
ing is performed the choicest of selec-
lions by gifted artists. If you desire TO
read or write. the leading journals OF
the world viii be found in a large room
on the right If, however, you come 10
gamble or see others gamble, and that
usually is what brings people to Monte
Carlo. YOU will, after having obtained
a ticket of admission for the day
pass through swinging doors to the left
down a corridor, through another pair
of doors. and you are in the temple
devoted 10 the Goddess of Chance NO
I take that back; I mean the tr1umphs
of arithmetic.
The gentlemen and ladies-that IS
some of them are ladies, but they Iooh
out of place here-who surround the
long tables and sit quietly but anxious
ly while the ivory ball goes spinning
around the checkered, numbered, re-