The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-27
Too Many Gambling Houses.

Too Many Gambling Houses. At Monte Carlo there is only one gam bling house, the famous white casino. At Saratoga there are a dozen, where men of all sorts and conditions may play. They range from the palatial houses of Garfield and Gllman te the lowest kind of dives dives frequented by walters and stable boys, and the green farmers from the country round, who have not the price nor the assurance to enter the big houses, nor would the be allowed. Monte Csrlo is operated by concession from the government, that of the prince of Mon aco. The stock company which owns the l gambling house pays goodly sum for the privilege. It is inconeeivable that the company will ever consent to the estab- lishment of another house in the same principality. It is doubtful if there would be room in that pocket edition of coun- try.
 The suggestion has been made that Saratoga establish single great gam bling house like the Monte Carlo Casino, and thus do away with a great deal of the suffering which the smaller joints bring to wives and daughters of the poorer gamblers. For unless 6 man could make a good showing he would not be all lowed Inside such a place. But such d step even if 1t would better the situation, Is out of the question, for if one joint were shut down there would be no reason why the others should not also be closed, and the government of the United States has not yet reached the point where it licenses gambling.
 There Is one point, however, upon which the proprietors of Saratoga's gambling houses pride themselves, pat themselves on the back and moralize. No woman Is permitted to play or even enter gam bling room. Such a sight, therefore, as meets the eye at Monte Carlo, where men and women mingle freely about the tables. is unknown In the American gambling headquarters. It is not that American women are not eager to try their luck. Far from 1t. But then every woman's born gambler no matter what her nationality-and nearly every man for that matter. At Canfield's wonderful house there Is woman's restaurant which is crowded every night with wo- men in deoollete gowns and wearing enough jewels to start a rival to Tiffany IT, business. The door opening into the gaming rooms stand wide. and the women press as close as they dare CT are permitted on their way in and out from the dining room watching the men at the tables Occasionally they prevail upon their escorts to enter the forbidden Ito them-portals and play for them. It s not recorded that any of these women have received large returns from these efforts to get rich quick
 Great Variety of Games.
 At Monte Carlo the man who has ambi- tions in the bank breaking line can only play roulette and trente ct quarente. But at Saratoga the range Is much wider. The gambler can play the races all day, and faro, roulette, Klondilse. sweat craps, bridge whist at S5 point, Mexican monte, pinochle, or even casino all night. lie can buy faro chips picked out In red, white. blue, chocolate, russet brown or yellow from s5 a stack of twenty up to $50co for the same number: he can bet S25 On a number at roulette, and if 1t comes up he will get $775. He can stake s1000 on the last turn at faro, and if he does ''call' it. the dealer it may be explained, however, usually takes the 5000. and pretty nearly all the other sums wagered, If the play continues long enough
 How many men who have a try at the tables in Monte Carlo and Saratoga know the first thing about roulette? It is an easy bet that the majority have hard- ly ever seen a roulette board before plac- nS their money on the black or red. Yet the man who sits in" game of poker without having ever seen a pack of cards IS lDOhtu uppii do 0OAittiliilB more than a fool.
 Saratoga's Short Season.
 Another point which the great gambling resorts differ is the length of their sea son. Monte Carlo, on the other hand. can be visited all tie year round nro- vided the woud-be players can stand a hotter place than even New York at its hottest, in the summer time. Once the horsemen leave Saratoga most of the gambling ceases and existence there is as humdrum as in a score of other summer resorts in this country
 But during those three weeks Saratoga Is mad. gambling mad. Every soul that visits it has the mania from the boot black. who plays a slot machine to men like Emory Zahn, the California m,llion. aire, who plunges at the roulette tahle and John w. Gates, who plays the non,es fer thousands. The waiter who br,ne. your coffee at the Grand Union ar tbe .States" will tip you of to a lone abot that is sure to land in the money or i, you are woman. the maid who caras for your room will put you wise to . h,t 1 of gossip which she had heard from her s'gentleman friend, jockey so-and.so I, is the essence of the spirit of sel6ahrass ] the desire to get something without eiv-