, 1906-06-13

THE WAY THE EXPERTS AT MONTE
CARLO ARE MADE.

Over the Gaming Tables.
The stereotyped words ring II in
but slightly varying tones from the
throats of those immaculate black
sensational coup of the season would,
we believe. be powerlesS To move any
of these suave officials into betraying
even a momentary CLEAN of interest in
the mere mortals he thus adjures to
plank down their ready
The casual frequenter of the sale de
jeu pays but little heed to these things
indeed takes them as Il matter OF
course-nevertheless the croupier is
made moi "born." though he may
have Unborn qualifications. He Is a
creature of selection, and, given a can
didate of seeming promise, there fol
low months OF training and trial-aye,
little temptations which shall test his
honesty before the three chiefs who
watch him and consider MI his points
decide upon his actual election, and he
is carefully nodded into the right
form" that of the quiet. courteous yet
ever alert gentleman. whose well kept
hand spins the marble bah and throws
the coins so dextrously across the
green cloth.
1t may be interesting to those who
do not already know to hear that no
more than thirty-six men AN go up at
a time For election. ~Thirty-siX-the
number which exactly corresponds
with the numerals on the board-and
OF these. again, only the very iittest
are chosen for final training and ap-
pointments.
The making of the croupier'' takes
place during the dead season-that is,
from about August till the end of De
cember, by which time it is calculated
a smart man may be considered fit to
try his PAGES in public. The training is
indeed no play, but consists Of regular
attendance ut the classes of the "ecole
DIES croupiers" for six hours a day, the
exact time being from 8 to II in the
forenoon and from 2 to 5 In the after
noon. Before admittance to the
SCHOOL" however, n medical eXamina-
ton has to be undergone as well as eX-
aminations In viva voce arithmetic and
tests put with regard to correct and
fluent French and refinement of ac-
cent. Yet would all these avail a nan
nothing should his antecedents and
character not bear the strictest and
most searching scrutiny. During this
time of probation coins of the value of
those they will have to handle at the
tables are not used, notes being repre-
scented by squares of paper Of much
the same size and texture and the
louis dor being "understudied' by cae
frame pieces. while the smallest stake
permissible, the clumsy five franc
piece, remains the same.
IS we haze. however, already OBJ
served, tests of honesty are ut times
~resorted to Ia order to make sure of
the mans qualities In this respect. Yet
in order not 10 strain this point too
highly the management pays the pro
batloner Il sum of $50 francs a month
salary Guriug his period of training.
The daily lessons consist naturally
enough principally ia Jhe requirement
OF Il nice manipulation of the ball and
the rake, III quick head reckoning"
and In ~deytrously pitchine the coins
across 50 that they seem to fan In az
orderly golden row. each separate and
distinct.
A distinction Is made between candi-
dates for the rente-et-Quarante tables
and those devoted TO the more easily
grasped game of roulette. The men
serving the former are, as may have
struck my o%bseryant visitor. of "A dis
tiuetly better class, a higher mental
caltber. Their salaries. too, are proper
tion0tely higher, ranging from 400 to
Gee francs a month. while the chef
draws 70 and the inspectors and sub
directors from 100 to LOCO a month,
with u bonus also at the end of the
season and the comforting prospect Of
Il pension when old age or sickness
comes along to lay them On the shelf.
That these men are also we'll worth It
goes without saying.
\ lesser grade OF intelligence is re
quired ut the rouge-et-noir board, yet
here, too. the salaries are such as many
a civil service clerk might well envy
earned, toe, in Il lovely climate and
bearing in mind that, given fair health
and a steady devotion to duty, the APP
polntment may be considered good for
all the mans working l~ife-leading
also to the ultimate pension In recOgnl-
ton of faithful services. The salary
of the roulette croupier starts at 250
francs a month and may rise to 400
and he also is the recipient of
an annunl bonus at the end of the