Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-03-27
TRAINING CROUPIERS
THE WAY THE EXPERTS At MONTE
CARLO ARE MADE. ~

ed Into the Right Form to Preside
Over the Gaming Tables.
The stereotyped words ring out in
but slightly varying tones from the
threats of those immaculate black
coated functionaries. Indeed the most
sensational coup Of the season would,
we believe. be powerless to move any
of these suave officials into betraying
even momentary CLEAN of interest in
the mere mortals he thus adjures to
plank down their ready"
The casual frequenter of the sale dc
jeu pays but little heed to these things
Indeed takes them as a matter of
course-nevertheless the croupier Is
made" not bora though he may
have Unborn qualifications. He Is u
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 all 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 ball 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 can 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 fittest
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
smart man may be considered fit to
try his PAGES in public. The training is
indeed no play, but consists of regular
attendance at the classes of the "ecole
des croupiers" for six hours a day, the
exact time being from to ii in the
forenoon and from to 5 in the after
noon. Before admittance to the
| school," however, a 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 &C.
cent. Yet would all these avail a man
nothing should his antecedents and
character not bear the strictest and
nonst COO rohipo ccr,,&iuv n,,rfnor %h;s
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 one
franc pieces, while the smallest stake
permissible, the. clumsy five franc
piece, remains the same.
AS we have, however, already OBJ
served, tests Of honesty are at times
resorted to in order to make sure of
the mans qualities in this respect Yet
| In order not to strain this point too
highly the management pays the pro-
| bationer a sum of $50 francs month
salary during his period of training.
The daily lessons" consist naturally
| enough principally in the requirement
| of nice manipulation Of the bali and
the rake, in quick head reckoning
and in dextrously pitching the coins
across SO that they seem to fall in an
orderly golden row, each separate and
| distinct -
A distinction is made between candi-
dates for the trente-et-quarante tables
and those devoted to the more easily
grasped game Of roulette. The men
serving the former are, as may have
struck. any observant visitor. Of dis
tinctly better class, higher mental
caliber. Their salaries, too, are proper
tionately higher, ranging from 400 to
900 francs month, while the "chef''
draws TBS and the inspectors and sub
directors from 750 to 1000 a month,
with bonus also at the end Of the
season and the comforting prospect of
a pension when old age or sickness
comes along to lay them on the shelf.
That these men are also well worth 1t
goes without saying. = s,a a
A lesser grade Of intelligence is re-
quired at the rouge-et-noir board, yet
here, too, the salaries are such as many
a civil service clerk might well envy
earned, too, in lovely climate and
bearing In mind that, given fair health
4 and steady devotion to duty, the ap,
pointment may be considered good for
all the mans working life leading
also to the ultimate pension In reeogni-
lion Of faithful services. The salary
Of the roulette eroupier starts at $50
francs a month and may rise to 400
francs. and he also is the recipient OF
an annual bonus at the end of the
grand season. = 1t should also be
observed that while son duty the
strain 10 continuous. Each man IL
relieved every two hours, when oc.
ours that curious little ceremonial OF
turning the cushion on his chair. q
/ 1matter OF form" to show he has hid
den no coin beneath 1t.
The ages at which men may enlist III
4 Tortnna's ranks lie between twenty.
five and thirty, the adventurer, In the
general and derogatory aceeptation Of
At