The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-20
Races and Gambling Draw Host
 of MiIIionaires
METHODS OF MONTE CARLO
The Class That Patronzes Saratoga Wants Gambling and Want the Place Run Wide Open as In
 Old Times.
BY j. S. A. MACDONALD.

Special from the Hearst News Service.
 Saratoga Race Track, N. Y, August 19- -One of the interesting side angles to the rollclSing pleasure carnival of the Spa has to do with the women Babylon Tn it's widest riot never saw such prodigal wealth of jewels and such exquisite mil lnery as mark the present Saratoga sea- son. Apparently the women of the nil- lionaires who annually come to this viI- lage nestling in the Green Mountains haG been preparing and devlsing gowns for months and months previous to the seasons inauguration. for scarcely one of them but boasts of an imported dress. And the diamondsi Unless a woman can boast of a gem with a history after the style of the story enveloping the Kohi- noor. her prestige in the balcony parades during the after-dinner hour Is sadly im- paired.
 But 1t Is at the race course where the world of femininity reigns supreme. The sight of Quality Row''-the long line of boxes fringing the front of the grand stand-is a spectacle well worth seeing. It was a wonderful sight on last Satur day, on the occasion of the running of the Saratoga Special for every box held a full qota of guests resplendent in gor- geous raiment. Again, the annual renewal of the Hopeful Stakes for year-olds yesterday drew forth a splendid gather ing.
 Boulevardiers from the European cap itals declare they had never looked upon so lavish a scene as that attaching to the Saratoga Special afternoon. conserva- tive estimate of the value of the gems and the dresses that afternoon is placed at round one million dollars. The New York Horse Show or the Metropolitan Opera House Horse Shoe were as markers compared to that grand show or the Spas smart racing set That Sat urday afternoon will live long in the memory of all who saw it.
 But the night show at the hotels! It baffles description. As the evening shad- ows commence to fall the little world TO- tating about the United States and Grand Union hotels changes from the light sum mer clothes to the sombre black and white of correct evening attire. What a chance for women They take full advantage of it. too. The diamonds flash and the gowns swish to the bewilderment of any one accustomed to Newport and Monte Carlo. Nose Goldblatt, the noted west ern turfman and natural wit, walked into a blaze of diamonds as he came into the foyer or the Grand Union last week. "Mose" has seen some stones in his career, too, but this was a staggerer. He le-. for F't. Erie next day. "so as to avoid getting money mad.' as he explained it. Take the women with their diamonds and their gowns from the picture and Sara toga would be a dull place.
 But to hew to another line. While there has been plenty of faro play and some high stake money won and lost at bridge whist and roulette in one or two private "cottage clubs" the close-down at Can held's has hurt Saratoga to marked extent. On the day previous to the open ing of the Empire City meeting at Yon- kers, N. Y, at least 2000 sojourners drop ped down to New York. If Saratoga is to live and prosper as a summer sporting town a more liberal administra ton, so far as gambling, must prevail.
 The Old World methods in vogue at Monte Carlo. Nice and other resorts, must eventually come. Americans, and New Workers particularly. are becoming rich, and though gambling, like whisky, is a bad thing in itself, still the class that may afford 1t and knows how to avoid the harm and enjoy the pleasure in it, want gambling and must get it. Otherwise Saratoga Is going to take the "tobOggan"