The Washington herald., 1909-03-21
BY A LONDONER.


adage. That. at least, has been my ex-
perience.
Going for day to do the Casino. l re
mained six weeks, and even then the
human interest in the place was unex-
hsusted. The beautiful setting Of this
favored spot charmed me. The noun
tains. the rocks. the ever-blue sea, grim
OLD Monaco. with the Italian shore in the
distance. all cOnduce to give it an air OF
distinction and romance.
The color and movement of the cosmo-
politan, well-dressed crowds. the fine or
chestra, the beautiful pigeons, afternoon
tea in the Cafe de Paris. the music in
the moonlight, the palatial Sacino with
its daily supply OF newspapers from all
parts Of the world free to visitors)-are
all attractions for the tourist the student,
and the man OF the world
The Stream of People.
To the student of human nature the
greatest attraction Of all is the stream OF
humanity constantly surrounding the
gaming tables. Here they come and so
all day long, certain faces appearing at
10 a. m, when play begins, while others
are seen trying their luck TO the last
moment Of closing time. l:SO p. m. No
matter what time you choose. you find
play briskly going on and during the
height Of the season it is often impossible
TO get near enough 10 see clearly what is
taking place.
Where do the players come from, and
what are they? Why do they play, and
then what after2 To answer these queries
requires an intimate acquaintance with
the gaming rooms and their habitues.
Everybody becomes so democratic here,
You may sit beside a grand duke or a
millionaire. which your vis-a-vis may be a
Partisan actress or a London shopkeeper.
All sorts and conditions are represented
from inonensive schoolmasters on holiday
10 blase plutocTats and professional gam
blers- Many look In TO see the crowd and
how IL Is done p" and do not play; but
most who enter try their hand with rou-
lette. the minimum stake for which Is
francs
When players are tired they adjourn 20
the beautiful tea room or lounge on one
OF the luxurious sofas with which the hall
and saloons are studded. Here one may
hear curious snatches OF conversation in
many tongues and observe the develop
ment Of petty intrigues.
Two Steady Winners.
1 was sitting one morning in a quiet
corner. when two elderly men sat down
beside ne.
One remarked: Il have just managed
it." This. I discovered, meant a win Of
20 francs.
Their daily routine was 10 appear at the
same roulette table at an early hour and
play the lowest stake OF francs on even
Chances-that is, on black or red or on
the odd or even numbers. They would
lose and win. and win and lose, but they
remained calm and self-cOntained. and
persevered until they had each % francs
10 the good
I observed them daily: some mornings
they scOoped I'm the amount I'm twenty
minutes. and at other times il was a tough
struggle until lunch time before they
managed it, I never saw them faI once
and ! learned that they had pursued the
same plan for four months
One thing was clear, nothing couiJ
tempt them 20 60 beyond the modest
stake. and they had the will 10 stop
when they won the stipulated amount
II was really one OF the best illustrations
OF will power I have ever seen. Tor fe-.
indeed who enter the portals % =
Casino are able 10 resist the con-, ,.elling
atmosphere Of the tables 10 play on If
losing and TO plunge u winning
When these two old philosophers were
not al play they might be seen In the
reading rooms. in the gardens. or sitting
on the lounges, discuss ing problems of all
kinds within other visitors.
One day I heard the Casino and gam
bling discussed from al points Of view,
and a more exhaustive. fair. ana candid
consideration Of a subject 7 have seldom
listened 70. This 10 happen within the
walls of the Casino was a curious ex-
perience
Another day the subject was vegeta-
r.anism. and # was really laughable 10
listen 10 a heated discussion OF the
simple life" in what many persons con-
slider the wicked st place on earth, where
everything is on a scale OF unstinted
luxury and extravangance and money is
scattered about in handfuls
Very Respectable Folks.
had always pictured Monte Carlo s
a center Of debauchery and villainy. but
] found the frequenters for the most part
were quite ordinary people. and there
was really less appearance Of vice and
disorderliness than could be seen in any
city Of the world. There is certainly a
considerable sprinkling OF high-class
criminals lowering around but these are
closely watched by large force Of secret
police.
Every visitor must iii I'D a paper in
his hotel or pension giving particulars as
TO identity. and after ten davs a narnoit
must be applied for at a cost OF half q
franc : omitted to go through this for
mality. and one morning received a visit
from an armed policeman with a suno /
mons to attend court at Monaco for re- |
siding in the principality without per
mission.
During the season many British and
American visitors are fined for this orois- |
sion: but. If civil 70 the officials. tbev /
get Of cheaply. A passport is important |
here. especially in seeking entrance TO
the Casino and at the post-office.
The keenest players spoke very little |
and were mostly sad-faced men and
women. Even the usually animated
italian and Frenchman sat silen. ana
serious. In fact. the loudest people were /
some Engiishmen, who. having dIned not
too wisely. shouted to the croupiers at
the top Of their voices In English II
was plain the patience Of the officials
was sorely tried. and one could not but
admire their courtesy. tact, and frmness
in trying circumstances.
one OF these young Englishmen came in |
late one evening and was almost incapa-
bic, but his play and his luck were some
thing extraordinary. He spread handfuls |
Of 20-franc coins all over the table. and
his winnings Were piled up before him /
until It was a case of embaras des rich /
esses.
His tongue ratified on all the time. and /
at last an official expostulated. when he /
retired in high dudgeOn. muttering sumo
thing about fair play and his good nacney. /
A curious study was an Englishman of /
about seventy who was always one OF the \
hrst 10 enter the salon to secure a favorite 4
se@+ ct a favOrite table. In appearance I