The sun., 1909-02-21
GAMBLING IN PARIS.
From the Rich Clubs OF "Hig IAf' Down
TO street Fairs.

Paris CANDLES everywhere. At the
periodical street fairs the workmen
stake their double sous on the little
horses; in the closed clubs fortunes are
lost and won.
Past the age OF 20 years no one is
admitted as a member Of a closed club.
because TO quote the words Of club
man. -by the time a man is 10 years
old he has made so many enemies that
some are certain TO blackball him. no
matter which club he tries to enter
However any one is welcome at the open
clubs.
The rules Of all the closed clubs are
about the same. To gain admission a
man must be over rs years of age. pro-
posed by three members and voted upon
by ballot. Clubmen are responsible for
the people they introduce into the club
salons until such time as their proteges
are formally made members.
The clubs Of -hig lif,' as the Partisan
terms high life. include the Jockey.
Epatant, the Union and others. Cards
are played for money at the Jockey Club,
but the object of it's foundation was the
improvement Of the horse. II, was or
ganized by fourteen young men Of the
world and the number of members is
not limited by the statutes. but candi-
dates must be irreproachable 50 far
as their social standing and fortunes are
concerned.
An ordinary individual must be pro-
posed by three members. but thoss Of
the Diplomatic Corps and foreign Min
isters are admitted without taking a
vote. Members of the English Jockey
Club are admitted to the tribune on field |
days without invitation and to the club |
house by invitation of the president of |
the French club. Foreigners Of standing |
who are In Paris for time may become |
temporary members on payment OF 200 |
francs.
Baccarat as played at the open clubs is
the bankers easy method Of riddling his
guests He deals the cards two at a time.
one to the right and the other TO the left.
The highest number is nine. and the person
whose card is nearest that number wins
the game The gamblers bet on the hands
held by the partners.
Women are admitted TO the open clubs
and they play with the same enthusiasm
as they shop on bargain day When
their money is gone they strip the jewels
from their persons and sell them to -the
jeweller,' who, being an attaohe Of the
club, is always at hand. That individual.
says Hdrper's Weekly. is as necessary
to the conv enience Of a club frequented
by women as the croupier is to the green
table
The president Of an open club draws
an annual salary Of from 10000 to $4,000
to from three hundred to eight hundred
francs. The employees are allowed free
hand, and each in his own sphere rules
by his personal judgment and makes
what profit he is able. One Of them, a
man having q cigar stand at the club,
charged such exorbitant prices that he
retired to the country after ten years.
built an elegant house. and lived on the
interest Of his money.
AS a general rule the house gets the
stakes, but whoever wins gets his money.
for the bylaws Of the club make it i'm
that the successful gambler
should fail to receive his winnings. IL
his debt the club pays IT Tor him. Be.
cause Of the many possibilities opened
,y this obligation in some OF the houses
he would be gambler is required to show '
his money before taking his place at the
able II the cashier is certain OF his man
The depleted one is allowed to open an
at the local bank 4
The administration has but one way to
lose such an account; credit can bo I
only by the clearly ex-
pressed desire Of the debtor A letter )
must be written by him personally at a
,is residence after the excitement OF the :
rambling room has passed. L.
The missive must show that the writer
vas In a calm state of mind when he
grote IL and that his desire to close his 8
,redit was sincere. An account thus
,losed may only be reopened upon the
eceipt OF written application.
In the Quarter Montmarte there Is
afe that never closes. There four hours
mt OF every twenty-four the croupiers
4 the gambling clubs Of Paris play manille
lntil they have nothing more to stake.
So far as is known only one croupier
,ow on earth has escaped the gamblers
ever. He works in Baden. and his en-
,loyers and the gamblers prize him above
old as a mascot because he has never
ed a SOU nor touched q card. His
sages are Immediately doubled when
yer he hints at a longing TO spread ms
rings. and these are again doubled when
h rumored that in his remorse OF con-
cience he Is meditating suicide.
Turn backi' he cries TO newcomers,
this place Is hell Run-before 1t Is TOO
lte' =. III
The mana gers smile because IL all
rings luck. The virtuous croupier OF
aden is no Pharisee; he means all he
ays.