Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-10-14

green baize tables. Raised above them
on high chairs at each side Of the
tables are the chefs-de- -partie, or
controllers OF the play at the table.
There is a strange subdued at
mOSphere about the whole place.
| Despite the enormous numbers pres
ent. there is practically no converse
| ton, AMI the little there is Is carried
| on almost in undertones. The few
who are moving about do so quietly
and softly as II not to disturb some
strange rite. There is constant,
n'onotonous, unbroken hum. in which
the clinking Of coins, the movements
| of players, the rattle and roll OF the
roulette and the scraping Of the
groups or money rakes all blend into
one prolonged, low murmur. Above
| this rise, in constant reiteration, the
sharp voices of the croupiers, call
| ing on the players to stake their
money or announcing the result Of
| a coup.
We make our way to one Of the
crowds round the table. We find
that In the center is the great rou-
lette. Opposite II on each side sit the
two rouleurs or attendants, who ac-
tually spin the roulette, and four
croupiers. Behind them on each side
are the two chef-de- -partie on their
llSH CIldlIS a. lue VI liC ioh6
tables there are two more croupiers.
The green baize Of the tables Is mark
ed out with the numbers and spaces
| for stalking money, and all round 1t
| the regular frequenters are seated.
! probably In the same places as they
occupy day after day. Behind them
/ and between them other players and
spectators are crowded four and five
deep.
All over the tables are little stacks
Of silver and gold and packets Of notes
in seeming confusion, but the quick
eyes of the crOupiers mark each
stake as 1t is placed, and knew al
most invariably the player who has
placed it, so that disputes Of any kind
are of the rarest occurrence. Most
Of the seated players on each side
have in front of them note books or
memorandum tablets, on which they
are busily working out figures and
calculations-system players, who
make a business of their amusement.
| The lamps Immediately over the
tables are, curiously enough, in this
palace Of modernity, old-fashioned
oil lamps, and attendants move
quietly about attending to them and
replacing them as they burn out. An
attempt was made in the very early
days Of electric light to carry out an
| ingenious raid on the Casino by cut
ting the wires, and in all probability
the attempt would have been success
full had its perpetrators been little
better acquainted with the habits of
the Casino. The whole place was
plunged in darkness.
| Now, 1t was during this confusion
| that the accOmplices OF the wire-cut-
| ter, standing at each table, were to
have scooped up whatever money they
could lay their hands on. Unfortu-
nately for them, but fortunately for
the public, the Casino authorities were
a little further sighted than they i'm
agined. Look up at the arches In the
gallery which runs round the rooms.
Here and there you will see little
spark of light. These reveal the
whereabouts Of powerful bulps-eye
lanterns, primitive searchlights, al
ready focused on the different ta-
bles, and so arranged that they can
be instantly turned up by one OIL
cial In the case referred to, the mo-
ment the wires had been cut these
searchlights were turned on, and al
most before the confusion had arisen
the tables were each brilliantly IL
| Illuminated in the midst Of the sur
rounding darkness.
Having taken in a general impress
sion Of the place and got some idea OF
the method of play, We ventured to
hazard a stake Five francs Is the
minimum allowed at the roulette ia
BILE. The highest stake on an even
chance Is 900 francs, and the maxi
mum stakes on the other chance are
so regulated that this is the largest
amount that can be won by any one
stake; but, of course, one player
may have any number Of stakes on
the different chances. So that prac-
tically 10 limit Is placed on the
amount that can be won or lost by
single coup. though the bank re-
serves itself the right not to pay out
more than $4,000 Of its own money
on any one coup at one table.-Phila-
delphia Ledger.