The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-13
by LA MARauIsE DE FoNTENOY.
= y ING ALBERT OF Belgium has>iust
made 1t abundantly clear to the

world that he has nothing but
sentiments OF profound aversion
for the notorious NJ. Marquet.. who
OF Leopold II. was his evil genius. and
his business associate in n number OF
questionable enterprises. for. fort
night ago, at the personal instance OF
Belgiums new ruler, the Cercle Priye
at Ostend, was raided by the police.
under the command of the district at
torney Of the province OF Client. who
confiscated all the money on the ta-
phernalia. the books. the tables. and
indeed all the furniture OF the club.
endeavoring to capture those present
by locking the doors.
These were burst open by number
of young Americans, who hurled them
selves against them. The police there
upon abandoned their attempt to arrest
the. players, contenting themselves
the club. On the same night other
squads OF police, under the direction OF
assistants Of the district attorney OF
Client, visited the leading hotels. made
a thorough domiciliary search OF the
rooms from cellar to garnet, and cons
tiscated every roulette wheel that could
be found: putting stop to all card
playing that had the least appearance
has given ! thoroughly to be under
stood that he intends the laws against
gambling to be enforced Just as strict
~ as Ostend. which is his summer resi-
dence. as elsewhere.
Despite TIE vehement opposition Of
Leopold II. sand OF friends and assoc
ciates Of his, such as Marquet. legisla-
ton was enacted some years ago. pro-
Of the gambling establishments known.
like that Of Monte Carlo. as casinos.
were closed in consequence thereof,
That of ostend. however IN which Leo-
pold was interested with SIarouet,
sought to escape the provisions of the
law on the preposterous grounds that
the casino was private establishment.
that Is to says club. There was no
warrant for this, since the means OF
access were identically the same as
sion being accorded to every well-
dressed person whose looks betrayed
afIluence. without the slightest aues-
tionSas to his Or her ar, anteced ents den
Carlo, however. one has some guar :
antee Of fair play, the sino at Ostend
was. according to the London Saturday
Review, "a public. IL naged, vice.
Infamous description. with all the scam
dals and shamesS OF Monte Carlo about
IT. and without any Of the rigid finan-
ctalgE honesty and outward 8 decency
which are maintained there. s.,
This ridiculous plea OF Marquet about
the casino was supported by most of
the magistrates and Judges of the
kingdom This was due to the fact
on8the Continent, are dependent on. the
crown for honprs. decorations, promo
tions: In fact, for everything dear to
themselves and to their womenkind.
Moreover, they are shockingly5 under
paid So utterly shameless was Leo {,
gambling hell enterprises at Ostend
that he actually availed & himself Of a
New y ears reception Of the justiciarY
and other dignitaries OF the crown to
magistrate who had been so tactless
as to imagine that he was serving his
sovereign by enforcing the laws, OF
the land. Leopold Informed him that
stupidity and his want Of common
sense, he was completely wrecking the
prosperity Of Ostend,
+. At the time. the public generally
believed that this extra ordtnary out
burst on the part of#Leopold was due
to the fact that he had large real
estate interests at ostend. which he
feared would be injuriousl " affected BY
as "a gambling resort. But subsequently
it was shown that Leopold was him
self associated with Marauet in the
maintenance OF the ia bles at The casino.
6 %it9eer assa bs
was on every OCCASION denounced as
a partner and associate In his gambling
syndlcat es, Maruuet endeaYored to cir-
cumyent the law by transferring the
gambling from the great halls OF the
Casino to a suite Of rooms In the
upper floors Of the building, which
he hired for the 8purpo Sc, and which he
dubbed .Cercle Priye. that is ii say,
lust been raidad, and q t is proclaimed
that King Albert Is firmly determined
That there shall be 4 no more gambling
$of a public or even semi -publlc char
ncter,1 al sOstenl a. NH se who wish for
ante tainment1oft this kind Will do well,
ttieref ore, u to avoid " In future Ostend.
one OF the mos charMing 1 seaside res
sorts on the northWes tern coast of
the ntinent Of Eur op ~, " hle ~ q mas
been teri polled as such fog n