The Washington herald., 1911-05-06
MONACO AND THE RIVIERA.
There is a Monaco question.

] There is a Monaco question.
| explained yesterday how the So
ciete des Bains du Mer at Monte Carlo
which owns the gambling casino, in order
to safeguard its power absorbs nearly
every monopoly in the Monaco principal
ity. and has only disdained those which
did not appeae to be useful to its OBJ
jects. or which, from one cause or an
other. have escaped its clutches, such as
electricity. tramways. markets, and the
Mont de Piete (pawnshop). It is the
Prince Of Monaco who reigns. It is the
IS B. M which governs.
| The people of Monaco?. From what 1
deducted in yesterdays letter, 1t appears
| that they ought to be happy in a country
where the Casino has taken such scrupu-
lous care of their well-being. What do
| they lack. indeed? All the public service
is supported without any cost to them.
Enormous sums have been expended; the
port, upon which work Is still going on,
has swallowed UP more than ten millions
of francs. Most Of the inhabitants get
| their wages from the IS. B. NJ" And to
| that company, dieectly or indirectly. are
due their fortunes and the prosperity. of
their country. Better still, relieved Of
all cares, without military service they
do not pay taxes, arousing In this the
envy of other nations Of Europe. who
are crushed under the burden of taxa
tion.
Nevertheless I say, the people of Mo-
naco are not happy. Privileged more In
appearance than in reality (because, to
cite one example, they also know the
meaning Of Indirect taxation and suffer
from the high price of living), they COM
plain at the same time of their Prince
and of the Casino.
Above all, they deplore that they are
held in a state of tutelage. esteeming
themselves to be capable of managing
their own affairs. They claim the right
of intervening in the administration and
the government of their. country, to point
out reforms which should be effected
and abuses which should be suppressed;
to put on foot programme of public
works. to beautify and modernize the
principality according to their taste. FL
nally. they are bold enough to desire
Intellectual reforms, a more liberal re-
gime, a more modern system Of educa-
ing their appetites. They claim their
rights, holding that liberty, independence:
dignity. self-respect. and esteem are pos
sessions not without value.
Among the foreign strands much in
favor with tourists il the far-famed
Cote d'Azur." Its great natural beauty
Is admitted to every one. Travellers who
have ranged the whole world agree that
it would be difficult to find a parallel for
the sunny Riviera coast. with its flower
clad, enchanting towns Of Nice, Cannes
Monte Carlo. and their sisters, Beaulieu.
Grasse, and Antibes. One special charm
of these nature-favored resorts lies in
the contrast of their background OF snow
capped mountain with the surprising
blueness and warmth of the sea tapping
their shores. Who that has once stood
in winter on the sunny strand of Mentone
and gazed first at the cold whiteness of
the Maritime Alps behind and then at
the indigo of the Mediterranean in front.
can ever forget the scene? The towns OF
the Cote d'Azur. whose development has
been SO rapid. form one long boulevard |
from Nice to the Italian frontier, adorned |
with lines of orange and lemon trees, |
now white with blossom and anon yellow |
with fruit.
The Riviera has been the favored |
winter and spring resort of nearly all
the royalties of Europe. who. taking |
their example from Queen Victoria, |
found the balmy air of this southern |
land invigorating and generally bene- !
fetal from the point Of view Of health. |
The votaries of fashion. too. have
focked there in the pursuit of pleasure |
and recreation.
The winter season of the French |
Riviera has come to a close. and that of
spring is beginning. There is one month
yet before the weather there becomes
unplea sanity hot, and even in midsum-
ner heat these favored localities know the
of nights cooled by the de-
ightful sea breees of the Gulf of Mar
seilles. Whatever route the traveller
with the Riviera as his OBJ
ective. he may be sure of finding scenes
Of interest on the way. All are worth
the old judicial city,
famed alike for its wine and its learn
ng: Lyons. the metropolis of the Rhine;
Vienna, with the Temple of Augustus;