The Calumet news., 1912-07-15

sphere about the whole place Despite
the enormous numbers present there
is practically no conversation, and the
little there is is carried on almost In
undertones. The few who are moving
about do SO quietly and softly, as if
not to disturb some strange rite. There
Is constant, monotonous. unbroken
hum, in which the clinking of coins.
! the movements of players. the rattle
and roll OF the roulette and the scrap
ing OF the groups or money rakes ali
blend into one prolonged low mur-
MUIR Above this rise, in constant re-
iteration, the sharp voices OF the crou-
piers calling on the players to stake
their money or announcing the result
OF a coup.
OIL Lamps Used.
We make our way to one OF the
crowds around the table. We find that
in the center is the great roulette. Op.
posite ii on each side sit the two rou.
leurs or attendants, who actually spin
the roulette, and four croupiers. Be-
hind them on each side are the two
chefs-de-partie on their high chairs At
the end of the long tables there
are two more croupiers. The green
baize of the tables is marked out with
the numbers and spaces for stalking
money, and all around 1t the regular
frequenters are seated. probably in
the same places as they occupy day
after day. Behind them and between
the seated players on each side have
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 know almost
Invariably the player who has placed
1t, 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 memo
randum tablets, on which they are
busily working out figures and calcu-
lations-system players. who make a
business OF their amusement.
The lamps Immediately over the ta-
bles are. curiously enough, In this
place of modernity, old fashioned oI
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 cutting the
wires, and in all probability the at
tempt would have been successful had
its perpetrators been a little better ac-
quainted with the habits of the Casino.
The whole place was plunged In dark
ness.
Now, 1t was during this confusion
that the accomplices OF the wire cut-
ter standing at each table, were to
nave scooped up whatever money
they could lay their hands on. Un.
for them, but fortunately
ior the public. the Casino authorities
we're a little further sighted than they
imagined. Look up at the arches In the
gallery which runs round the rooms.
Here and there you will see a little
spark OF light. These reveal the where
'bouts of powerful bulps,eye lanterns.
primitive searchlights, already focuss.
- 80 N'N SAShS tdDlcSt ana SO ar
ahged that they can be instantly turn
I'd up by one Official. In the case ra.
erred TO the moment the wires had
'een cut these searchlights were turn.
ID on, and almost before the confusion
lad arisen the tables were each bril.
iantly illuminated In the midst of the
darkness.
Having taken in a general jmnres.
ion of the place and got soma idea or
he method of play, We yenturad 10
'azard stake. Five francs IA the
minimum allowed at the roulette tahla
'he highest stake on an even chance
5 600 francs, and the minimum stakes
n the other chances are SO regulatad
hat this is the largest amount that
an be won by any one stake: but. OF
curse, one player may have any num.
er of stakes on the different chances
% that practically no limit is pIacad
n the amount that can be won hv
ingle coup. though the bank reserves
D itself the right not to pay our mora
han $4,000 of its own money ON anv
ne coup at one table.