The state herald., 1912-07-05
R0 QFn0MacO

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 II
not to disturb some strange rite. There
Is constant, monotonous, unbrokeD
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 all
blend into one prolonged low muir
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 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. OPP.
TOsite 1t 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 sll around It the regular
frequenters are seated, probably in
the same places as they occupy day
after day. Behind them and lVtween
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 n seeming confusion, but the
quick eyes OF the croupiers mark each
stake as II IL placed, and know almost
inyariablt Ike 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 tn.
bles are. curiously enough. In this
place OF modernity. oldfashioned 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 10 carry out an Ingenious
raid on the Casino by cutting the
wires. and In all probability tho at.
tempt would have been successful had
Its perpetrators been little better nc
quainted with the habits of the Casino.
The whole place was plunged In dark.
ness.
Now. II was during this confusion
that the accompliees of the wire cut.
ter. standing at each table. were TO
have scooped up whatever money
they could lay their hands on. I'm.
fortunately for them. but fortunately
for the pu:lic. the Casino authorities
were little further sighted than they
Imagined, Look up at the arches ~ the
gallery which runs round the rooms
Here and there you viii see a little
spark OF light These reveal the whore,
abouts OF powerful bull's.eye laRerns.
primitive searchlights. already focuss.
cd on the different tables. and so ar.
ranged that they can be Instantly xrn.
ed up by ono otiicial. In the case 70
ferred TO the moment the wires had |
been cut these senrchlights were turn. |
ed on. and almost before the confusion |
had arisen the tables were each bril- |
liantly illuminated In the midst OF the |
surround ng darkness