The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20

at the present time than in any other city.
 In August two leading Berlin lawyers who gambled heavily disappeared. One was found dead in the Seine near Paris, and letters in his pocketbook showed that he had ruined himself by high play. The other fugitive has not been traced.
 One hears constantly of business men, merchants, and actors who have gone bankrupt, and officers who have been forced to resign from the army, owing to the fact that they had become involved in debts of honor"
 The increase in gambling Is owing prin- cipally to the fact that many Germans have made great fortunes rapidly, and have become addicted to luxurious living. Within the past quarter of a century Berlin has become a luxurious capital, and as 1t is unable to rival Paris and London in beauty and charm, 1t tries to outdo them in extravagance and ostenta- tion. H
 A great money spending Wave has swept over the empire, and the old, frugal "Moltke spirit" to which 1t is alleged Germany owes her greatness, is now con- sidered an anuquated legend, unworthy of the present-day standard of living.
 Leading politicians like Prince Buelow have keehly felt the danger of this na- tionaJ abandonment of the discipline of 1enial; they have given their country men frequent and solemn warnings. Nevertheless. high living has increased steadily in Berlin, and expensive hotels, restaurants, and night cafes have multi piled rapidly.
 Germans knew practically nothing about club life until an American opened club in Berlin some five years ago and fitted it with a gambling room. It's popularity was such that other clubs were speedily established, and now Berlin pos sesses the finest and most luxurious gambling resorts in Europe.
 These gambling clubs range from pala- tial mansions, where princes and high officials can stake fortunes in privacy, down through the social scale to primitive and often squalid resorts in cheap cafes where working men and walters congre- gate when they have received their wages.
 One of the most popular clubs was the Travellers, founded by some influential nobemen, including former warm friend of the Emperor. His majesty sent a dis patch to the club committee on the day the premises wers opened wishing all success to the undertaking, and hoping that 1t would fulfill its purpose.
 It's purpose was fulfilled all too well, and the club had to be closed some months later. Socialist newspapers made much of the scandal, and published the Kaiser's congratulatory telegram.
 It is well known that the Emperor Is sternly opposed to gambling, and he has endeavored-but without great success to stamp it out of the army. The Berlin clubs contain large numbers of young of ficers who play heavily The Emperor has especially opposed the participation in gaming of the officers of his favorite regiment, the Potsdam Foot Guards. Some months ago he went so far as to ex- pei from the army two young and prom ising officers; one the son of @ leader In the Prussian Diet, and the other the son of a Prussian general. This drastic action had no effect, however. A little later the names of F officers who had ruined themselves, and were unable to discharge their debts of honor," were published on their expulsion from the army.
 Gambling is possible for every man who can afford to pay the entrance fee to a so-called private club. These clubs are innumerable in Berlin. The fee is usually f1 Rich foreigners are often entrapped by members who make d profession of gambling.
 The victim believes that he is dining at an ordinary club, and he usually forms a n1Rn Oplnlon or lIeTfndn HOSpltdHly- Altci dinner he Is skilfuly piloted to the card table. and permitted to lose a large sum to his hosts.
 The lowest class of gambling dens, and probably the most numerous, can be found in the back-room of many a Berlin res taurant or cigar shop. The stakes vary from e1 to e100. To avoid the intrusion of indiscreet individuals, a porter de- mands the secret password at the door
 These resorts are filled with players night after night In the case of private clubs the police cannot interfere, but the public prosecutor has been active in SUD- pressing many less carefully conducted gambling dens
 There is one club for women, in the western district at Berlin. Its member ship is said to be between 500 and 1000. The club is ostensibly maintained for the teaching of physical culture. but roulette and poker are the real attractions.
 The get-rich-ouick craze is as prevalent in Berlin at present as it ever was in a western American mining town The pub lie seem to have lost their heads en- tirely Until the authorities start gen uine reform movement and pelalize such resorts, the capital of the. German em- pire will remain demoralized by the rush for wealth and the fascination of gam bling.