Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-02-04
KING OF GAMBLERS
Francois Blanc, the Ex-Convict,
Who Bought Monaco.
Then STARTED MONTE CARLO.
A Bold and Reckless Soldier OF For
tune, He Instituted the Glded Gam
ing Palace That Now Wins Millions
Yearly For Its Wealthy Owners.

tune, He Instituted the Gilded Sam-
ing Palace That Now Wins Millions
Yearly For Its Wealthy Owners.
Francois Blanc, an eX-cOnvict from
Homburg, bought the principality OF
Monaco, boots and baggage. The gem
lus Of gambling had claimed many an
individual, many a noble and his estate
and not infrequently an entire city,
but it had never before undertaken
such conquest as this.
Francois Blanc is one Of the most re-
markable of all soldiers of fortune. or
his early history little is known. He
was seized by the authorities OF HON.
burg for having made fraudulent use
of the telegraph in relation to stock
exchange news received from Paris.
His method was one Of the very Oldest
namely, the corruption Of the EN-
ployees. 1t seems that at this time the
German law did not precisely cover
this species Of swindling, and he and
his twin brother escaped with sen
tence of seven months.
Francois Blanc was not discouraged.
He had accumulated 100000 francs,
and with that sum he established the
Kursaal at Homburg. The Kursaal
fourished, and Blanc might have gone
OIL there TO the realization Of his am
bitions but for the national sentiment
he was shrewd ehough to foresee.
Blanc realized that the time was not
far distant when the German people
would put down the sort Of gambling
in which he was engaged, so he began
% look about for some new country In
which to set up his temple OF fortune.
On the coast Of the Mediterranean,
Jetween the Kingdoms Of France and
italy, there was little independent
principality. 1t was not more than
two miles and quarter long and hard
Iy three-quar.ers OF mile wide. but lt
was IN independent kingdom, with an
old and royal house.
Charles III. was the reigning prince.
but he WAS tattcrcd monarch, and his
court was n beggarly make believe. In
his desperate situation II IS said he ap-
piled to Shrewd Partisan for counsel.
who advised him to set up gaming ia
bles and thereby ruin other peoples
subjects since you have already ruined
your own"
Charles iii. followed that pregnant
advice. He sold gambling concession
in the principality to two adventurers.
Dnval and Iefevre These men built
the casino. but their venture was not
particularly successful. They asserted
tha: Charles avarice could not be salts
lied. and when Francois Blanc arrived
on the Mediterranean. around 1850. he
bought the concession and moved his
gambling establishment from the kur-
Saal at Homburg to Monaco.
Francois Blanc was bold and dar-
ing adventurcr The little principality.
was divided practically into three
towns Monaco, Condamlne and Monte
Carlo. II was the last that Francois
Blanc occupied. He employed the best
architect to he had. built n great ca
sino, laid out beautiful gardens and ter
races and expended over $3.G0o.OOO
upon the mere prospect OF making
Monte Carlo the gambling hcadquar-
ers of Europe.
Francois Blanc. the eX-convict from
uomburg. was no ordinary man Lord
Brougham said that Blanc WAS the
greatest fnnnrier of his time. At any
rate. his great financial adventure justi
lied Itself Blanc came to live in splen-
dor He married his daughters to
princes, he accumulated fortune Of
25O.OO0.000 francs, and he left behind
him an establishment that nets at least
;5.G0O.OG0 year in profits.
More than this, Francois Blanc
bought ana paid for the principality OF
Monaco. He paid Charles III. 100000
francs Il year ard all his expenses, with
percentage of the profits; he kept up
III the roads and gardens for the prin-
.ipality: he pnil the police and magis-
rates and all fixed charges of the
kingdom Moreover. when the mer'
chants OF Nice endeavored TO persuade
he French senate TO resist gambling at
Monte Carlo and when the subjects OF
The princifaity threatened to revolt
Blanc, daring and full of resources, had
Charles issue an edict aboliShing all
taxes I'm the principality, and out of his
concession, I'm addition to what he had
already paid. Blanc paid all the taxes
Of Monaco.
When Albert IIonore Charles. the
present Prince Of Monaco, came TO the
throne he remained under the thumb
Of the famille Blanc and In 1893 the
concession they had obtained was re-
newed for atty years upon the pay
ment Of 100000 francs down. 15.OOO,-
GOO to be paid in 1914 and other vast
runs, together with practically all fixed
charges Of ine principally. All this is
done by company called La Societe
lies Bains de Mer de Monte Carlo.
And so the genius Of gambling ate
king and his court, a monarch OF one or
the oldest reIgnlng houses In Europe
n palace. an army. n principality with
It's subjects. and bishop and cathedral
to boot.-Melville Davisson Post, In the
Saturday Evening Post
A Long Time Out Of Use.
"a man told me-" says cynic In the
American Magazine, that during the
San Francisco earthquake he and his