The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-18
|MONIEVALLOM MAN
| TAKES NEW ROUTE
ON EUROPEAN TRIP
w. B. Reynolds Says Monaco
Is Most Beautiful Place
in the World
VENICE CHARMING
IN ITS UNIQUENESS
Vienna Shows Evidences Everywhere
of Love of Art, and Budapest
Has Most Wonderful Par
lament Building
To the Editor of The Age Herald:

When l last wrote you was in sun
ny Spain. Now I am in Budapest.
wonder how many of your readers can
tell "offhand' where and what Buda-
pest Is While they think it over
will tell you of my travels since leaving
Spain. From Gibraltar we sailed to
Algiers, which is the capital of AL
geria and situated on the northern
coast of Africa.
Algiers is big city, part of which
is modern and up-to-date and part is
the old Arab quarters, which, if it
were not for Its filth and degradation
would be of interest. From Algiers we
crossed the Mediterranean sea and land
ed at Monaco. or Monte Carlo. Here
we found what was to my mind the
most beautiful place in the world. Mo-
naco, you know, is the smallest prin-
cipality in existence. Monte Carlo and
Monaco are practically the same. as the
entire kingdom is, If it can be called
a kingdom, contains only six square
miles. Still 1t is reigned over by u
prince and is recognized by the great
powers of the world.
1t is on the southern coast of France
and was originally a part of Italy.
Here is located the famous Casino, a
gambling place which has no equal.
Monte Carlo has made poor men rich
and rich men poor. While Il was there
gentleman quit the game one night
100000 ahead. I saw another lose
over $4,000 in less than 10 minutes.
f,na
and the other game with cards The
games are, of course, fair-but the
odds are always largely in favor OF
the house.
Admission is by card and the ap-
p1icant must give his full name and ad-
dress. and il on salary he canot enter.
The doors close promptly at IL o'clock
at night. No minors are allowed. The
Casino is a magnificent building, hav-
ing in 1t theatre, restaurant, reading
rooms and roulette and card tables ga
lore. Any number can play at one table.
l. one goes broke" and has no pass
age money home the house will buy
his ticket. but never again can he enter
its doors. The earnings of the Ca
sino have been variously estimated at
from $10,Oo0,o00 to S15,00o.OO0 per an
rum.
Is fdrdulSe on Earth
Monte Carlo is paradise on earth so
far as scenery goes, and what nature
has not done the idiots who come TO
gamble supply the money to make it
the most attractive and beautiful place
in the world. 1t is situated in a semi
tropical country as the oranges, lemons,
bananas and various flowers blooming
cut of doors in the winter go to show.
The travelling world should never leave
this delightful spot out of their itin-
erary. Monte Carlo is kept up by the
Casino. 1t pays for all improvements
and there are no taxes.
Money is of little object This was
brought to my notice very forcibly one
night when | heard an American gen
t.eman order whisky and soda. The
check was 40 cents for the drink The
American demonstrated at the price.
The waiter, who was ready with his
answer. said; why. money is nothing
In Monte Carlo; the price of a drink
is not considered" Still L had a de-
lightful room at one of the best ho-
tells and good meals. all for $3.50 per
Cay.
Then to Venice
From Monte Carlo | went straight to
Venice. Everyone knows of Venice
Everyone knows 1t is a city of nearly
100000 people; built in the shallow sea,
and its streets all water Not a horse
or wheeled vehicle of any kind in its
borders. The gondola and gondolier
have furnished many themes for ro-
mances. Nevin. with his sweet gentle
music has made Venice dear to the
hearts of musicians. L was told that
in Venice the first newspaper in the
world appeared. 1t was sold for coin
called gazette" from it comes our
word gazette. The Venetians also told
me that in Venice was the first bank
of deposit and the first bill of ex-
change. Artillery they also claim,
which was in the form of an engine
which threw stone of 100 pounds
in weight and could only be discharged
once day. Venetian beads and Ve-
Eetian laces are too we'll known to the
gentler sex 10 make special mention.
The first Bible was said to have been
printed there.
The gondola is the only vehicle OBJ
tainable and available when you wish
to see Venice. 1t does duty for cab, om-
nibus, coach and carriage. Even the
dead are conveyed Styx-like along it's
placid waters. In a short newspaper
article it is useless for me to try to
tell you of the many things of inter-
est st. Marks square, the Doge's pal
ace with it's Bridge OF Sighs." world
famous It's art galleries, made famous
by Titan, Veronese and TintorettO; its
beautiful and marvellous churches, all
alive with Biblical pictures from the
worlds most famous artists; it's history
reaching back centuries before Amer
lea was dreamed of. its cerulean blue
sky silhouetting the Byzantine spires
of st, Marks cathedral; its marvellous
glass works in which almost miracles
are wrought; it's thrifty people, noted
for absence of beggars, all claim the
attention of the traveller and make him
10th to leave its charming borders.
/ must not forget to tell you of the
" Wonderful clock which attracts the al
tention of every visitor and even the
natives themselves. 1t is in tower
near St Marks and was erected in
1896. For over 400 years it has run
continuously. The dial plate, about
four feet in diameter. shows not only
The. hours but the signs of the zodiac
and phases of the moon. On the top,
resting on a platform Is huge bell
beside which stands two giant bronze
figures with sledge hammers which
automatically strike, the hours. On
ascension day and the six days fol-
lowing from z a. m. 10 & p m. every
hour a door opens on the right of the
clock and out walks an angel with a
big trumpet which he blows; he then
bows TO the Madonna and passes on.
He is followed by three figures rep
resenting Moorish kings, one of which
is let black. They all pause before the
Madonna and bow, and then all tho
figures pass on in front and enter 2
door which has opened at the ieft This
door Immediately closes after theil.
The clock and its attachments are con-
sidered one of the most UNIQUE and
wonderful pieces of mechanism in the