The Washington herald., 1913-01-19
nv A. ID. JACOBSON.

By A. ID. JACOBSON.
MoS1co AND MONTE CARLO: By Adolphe
Smith, with eight color repcductions nom
drawings and forty eight ihstrtions J. D. LAP
pincott Co, Philadelphis- Price. sAa
A lifelong acquaintance with the prin-
cipality of Monaco has placed the author
in the fortunate position to issue the only
detailed historical chronicles bearing
upon that famous gaming resort, coupled
with intimate descriptions Of political and
social events, from the founding of the
dnchv bv one of the Grimaldis. up to
the present day. Mr.. Smith, as far back
as 1854, had been deputized to investigate
the sanitary conditions Of the land, ana
more recently, during the conference
there of the International Association or
the Medical Press Qso29 was the spokes-
man Of the eight nationalities repre-
sented.
After paying his respects to the highly
cultured ruler Of the little land, Prince
Albert. a noted scientist and oceano-
eraphjc authority the author tells us
that Monte Carlo is haven for the fne
arts especially those connected with mu-
sic and the stage Horticulture and horti-
culture receive lavish attention under
fully qualified technical superintendent.
Here is a small principality where, in
proportion, more money is spent on local
Il
promotion Of original research, on the
arts and sciences, than in any other
mart of the world All this was and is
done without arousing the ire OF taxpay-
ers For the fact is the princlpallty mas
applied with such remarkable success the
principle of taxing the foreigner, the
tourist, the visitor, the stranger Wltnn
its gates, that there is no necessity
whatever for taxing the natives. Still
~ tobacco,
matches. and for revenue stamps-just
like in neighboring France. But this is
done for the sole reason of preventing
Monaco from becoming TO France what
Gibraltar is to Spain, namely, SNUG
Cling center for the income is insignlh-
can't, barely 10000 francs annually.
There is, of course, no compulslon as
to the taxation of foreigners Ihose
who wish to contribute by patronizing
the Casino and gaming tables, besides
proving, by passport and other means OF
Identification, that they are aliens, must
show that they can afford TO play II
they are poor and can i'll afford to risk
a game of chance, their contribution is
not accepted Cat least not in theory.
The author naturally gives very de-
tailed account of the history OF the or
ganization of the famous Casino ana its
gaming tables. where. from all parts OF
the local government, the cost of
the world. millions of people voluntarily
risk their cash. That they thus, with
out a murmur, defray the entire cost OF
the expensive and luxurious festivals,
concerts, theatrical performances. balls
sports, &c, all organized by the Casino'
dropping besides fat dividends TO the
stockholders, is a social. economical and
psychological phenomenon, to analyze
which the author has not conceived TO
be his province.
The fascinating game of roulette has
been attributed enormously to Pascal,
mediaeval priest and Mathematician
What about the infallible systems TO
''break the bank which mainly are in
fallible only in the startling regularity
with which they prove failures.
The author denies emphatically that
there is any foundation for the stories
told about playing to defects, or con-
trolling the results Armed with a per-
mission from the prince himself. he one
day entered the gaming rooms before
they were opened to the public. He
found four responsible functionaries busy
inspecting the tables. He lifted of the
wheel and examined its internal struc-
ture and made some experiments with
his own hands. There was absolute hon
esty.
This. combined with the precision of
scientific instrument. explains the steady
influx of spectators ready to risk their
money on a chance, but well aware what
prospect there is of winning. II so many
lose, il is, says the author. because so
few are content with moderate gain
human weakness and an overreaching
avaricei This quite often is accompanied
by extraordinary and at times amusing
Developments of unreasoning superstition.
The truth is that the mathematician has
not vet been discovered who has made a
successful study of the laws of chance
as illustrated by the records of the
roulette table >
The scenic descriptions of the Rivera,
the Cornice Road, of the rock upon which
Monte Carlo is built. the climate, &c.
are so we'll known and have been told so
often that comment is superfuous. but
the Photographic illustrations are of the
best.
THE FORMER COUNTESS: BY Annie Field
villa. Buston-HerInan. French Co. Pnce,
$40
The story open in Paris at the begin
ming OF the French revolution. The
heroine, a young and beautiful member
heroine, a young and beautiful member
of the nobility, the Countess of Navarro,
is widowed through the malignity of
one of the Jacobins who had secretly
planned to secure her for himself She
and her family. including her brother,
the Duke de Beaumont, and Chabert,
his secretary, a man of unusual charm
and character. are Obliged to seek safety
in fight. Before starting on their jour
ney the countess yields to Chabert's