The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-02
From the Kansas city Star.

fOiii ehit t>eiHSdo %itS
IN the Hohewig or main street of
Interlakan. standing Far back
from the street. is a large, pic
turesque building which nestles among
trees and flowers. "a looks like the res
idence of some wealthy parsonage who
comes to the Switzerland resort every
year. A large veranda stretches from
one end of the house to the other. In
the center of the we'll kept garden is a
beautiful fountain banked with flowers.
Winding paths lead here and there about
the garden. The whole is surrounded by
an iron fence which gives it an appear
ance of privacy and exclusiveness. Just
across the street from this place there
is a sign which reads "Kursaal.''
l wondered at the sign the fist day
walked along the Hohewig and finally
came to the conclusion that it pointed
the way to some street few minutes
later 4 met some friends | had run
across several times after we had landed
at Naples. We walked around the quaint
little town composed chiefly of hotels.
And the girl suggested that after dinner
that night we should go to the kursaal.
What is that?' l inquired. They had
Just come from Lucerne and were famil-
lar with the ways of Switzerland
wait and see,' was the reply SO
after dinner | met her and her uncle and
we started down the Hohewig. We
stopped in front of the exclusive looking
residence that l had noticed that after
noon. Off at one side was a small ticket
office with a sign notifying tourists that
an admission fee of one franc was
charged to go into the Kursaal. Tickets
were bought, and l turned inauiringly
to see where we were to go. To my sur
prise we started straight through the
gates into the garden A uniformed at
tendant stood just inside and smiled and
greeted us politely as we entered.
We wandered up the path toward the
building, which was brilliantly lighted.
The music of an orchestra could be
heard. The great veranda was filled with
small tables and at one end large or
chestra was playing. We sat at a table
and listened to the music, which was un-
usually good. When a piece was finished
we started to applaud. We were alone in
curiously and one or two began to clap
in half hearted way.
After several pieces had been played
an intemission was announced and every
one started toward a large, brilliantly
lighted room just off the veranda. We
followed the general exodus and came
into an elegantly furnished room. There
were two large tables in the center,
around which men and women were sit
ting. Between these tables was a rou-
lette wheel and man was calling In a
monotonous tone. The clink of coins
could be heard, but that and the voice
of the man by the wheel was the only
sound.
/ walked up TO one of the tables which
was covered with green cloth like a
billiard table. On 1t were marked num-
her OF squares with the names of various
cities written in them. Coins We're being
tossed on to these squares. The man by
the wheel whirled small rubber ball,
which sped around the glazed circle,
Slowly it settled into small depression
at the center. The man called some-
thing and coins were raked in by the
croppiers at the tables and others tossed
out to those who had won.
"Gentlelnen, make your plays called
the man at the wheel in French. Coins
slid onto the various squares.
"T'he plays are made" he called again.
AS the ball circled nearer the center he
cried again, mo more plays and when
1t had settled into one Of the depressions
he call sthe winning numbers. such as
Berlin. Red. First class" This meant
that the squares marked Berlin, red and
first class, had all won.
So this was roulette room. I had
read Of Monte Carlo. This was merely
a small edition of that famous place
There was no excitement. Well dressed
men and women sat around the tables
and quietly made their plays. II they
lost or won 1t was all the same. One
could not tell by their expression
whether they were lucky or unlucky
Most OF them seemed to have some kind
| OF system which they played. They
studied the table intently and then placed
Itheir bets Now and then aItourist would
80 up and make small b|Set and watch