Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-03-07
KING GAMBLERS
Francois Blame, the Ex.Convict,
Who Bought Monaco.
THEN STARTED MONTE CARLO.
4 Bold and Reckless Soldier Of For
tune, He Instituted tho Gilded Gam
ina Palace That Now Wins Millions
Yearly For It's Wealthy Owners.

yearly FoF US Wea'tny V"nsTs'
Francois Blanc, an c%x.convict from
Homburg, bought the principally OF
Monaco, boots and baggage. The gen
ius 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 a conquest as this.
Francois Blame Is one OF the most re-
markablc OF all soldiers OF fortune. OF
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.
Ills method was Il 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 %swindliDg, and he and
his twin brother escaped with a SEN
tcnce Of seven months.
Francois Blanc was not discouraged.
| Hc had accumulated 100000 francs,
and with that sum he established the
Kursaal at Homburg. The kursaal
aourished, and Blanc might have gone
on there to the realization Of his am
bitions but for the national sentiment
he was shrewd enough to forcsce.
| 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
to look about for some new country in
| which 10 set up his temple Of fortune.
On the coast OF the Mediterranean.
between the Kingdoms OF France and
Italy. there was a little independent
principality. 1t was not more than
two miles aud q quarter long and hard
ly thrcc-Quarters Of a mile wide. but it
was an independent Kingdom, with an
old and royal house.
Charles III. was the rcigning prince.
but he was Il tattercd monarch, and his
court was a beggarly make believe. In
his desperate situation it is said he ap-
piled to a shrewd Partisan for counsel,
who advised him to set up gaming ia
blcs aud thereby ruin other peoples
subjects since you have already ruined
your own" ..-
Charles III. followed that pregnant
advice. lie sold n gambling concession
in the principally to two Adventures.
Duval and Infcvrc. These men built
the casino, but their venture was not
particularly successful. They asserted
that Charles avaricc could not be satis-
fed. 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 Il bold and dar.
ing advcnturer. The little principally
was divided practically into three
towns-Monaco, Condaminc and Monte
Carlo. 1t was the last that Francois
Blanc occupied. He employed the best
architect to be had. built a great ca
sino. laid out beautiful gardens and ter
races and expended over 100000
upon the mere prospect Of making
Monte Carlo the gambling headquar-
ters Of Europe
Francois Blanc, the ex-convict from
Homburg. was no ordinary man. Lord
Bro,lgham said that Blanc was the
greatest %flnancier of his time. At any
rate, his great financial adventure justi-
fed itself. Blanc came to live In splcn-
dor. He married his daughters to
princes, he accumulated a fortune OF
250,O0O,OOO francs, and he left behind
him an establishment that nets at least
$5,0OO,OW Il year in profits.
More than this. Francois Blanc
bought ami paid for the principally OF
Monaco. He paid Charles ILL.,, 100000
francs a year and all his expenses. with
n percentage Of the profits: he kept up
all the roads and gardens for the prin-
cipality: he paid the police and magis.
trates and all fixed charges Of the
Kingdom. Moreover, when the mer.
chants Of Nice endeavored to persuade
the French senate to resist gambling ut
Monte Carlo and when the subjects OF
the principality threatened to revolt
Blanc. daring and full Of resources. had
Charles issue an edict abplishiug all
taxes in the principally, and out Of his
concession. in addition to what he Ind
already paid. Blanc paid all the taxes
Of Monaco. ",. .
When Albert Honore Charles. the
present Prince Of Monaco, came to the
throne he remained under the thumb
Of the famille Blanc, and in 1895 tho
concession they had obtained was re-
newcd for fifty years upon the pay
ment Of 100000 francs down, 15,0OO,-
600 to be paid in 1914 and other vnst
sums, together with practically all fixed
charges Of the principally. All this is
done by q company called La Societe
des Bains de Mer de Monte Carlo. .
And 50 the genius Of gambling ate a
king and his court, a monarch Of one Of
the Oldest reigning houses in Europe
4 palace. an army. a principally with
It's subjects. and a bishop and cathedral
to boot!-Melville Davisson Post, in the
Saturday Evening Post.
Kept Him Posted.
Conscience Is what tells a man when
he Is doing wrong"