New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-09
SUICIDE FIGURES HIGHER
Last Week in October Shows
Record Number in Berlin.
MOSTLY DUE TO GAMBLING
Clubs for Playing Games OF
Chance Multiply-900 Women
in One Organization.
trrom The Tribune Correspondent

From The Tribune Correspondent
Berlin Oct 30-This week shows rec
ord number of suicides in Berlin, and II
is to be noted that, as far as can be as
certained. nine Of these suicides out or
ten are ascribed to the consequences OF
gambling. The Kaiser has been greatly
alarmed at this ever increasing craze. and
has ordered the Minister Of the Interior.
Herr Debriick, to draw up a report on
the matter and prepare new law TO be
submitted to the Reichstag, with the OBJ
ject of melting ont a heavier punishment
than is now possible to all those who are
caught gambling.
The increase in gambling is principally
due TO the fact that any amount Of Ger
mans have become millionaires rapidly
and have become addicted to luxurious
living. Berlin has in the last twenty-five
years become a luxurious capital, and il
trying TO Guido Paris and London in ex-
travagance and ostentation. The old
"Moltke spirit" of frugality and sim
plicity, to which it is alleged Germany
owes It's greatness, is being generally
neglected, and the adolescent generation
looks upon II as an antiquated legend.
unworthy of a real modern nation.
Germans practically knew nothing about
gambling and club life before an Ameri-
can named James Henderson opened
club in Berlin some fifteen years ago
and fitted it with a gambling room. The
sequel was that other clubs were speed
fly established and now It is admitted
that Berlin possesses the finest gambling
-. ma
aces, where princes and high army and
navy officials stake fortunes belonging TO
their wives as rule down to primitive
and often squalid resorts in cheap cafes,
where workingmen congregate on Satur-
day evening. after having cashed their
weeks pay slip
Kaiser Sent Good Wishes.
One Of the most popular was the
travellers" founded by an infiusn-
tial nobleman. Count Zegg. former
friend of the Emperor, and the latter,
ever amicable and kind toward his friends,
sent a dispatch to the club committee
on the day the premises were opened
wishing all success to the undertaking
and hoping IT would I'LL its purpose.
Inc trouble came Iipill laic lhNt th''
the purpose" was filled only too well
and that the pockets of the members
were emptied with corresponding speed.
The club was closed by the police several
months after II had been opened, and the
Berlin socialist papers, Of course, puo-
lished the Kaisers telegram, which could
not be denied or disavowed.
1t seemed all the stranger thai the
Kaiser should have thus encouraged the
foundation Of a gambling club in Berlin
as everybody knows that he has lonS
since endeavored TO stamp gambling out
of the army The Berlin clubs contain
large number of young officers. who all
play heavily. The Emperor has espe-
ciaily sternly opposed the participation IN
gambling of the officers of the Potsdain
Foot Guards, his favorite regiment. Sew
eral officers have been expelled from tie
army. case OF that kind occurred only
few days ago, when the son Of polit-
ical leader in the Prussian Diet was
forced TO leave the army because he had
been gaming. But this drastic action
has had, and will probably in future have.
but little effect.