The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-02-06
A Gambler
Prince
By DONALD cHAMBERLlN

This IL a true story.
Francois Blnnc," said the judge.
what have you to say why sentence
should not be passed upon y0u?"
Nothing"
Il regret that the inadequacy of the
law compels me to let you OF with q
nominal punishment. You corrupted
the young men In the telegraph office
to publish false Jews from the Stock
Exchange in Paris to enable you to
make money by buying or selling
shares. an offense which should give
YOU not less than ten years in prison.
I sentence you to serve seven months
in Jail. being the longest term can
give you for your crime"
Francois Blanc bowed his head and
was marched away. When his term
Of service had passed he came out Of
Jail with $4,000 to his credit in bank.
Right under the nose Of the judge
who had convicted him he established
a casino in Homburg. which was really
a gambling house. He made money.
but a prejudice against gambling was
growing in Germany. and he feared
the time would come when laws would
be passed that would ruin his business.
M. Blanc looked up rather than
down. He aspired to run his gam
bling business in a country where ne
could so influence the laws that none
would be made to interfere with his
method of enriching himself. So he
looked about him. In Europe there are
a number of small kingdoms. princt-
palities. dukedoms. that have been in
dependent so long. that none Of the
great powers have the hardwood to
absorb them. Blanc found a little prin-
cipality containing a few square miles
only that seemed ripe for what he in
tended. What the powers dare not alb
sorb by the bayonet he resolved to ab-
sorb by undermining with gold.
The ruler Of this principality had
descended from one of the Oldest royal
families in Europe. but he had nothing
but his pedigree. He held a court. 1t
is true. but his courtiers were those
who served without salaries and were
able occasionally to lend the sovereign
money. In order to recoup he sold a
concession in his principality to two
men. who bought it with the intention
of opening a gambling house on the
territory conceded. They built a ca
sine and began operations. u the
prince wanted all their profits. and
they became discouraged.
Francois Blanc. learning of this con-
cession and the condition OF its own
ers. bought it from them and. closing
out his casino at Homburg. built q
costly one on the new site. laid III
splendid gardens-in short. expended
several millions with n view to making
his place attractive. Fortunately for
him the time was ripe for such an In
vestment. For many years Baden
Baden. in Germany. had been the
fashionable gambling center of Eu-
rope. where every one from royalty to
commoner. ave way to the passion Of
gaming. Baden Baden was now no
longer such 81 resort, and Blanc aimed
to make his concession what Baden
Baden had been.
In this he. succeeded: The gambling
mania Of Europe was all made to pour
gold into Francois Blanc's pocket.
Kings and queens. princes and prin-
cesses. dukes and duchesses. came and
made it fashionable. to be followed by
every one who had 4 franc to spend
and a franc to risk. The sovereign
had all the money he wanted to spend.
and his court. II not numerous. were
at least we'll dressed and e not
called upon. :tu,iends the prince money.
But while; he held, the empty. title Of
ruler of the principality francois
Blanc was the real governor.
The prince died and left his inherit
ance to his son. The new sovereign
proved himself really nothing more
than q silent Junior partner in \ gam
bling establishment, and there was
nothing for him to do but remain as
he was. SO he renewed the concession.
for a term Of fifty years for $5.OOO.OO0.
a sum that Francois Blanc could we'll
afford to pay since he made 1t in q
single year. He could afford to do
more than this. He furnished all the
money necessary to run the govern
ment, including official salaries.
One storm on the gambler SOW
ereign's path. but he weathered 1t.
The princes neighbors. not %relishing q
gambling principality sn near them.
endeavored to induce one Of the pow
ers On which it bordered to take steps
to prohibit it. In addition. the princes
subjects became dissatisfied at paying
taxes to Il prince who had such an
enormous revenue. At Blanc's request,
the sovereign abolished all taxes. and
Blanc paid them.
This was the last bite I'm the loaf the