The Adair County news., 1914-02-04
A Gambler
Prince
By DONALD CHAMBERLIN

Nothing.
Il regret that the inadequacy of the
law cOmpels me to let you off with q
nominal punishment. You corrupted
the young men in the telegraph Office
to publish false news from the Stock
Exchange in Paris TO enable you tC,
make money by buying or selling
shares, an Offense which should give
you not less than ten years in prison
/ sentence you to serve seven months
in Jail, being the longest term ! can
give you for your crime"
Francois Blanc bowed his head and
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 prejudice against gambling was
growing in Germany. and he feared
the time would come when laws would
be passed that would ruin his business.
NJ. Blanc looked up rather thar
down. He aspired to run his gam
bling business in a country where he
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
q number Of small kingdoms. princi-
palities, dukedoms. that have been in
dependent so long that none of the
great powers have the hardihOOd to-
absorb them. Blanc found little prin
cipality containing few square miles
only that seemed ripe for what he in
tended. What the powers dare not abb
sorb by the bayonet he resolved to alb
sorb by undermining with gold.
The ruler of this principally haC
descended from one of the oldest royal
families in Europe. but he had nothing
but his pedigree. He held a court, il
is true. but his cOurtiers were those
who served without salaries and We're
able occasionally to lend the sovereign
money. In order to recOup he sold q
concession in his principality to tive
men. who bought it with the Intention
of opening a gambling house on the.
territory conceded. They built o Gu
sine and began operations, but the
prince wanted all their profits, anC
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
costly one on the new site. laid out
splendid gardenS-in short. expended
several millions with view to making
his place attractive. Fortunately fCr
him the time was ripe for such an in
vestment. For many years Baden
Baden. in Germany. had been The
fashionable gamblin" center Of EH
rope where every one from royalty to.
cOmmOncr. gave way to the passion %
gaming Baden Baden was now nc
longer such Il resort. and Blanc aimed
to make his concession what BddeL
Baden had been.
In this he succeeded. The gambling
mania Of Europe was all made TO pour
gold into Francois BlIncs pocket
Kings and queens. princes and prin
cesSes. dukes and dUCheSSeS, came anC
made it fashionable. to be followed by
every one who had a franc to spend
and frame to risk. The sovereign
had all the money he wanted to spend
and his court, if not numerous. were
at least we'll dressed and were no,
called upon to lend the prince money
But while ne held the empty title Of
ruler of the principally 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 a silent junior partner in Il gam
bling establishment. and there was
nothing for him TO do but remain as
he was 50 he renewed the concession
for Il term of fifty years for $5.0O00O0
sum that Francois Blanc could well
afford to pay since he made it in a
single year He could afford TO do
more than this. lie furnished all the
money necessary to run the govern
ment, including official salaries.
One storm arose on the gambler SOW
ereign'S path. but he weathered IT,
The princes neighbors. rJt relishing a
gambling principally so near them
erS on which it bOrdered to take steps
to prohibit it, In addition. the princes
subjects became dissatisfied at paying
taxes to a 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 in the loaf the
gambler devOured The prince. the.
principality and lastly the subjects
! passed into his capaciOus nav, for
when citizen sells his citizenship the
buyer becomes its owner.
Francois Blanc accumulated a for
tune equal TO some of the largest in
America. and. if he was only a prince
in a financial way. he married his
daughters to princes.
The principally that forms the sub
ject Of this narrative lies on the
north shore of the Mediterranean and
Is called Monaco. 1t is divided into
three parts. one of which is Monte
Carlo. 1t is on this portion that aH
n opke- Nf h.