The Elbert County tribune., 1914-08-14

increase of $320.O0O over the
net profits for 1912-13 This handsome profit is not
by any made out of the bathing establishment
on the sea front under the shadow of the rock of
Monaco, and which, by amusing piece of fiction
is supposed to constitute the for the COM
pany's existence. Indeed though | have been to
Monaco good many times, and once lived there for
four months. never discovered any foreign visitor
who went to the sea bathing establishment to take
his BATH and as for the natives WELL the
minority who do occasionally take bath in
variably provided with free admission cards says
writer In the New York Times.
The profits which enable the Monaco Sea Baths
company to pay such substantial dividends are ex
clusively derived from the Casino. clubhouse.
which belongs to the company and which is erected
on the adjoining promontory of Monte Carlo. Pur-
suing the pleasant fiction which gives the company
Its name, 1t may be pointed out that when erecting
the bathhouse half century ago. the directors in
their wisdom, to the conclusion that physical
reaction generally occurred after a sea bath and
that 1t would be we'll to provide possible bathers
with some form of mild excitement which, while
stimulating the nerve centers would not raise the
temperature unduly. Prompted by such praise
worthy motive, the directors obtained permission
from the then regning sovereign of the little princi
pality-namely Prince Charles III-to build house
of recreation" in which number of games should
be installed and especially game known as
roulette"
have heard it stated. but cannot of course guar.
nntee the truth Of the story. that the late NJ.
Blanc called upon the prince and showed his high
black "spokes" and its numbered edge and ex-
planned the working of the game of roulette.
Charles Ill, who had received Christian training,
looked distressed.
Dear me- he is reported to have said 81 am
afraid this seems very much like gambling;" but
the bishop of Monaco who had had pre-
vious conversation with NJ. Blanc and who was
present at the interview, intervened opportunity.
The right reverend gentleman suggested to the
prince that It seemed to him, judging from NJ.
Blanc's explanations, to be rather scientific
form of propoundng. In recreative manner, the
interesting theory as to the laws which govern
chance
The prince, who probably less Innocent on
the subject than his bishop. asked no better than
to be convinced especially he was to receive
very substantial annuity in return for the con-
cession. So on May 49, 1858. the foundation
stone of the Casino was laid, and the bishop at
tended and read prayers for its success
Monte Carlo at that time was very different
sort of place to that which exists Certainly
IT enjoyed beautiful climate and the sunshine
was perpetual, but there we're roadways no
palm trees, no hotels and no flower gardens The
few tumble-down houses that existed on the hill
side were fuller of feas than of guests and the
little pocket handkerchief principally
poor that tax on bread had been established
and the inhabitants were in the proverbial con-
dtion of the patient Job. or course, a railroad
had never been heard of in these parts; commu-
nication was by steamboat or by old-fashoned
coach once day from Nice.
Without loosenng his sway over Homburr
which then the queen of gambling resorts
M. Blanc set out to transform Monte Carlo into
a sort of earthly paradise, not forgetting Eve and
the serpent Into this place poor Adam has wan
dered ever since, only to leave 1t, most of the
time. in the same denuded condition as his first
ancestor left the Garden OF Eden
The native-born inhabitants of the principality
have every reason, the other hand to bless
the advent of the Casino; they pay no taxes of
any kind and live in sort of land of milk and
honey All the cost Of upkeep the laying out of
the roads. the sewerage, the paving the gardens
the police. administration of justice, lighting
armed force. and. indeed the public services of
every kind. are paid for by the foregner-name-
iy out OF the money he leaves on the green cloth
tables at the Casino As sort of act OF atone
ment, fine cathedral church has been built on
the rock at Monaco. but anybody who processes