The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-03-27

Carlo depends on crowds, and foreign crowds at
that. When the crowds stay away Monte Carlo
is in bad straits. She has no money for public
improvements. She has no money to pay the
salary of the chief ruler, the prince. She has no
work for the people.
Monte Carlo is better known than the country
in which it is situated. The country is Monaco
on the Bay of Monaco. Take a map of Europe
and run your fingers along the Mediterranean
coast until you ONE to the boundary of Italy and
France. Glance to the westward a short distance
and you will find Monaco bay. 1t is an ~insignif-
cant bay. When you talk about countries in
America you think in terms of big nations like
the United States or Brazil. In Europe there are
several insignificant independent republics and
principalities. Monaco is one of these and
Monte Carlo is within Monaco. The casino is
in Monte Carlo.
In 1858 Monaco was on the verge of ruin. The
people we're so poor that the principality was on
the verge of surrendering its independence to
France. Then Prince Charles thought of the
scheme of running a great gambling house-a
casino.
For a few years the casino did not pay ex-
penses, but the government struggled along. Re-
Gently the ruler has turned out to be one of the
wealthiest of men. His country has finely paved
roads. His citizens can hear the best music. The
finest operas in the world come there. Monaco
is a delightful winter resort and is the Palm
Beach of kings. Americans go there if they have
lots of money. No one else need go there for
long. Hotel bills are high and tips are always
expected.
When the war in Europe broke out all the peo-
pie of Monaco were looking for a big season at
the casino. They were preparing for the usual
winter rush, when bang! all Europe was at war.
No one came to the casino to gamble. There
was no revenue to pay the king or to support the
police. When no one came to gamble, no one
came to live at the fashionable hotels. When
no one came to live at the hotels the importers
who brought in food for the guests lost their
jobs, the walters and cooks lost their jobs, the
cashiers lost their jobs. With none Of the
wealthy ones in town there could be no grand
opera or theater. The ushers lost their jobs and
more walters and cooks lost their jobs The
guides lost their jobs and even the undertakers
who made it a business to bring in the suicides
from the bay lost their jobs.
There always was considerable salvage in sui
cides. Wealthy men often entered the casino
and played. Then they played some more. Even
tually they lost because the game is set against
the player. When they lost they played harder
in an attempt to win back their losings. They
lost more. Finally they went out of the casino
broke! There are high rocks all around Monaco
bay. When one climbs to the top of the high
rocks and jumps off headlong he does not come
back-alive. The next thing is a reward, aud
there is always good money in rewards when
the victim is found floating in the bay. Then
the undertaken has a job.
Once in a while a gambler shrewder than the
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rare. In poker they would say the cards are
stacked against him, but at Monte Carlo they
play roulette. The roulette wheel is so built that
a man has only a minority chance Of whining.
If the wheel was made any other way there
would be no profits to pay the princes salary and
to keep up the police and to contribute to the
support of the theater and for public improve
ments, such as magnificent sea baths.
Monaco is one of the most fortunately situated
countries in the whole world. Warm breezes
from the Mediterranean come over from the
south all through the winter. The high hills to
the north cut out all the cruel winter blasts.
Flowers grow there all the year around. The
place is easily accessible by yacht and steamer or
over country from Paris.
1t is a country where the visitor is welcomed
with open arms, for indeed it is the visitor who
makes the prosperity of the country. The coun-
try is built for him. The citizens serve gladly
for the money they get in exchange. When there
Is no war in Europe there is always plenty of
entertainment for the visitors. There are sports
OF all kinds. Aviators. yachtsmen. oarsmen, run
ness, all athletes come to participate in the great
games played there.
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