The sun., 1919-08-31

can Monte Carlo This is, of course,
absurd. To compare roadhouses out
near the edge of the lake, or even the
best of the Saratoga establishments,
which is a comfortable shingled coun-
try house on Church street, mile or
so out of town In the other direction,
with the splendor of Monaco is merely
funny. Nor is there anything in or
about Saratoga to-day which even sug-
gests the lure, so far as appearance
and setting goes, of clubhouse like
Canfields, with its picture galleries.
Italian gardens, trout stream and
spreading Gins.
This illusion having been dissipated,
one hastens to add that Saratoga never
has seen before anything like the
number OF gambling houses that have
been active this month. that high
stakes have been played for nightly,
that the amount of money won and
lost probably has exceeded that OF any
season Garfield or John Morrissey and
his syndicate knew and that more
women have participated in the sport
than ever before.
The obvious and true explanation is
twofold. In the first place, Saratoga
never before has harbored such a
crowd of visitors with so much money
to spend and a disposition to toss it
forth as bait for more. Secondly,
there is nothing to confute an asser-
ton often heard that the majority
sentiment of the city of Saratoga is
averse to interfering with the fun of
these profitable outsiders so long as
the games are, as the phrase is. well
conducted and no townspeople are ad-
mitted.
Some Were shocked.
A good many persons, It is true, were
shocked when they learned that there
was gambling within the city as well
as on the suburban fringe. These
and others remark that something
ought to be done, but THE SUN re-
, porter was unable to note any con-
certed effort to do that something. One
of the public officers confessed that he
had tried to appraise the popular feel
! ing and was compelled to believe that
the city would give him no substan-
tial support If he undertook what he
| called a crusade.
Another man Of considerable repute
|
uation which he described as "ugly,"
and averred that in the long run Sara
| toga would be better off II both race
track and gambling houses were eff
! faced, for it's reputation as a health re-
sort would be freed from what he re-
garded as evil complications. But al
most in the same breath he admitted
that the people Of the city, whom he
regarded as shortsighted, preferred the
dollar in hand to the possible two dol
lars Of the future, and conceded that
"the town ought to take a liberal at
titude toward visitors. who have their
own customs and their own methods Of
enjoying themselves"
Politics. Maybe.
To a man on a fence II also seems
to be barely possible that the political
fractional fight which forever diverts
Saratoga has close relation with the
prevalence of gambling. 1t seems pos
sible that one or another of the city
or county officers would a-raiding go
If he were not tortured by a sus-
picion that the other crowd might put
him in a hole IL he did so.
to attempt to plumb the depths of
Saratoga politics, A custodian Of one
of the springs is fond of telling drink
ers that the water bubbles up $500
feet from a crevice in otherwise solid
rock. II so, it must be in communion
somewhere near the source of the
local political spring.
At the race track the attendance
has been prodigious. On Saturdays
the crowds have been as large as on
the biggest days OF meetings at the
metropolitan tracks-a remarkable
thing considering the fact that a great
majority of the patrons live far from
Saratoga. Club house, grand stand
field stand and lawns have been SO
densely populated as to make the Gus
tomary moving about between races
we'll nigh impossible. on Saturday a
week ago 1000 automobiles were
parked within the gates and a much
larger number were arrayed outside.
Shortage of Bookmakers.
On such days the supply OF book
, makers-the old name PERSISTS al
though there is no more bookmaking
has fallen far short OF the demand
and swarms of excited persons have
been unable to get near enough to one
, OF these gentlemen to make a deal
Bets as high MS $4,000 by an individ-
ual on one race have been rumored-
, but not proved. 1t Is certain. now
ever, that the unwritten rule requir.
ing a layer to restrict bet to LOOT
mas been repeatedly ignored.
Rewards to successful Jockeys and
trainers have gone sky high. It's q
poor jockey these days who owns NJ
big motor car and keeps no chauffeur
: in attendance,
: "On the season" the bookmaker:
are ahead. as usual. Some are retiring
this week with fortunes that may take
= them eventually to the real Mont,
: Carlo. Even Gloomy Gus has go