The Washington herald., 1922-02-05
GAMBLING SEASON
AT MONTE CARLO
IS IN FULL SWING
Thousands of Fashionable
Spenders Invade
Casino.

MONTE CARLO. Feb. Its cos
mopoiitan crowds swsiied by the
usual number OF American visitors,
Monte Carlo. frivolous and even
wicked but warm. gay. beautiful, is
In the full stream Of midseason ac.
tivity.
The center of this activity Is. a.
In previous years the Casino. may
eontinue-for. roulette is barred in
From the gayiy-painted railroad
station, Mt approach to a city
founded on pleasure. one mounts
directly to the Casino by steps that
wind through gardens. The sea-
view, the bslmy southern breeze,
the art of the xrchitect soften the
approaching visitor. Surely some
friendly fairy princess lives In this
palace! Can fortunes be lost here
In a day-snd won? Can this place
hide dark secrets Of past TRACE
dies? Where is there place for
gloom in this sunshine?
Killing Time. ssd Pigesss.
Only one giant. ancient magnolia
tree, SO huge you cannot see, into
its depths half as far as the TRUNK
seems to give any but a reassurIns
| answer.
Out on a terrace, overlooking the
sea, In this magnificent backyard
Of the Cacino, grown men, armed
with shotguns are shooting for
sport live pigeons released for the
/ a Af.e,
from the muzzie.
Around the Casino. in front. otn-
er pigeons, whose turn may come
fatten OF scraps fed them by hab
itues Of the Casino. for luck"
That square in front OF the Ca.
sino is a gay sight. To the left is
the luxurious. expensive Hotel d.
Paris. and beyond II the Sporting
Club. containing the most exclusive
gambling rooms OF the Casipo. Tc
the right. gayly colored as a sea.
| side pavilion, is the Cafe de Paris
at whose outdoor tables sits. soon.
er or later. almost every traveller
in the world Straight ahead, be-
yond q park. rises Monte Carlo. q
city built on terraces. ruIi OF no
tells, pensions. American bars anc
English tailors. and pawnshops-
remarkable pawnshops, whose win,
dow displays would grace Fifth
avenue.
within the Casino. there is ar
atmosphere OF excitement. II Is
somewhat the same one feels in the
Stock Exchange, but different
There is something less frank about
It. II is productive of less gossip
II is elemental, but covered with a
great gloss of gentility.
Business Of Pleasure.
One passes by the deliberately
decorated theater. and enters the
rooms" They are crowded. but &,
Is very still. One is almost deceived
into thinking IL is business. But II
is not business. II is pleasure
Those who lose come back again
not as an investment. not to gel
wealthy. but for the fun of il.
They sit three deep around the
green tables. their faces flushed
with excitement All are wei
dressed. The rooms" are parlors
salons. The fever is a cultured
fever. There Is nothing TO sugges'
the squalid red-eyed gambling lus'
Of Mexicali and Tia Juana-
| And around the walls sit those
who wait-wives. mothers. sisters
sometimes husbands. fathers oil
brothers.
| Beyond the rooms" themselves
are the private rooms" for mem
bers of the inner circle. who mus
pay each $50 francs for the season
These rooms are more beautiful!
decorated, the number Of striking
~ dressed women greater. Other
wise the same. room after room
seemingly interminable, and al
crowded. although this season ha'
been dubbed dull" And after mid
night, when the Casino closes, thu
story continues at the Sporting
| Club