The mirror., 1923-02-15
MONTE CARLO
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plungers who may be found during the
racing season at sLatonia, Pimbico, Sara
toga, Harve de Grace and Tia Juana;
Oriental men of wealth in European dress,
for be it known the Chinese are the most
inveterate gamblers on the face of the
earth; sun-browned Shahs from the desert
countries; European monarchs, travelling
incognito but known to all; famous states
men, authors, and artists; and of course
the sporting gentry of the world for gold
receives more respect and greater Difference
than pedigree in this Mecca of lust and
avarice.
If you wish to pay tribute at the shrine
of the Goddess of Chance you make ap-
plication for an admission card that en-
titles you to play at the tables. The usual
red tape necessitates delay on the part
of the individual, as the management ap-
parently wants to know more about the
character of their patrons than do other
arrangements. AS friend once put it,
facetiously: "They asked me everything
from did my granpap wear cotton socks
to do l eat chop suey?"
After you have your card it is good for
Gre day only. 1t is punched when you
enter the Casino so that there is no chance
of getting by again on it. The reason
for this is that there is tax on each ad-
mission card, and by compelling the player
to obtain a new one each day the more
tax for the official Golfers. To my know
ledge no one has ever accused the manage
ment of being actuated by philanthropcal
motives in its regard for the patrons.
You may we'll breathe sigh of relief
when you have your card for the getting
is nothing less than an ordeal. Bearded
clerks ask innumerable questions, their
sack coats gather about hunched shoulders
while they make entries in the large led
ger on the high desk before them. These
gentlemen were born with a perpetual
look of unbelief on their severe coun-
tenances it seems.
Once by this form of initiation, after
having satisfied the clerks that you have no
intention of attempting to chloroform the
staff while lurking .confederates. swoop
down upon the displayed wealth, you
pass into an. adjoining room where more
clerks, with the same hirsute foliage upon
their faces, are seated at more high desks.
These men wear frock, in place of sack
coats, but the other details are the same as
in the first room, even to the ledgers. And
each clerk is an expert in languages, a
capable linquist. have heard it said that
they can converse with any man, who might
enter the room, in his native tongue. That
may be bit far-fetched, and it very like
ly Is.
Here many more questions are asked
concerning full name, nationality, place
and. date of birth, etc. Then when you
are just about ready to hand over your
money to the sauve conductor to save the
terrific strain on your nerves, you receive
the coveted ticket good for one day only
as stated before, but the open sesame to
the public rooms
The Casino is where the motley mob
congregate to play the wheel. Here there
are two forms of gambling the roulette
wheel and trente ct quarante. There are
comfortable chairs around the tables for
the convenience of the customers as well
as lounges with many pillows of leather
along the walls where one may count his
winnings away from the tense excitement
at the table, or more likely to mourn his
losses.
The roulette wheels at Monte Carlo
contain thirty-seven slots, numbered from
to 36 with an making up the odd
space. Many American wheels have in 90,
in fact the majority of them do The
wheels are in the center of the long tables
with layout boards on each side, on which