The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-09
DEAUVILLE
Difficult To Understand What Makes
 Place So Popular

Difficult To Understand What Makes
 Place So Popular
 Trouville, once the center of mid summer fashion, has slipped back to be- ing a mere receptacle for the overflow from Deauville, her more gorgeous twin sister. Trouville is much larger, has better beach and better facilities for handling the crowds which pour in from the Paris trains, but the mode says Deauville, and Deauville it is.
 It is rather difficult to understand l just what the charm is which makes Deauville the summer capital of France. The town is, for the greater part, just like any seaside town-flat and ugly with a generous sprinkling of pensions de famille and sidewalk cafes, but as one approaches the sea, the character changes. One and 2-story buildings ot the ordinary provincial type are sud denly glorified by having the ground floor shop occupied by some world famous jeweler or couturler. A dusty corner blooms into the marie and glass front of a master restaurateur' ana soon the old, small-town atmosphere dls- appears entirely in blocks Of smart es, tablishments built in a haf,tlmDeEeu imitation of the old Normandy arcm- tecture The streets leading from the broad avenue which skirts the beach are solid mass of extravagant villas, and on coming to the edge one IS confrohteu Inv tbe big. luxurious hotels, and the snra wing white Casino. Between thls outer. avenue and the beach proper are elaborate flower beds and tennis courts and at last the sea, with broad stre!cn of cleaning sand, rows Of Datnlhg cabins. brilliantly colored umbrellas anu still more brilliant beach consumes
 Deauville is fully equipped for sports of all kinds-a race course as large as those in or near Paris, polo tleids anu golf courses; during the season the Dls- gest sporting events take place nete' Racing never stops in France Farls III the fall and spring, the Riviera m lne winter. and Deauville in the summer But despite the sports, it IS not tnaC which attracts the greater part ot tne visitors, Very few, comparatFev speaking, ever go near the beach or tne tennis courts. They come to see an9 to be seen, the women to wear lhSn prettiest frocks and brightest 1eweis' the men to gamble and to meet tneir friends or business colleagues, to put over this affair, or that. The Casmo IS really the center of Deauvllle; the gambling rooms are crowded rom cary afternoon almost until sunup. Untold millions of francs change hands over the green felt, while still more millions in the form of pearls and precious stones adorn the throats and wrlsts ol the feminine players. The day s divided mainly into changes ot costume it takes about five to do lt-and invariably ends in the Casino, m Lne fullest of full evening dress, until the wee small hours.
 Beside the gambling rooms the Ca sino contains halls, tea rooms, danchg floors with very good orchestras ana an enormous dining room, where gala dinners are regularly given. The galas are very gay it is difficult to get any | thng but champagne to drink ana usually attractions brought from Parls keep the diners amused. There IS some dancing between courses, but not great deal, and at a given moment the hgnts are lowered, and the big blue arches of the windows blaze with multlcolored fireworks set off on the beach a lew yards away After dinner there Is theater with regular Paris successes to fill in the hours before gambling begins in earnest, and then to the tables, and frantic devotion to the Goddess of Chance.-Dynevor Rhys in World Traveller Magazine. ]