Evening star., 1928-02-05
snt
Cnis-Gr~ tCupt aBemmLw wFequntT Than Days.

a great many secrets at Monte Carlo
which never reach the public. The
Casino authorities are not anxious that
publicity should be. given to the more
repelling results of feverish gambling.
There are, of course, lesser tragedies:
tragedies in which lives have not been
lost. but In which they have been
wrecked. Let us take q look at some OF
them-those habitues Of the gaming
rooms who day after day sit round the
tables like the devotees of some mystic
faith. There are men with worn-out,
greasy clothes, whose faces bear the
characteristics Of the jackal. There are
old and faded women, grotesquely at
tired in dowdy imitation finery. AT
intervals they will jerk their heads
round as though expecting the vista
ton of something they have long learned
to fear
There are others no less smitten by
the fever Of the tapis vert who. though
Of somewhat better social position, dis
play the same furtiveness. At that far
table sits a middle-aged woman with
features that denote high birth and good
breeding. At one time she possessed
very considerable wealth. She Is the
bearer Of a name greatly honored in
her native country. BY incesSant gam
bling through the years she has frit-
tered away the great bulk OF her in
heritance. until now she lives on a
modest allowance subscribed by the gen.
erosity of her relations. and the Casino
authorities have standing instructions
not to allow her more than certain
number of counters day.
tween Monte Carlo. Nice or Mention.
vc,, will San tha carry rrOUd Their
conversation Is ever Of the green cloth
and the fortunes which they believe,
despite their years Of disappointment.
will one day be theirs. Such is the
grotesque optimism by which they hang
on to life day by day. The Casino has
eaten its way into their souls until they
cannot live without it.
II there be one quest in life common
to most inveterate gamblers. it Is that
Of discovering o system by which win
nings will roll in surely and conttnu-
ously. But there Is no evidence that
any one has yet devised any such sys-
! tenn. There are. however. one or two
features Of roulette play which will
whet the optimism OF the case-hardened
yamester
For instance. it is quite well known
that after the ball has fallen on zero
one or other Of the winning numbers
which follows is frequently 81 or 9.
The experienced gambler win there
fore place his stake on n en- plein "a
35-to-l chance) or back the first dozen.
and by some almost freakish combina-
ton OF circumstances one Of these win
come up as many as six times out Of ten.
1t Is also a matter of great curiosity
that after the number 80 has won. one
OF the numbers between 81 and 36 Is
almost certain to prove Q winner
Another curious Circumstance. but
for which there Is possible explana-
ton, is that scarcely any experienced
professional gambler Is 70 BE- seen at
the tables between $50 and 7:30 Then
than their customary irregularity An
/ ingenious explanation has been advanced
for this peculiarity-that the croupier
is somewhat fatigued during that period
and does not start the wheel and the
ball with his usual uniform impetus
CONE years ago a certain old lady
- harbored q deep-rcoted grievance
against the authorities because she be-
lieved they had deprived her OF right
fu winnings Her oft-repeated threats
Of revenge invariably produced tolerant
S4tIk4CS OIA t2LE S4(CS Va tx4C NAO4R2CAS aA1I
one day when she asserted tina: she had
devised q system for the secret Of which
the Casino authorities would be glad 20
pay her thousands Of francs. no one
took more than the usual notice OF der
declaration
As the DAYS went past. however, it
was noticed that the old lady Vas wfn-
ming very considerably, rs we're two
other players. young and q middle
aged man Occasionally one o. the trio
made minor losses. but 50 large were
their winnings that the authorities be-
came genuinely alarmed. The upShos
of the matter Was that they were COM
PEELED to pay the three lucky players
Atty thousand francs each for the de-
tails OF the system. As the old lady
pocketed her share she explained thai II
the authorities would examine the wheel
on q certain tahle-her lucky table
they would find that Il Was not quite
round and. therefore. did ncs run true,
but repeated itself at certain numbers
Visitors 10 the rooms may retain
their hats or whatever they may Be
carrying. but in no circumstances viii
they be allowed to leave any article on
the Se,tees in the rooms. and for this
restriction there Is very good reason,
A few years ago . strikfngiy oeAusif,i
woman accompanied by two men made
very systematic onslaught On the re-
sources OF the Casino, For DAYS they
u.or hs,s S,,crASS WAS SNN<dliy followed