Year: 1878

One of the Partisan gaming notabl1-
ties, says Paris correspondent, is Al
bert Wolff, curious character in more
respects than this one. Wolff is now
one of the chief critics of the Figaro,
that witty, fippant, all Partisan sheet,
and is considered one of the cleverest
men of the French press. His lively
articles, dashed off with ready, trench
ant, facile pen, are eagerly read when
ever he deigns to throw them on paper,
between while, during the short inter-
walls when he is not engaged in some
heavy game. As his name indicates,
Wolff is q German. He came to Paris
some twenty years ago, friendless and
penniless, barely acquainted with any
language than his own, but determined to
force his way into some position. He
thought journalistic notoriety the most
easy Of attainment, and strove for several
years to become successful litterateur.
Wolff himself says that he almost sur
rendered during this period Of doubtand
distress; but at last his struggles were
successful, and he soon took high place
among Paris journalists, gaining a repu-
tation for brilliancy and wit which he
has since sustained. As soon as Wolff
felt that his position upon the press was
secured, he manifested a taste for the
gayeties of Partisan life, which was prob
ably fostered during the long period Of
disappointment and privations through
which he had passed. High play was
his chief vice. He soon became fire.
quenter of the gambling clubs, and
passed his whole time around the green
cloth. olhpossessed all the requisites
of frst-rate card player. He is cool,
wary, and observant; bold in gain and
prudent in loss. Like many of his coun-
trymen, he has rather a mathematical
turn of mind, 80 he soon completely
mastered the rules of the games in vogue
at his clubs, and applied them with
peculiar skill and daring. For number
of years Wolff has been renowned as one
of the best card players in Paris; he was
constantly lucky, as good players gene
rally are, and won large sums very fire.
quently. Not very long ago Wolff was
known to have won some three millions
of francs in two years, and he should
have foresworn play when he found him
self such large gamer. Three millions
is large fortune, even in these days OF
high expense and extravaganza; and IN
the widest dreams of his youth, Wolff
can never have imagined himself the
possessor of such sum. But even this
cool, cautious German was unable to re-
sist the constant, never allaying cravings
for gain which always lead the gambler
to bis ruin. Wolff lived for several
years in the finest style, almost gave up
journalism, and went in for speculation
on large scale in stocks and shares
The fluctuations of the market were un.
favorable to the lucky player, who lost
! at the Bourse large portion OF the sum
he had won at the tapis vert. The cards
ran against him, too. for while; and
short time ago Wolff was obliged to be.
tray how great had been the inroads
upon his gambling gains, when he had to
request short but significant delay in
the payment OF 160, 900 francs, which he
lost in one night at baccarat. Wolff
produced the sum without any great
difficulty, however, and has since had a
return Of his old luck; several thousand
of louis have come back to him, and he
is once more the terror Of his set.
Though he devotes his entire time to
cards, Wolff occasionally pens some bril-
liant criticism or witty review; he shows
in all his articles the possession of more
taste, thought, and power of observation
than the other men Of the Figaro can lay
any claim to. and it is certainly a pity
that he should prostitute his talents to
gambling.