162 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHAEIVARL [April 8, 1882,
CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES.
Mrs. Mundy (vnfe of the Dean of St. Boniface's College, Oxbridge). “ And eo you used to be at St. Boniface’s, dear Lokd FutB'
ACRES ! How VERY ODD THAT I DON’t REMEMBER YOIJ AT ALL !” ,
Noble Earl [who succeeded his Cousin). “Ah, well, you see—I was only Mr. Dobbs in those days—not even HonourablE !
THE MILLENNIUM IN MONACO.
(Fro??i the Tales of a Traveller.)
I found Monte Carlo virtuous. The dreadful Casino had been
converted into a Working Man’s Literary Institute, and the croupiers,
once the miserable employes of a degrading establishment, had found
new places as Superintendents of Coffee-Palaces. Far from being
shunned by the virtuous residents of the Riviera, the little Princi-
pality was in their high good favour. As I arrived, the beautiful
walks on the terraces were thronged with the pupils of an English
Sunday-School, who had come in a pleasure-van from Mentone to
enjoy their annual treat on the loveliest shore of the Mediterranean.
Bun-shops were seen in all directions, and many of the resident
merchants had amassed, so I was told, large fortunes by the sale of
muffins, crumpets, and ginger-beer. Altogether, the place was in a
most satisfactory condition.
On the second day of my visit I was honoured with an interview
by the reigning Prince. The heir of the Grimaldis received me
most graciously when he discovered that I was a member of the
Society for the Perpetual Abolition of Gfambling Propensities. He
had long white hair, and a most benevolent expression characterised
features which were at once handsome and intellectual. He told me
that he heartily rejoiced in the suppression of. the viee which had
once rendered the home of his ancestors a hotbed of misery and
dissipation.
“ Ah! I shudder at the recollection ! ” he murmured, with a sigh.
JRouge et noir and trente et quarante were so silly, so wicked.”
“ Om»,” I replied inthe purest Parisian, to show his Highness that
although he spoke in excellent English, I was a perfect master of
the Erench tongue—“ Oui, but votre Altesse seems, in fact, to be
very comfortable.”
“ It is indeed so,” observed the Prince, glancing at the signs of
wealth that met the eye on every side. “ I have discovered that it
! is within the resources of civilisation to make a good income without
descending to gambling-house keeping. The representatives of the
I
late M. Blanc have, disappeared, but I still enjov my little V
centages.”
“Yes?” I answered, interrogatively.
“ For instance,” he continued, “I have my Monte Carlo p 1' t<
Exchange. We have the same rules as those used in Capel
Nothing can be more respectable. The brokers pay me a slight
mission upon their transactions, and at the end of the year i
my account with them has realised a nice little sum to sweU
balance at the banker’s.” , per
“ Commerce is a noble thing, your Highness. England owo s
great prestige to her mercantile ramihcations.” , rted
“ Q,uite so,” the Prince acquiesced. “ And then we have 6 ,£ ju
a copy of Tattersall’s. Really, you might almost fancy yourso ,
Knightsbridge in the grand salon.” , . jay,’
“ To sport our great country owes its love of pluek and iarr P
I cried with enthusiasm. j
“ You are indeed right,” responded his Highness, “ and aa -n0ok'
paid a trifling sum upon every entry in the ledgers of the ^oJJiy
makers, I do not do so badly. Then we have Clubs, wbe
1 a good whist-pl ay er
And to
jceef
Whist is permitted.”
“ Ah, a splendid game,” I observed,
be a man of wonderful attainments.”
“ Certainly,” smilingly rejoined his Highness. eJ1i
down the stakes to a reasonable amount, I charge a small V eX' .
upon all gains and losses.” _ _ tb e ^
“ An excellent regulation. And so, Prince, it is reaiiy
that you do not permit gambling in any form or shape ? ’
“ My dear Sir,” replied His Highness, solemnly, “I
your great country as my model, and I permit no more g' a atisb e e
Monte Carlo, than is countenanced in London! ” I
Later in the day I assisted at a performance of an amateur l} . 0i P (
in which the Prince himself took a part. True to the 10 .iy ;
ancestor, the great Grimaldi, His Highness appeared aSUpalieb ty'i !
‘ ‘ I thought you would like it,” said the good old man, 8TJtpr ple® 5® !
as he took his leave of me. “ The English are never bet
than when witnessing—a farce ! ” ^
CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES.
Mrs. Mundy (vnfe of the Dean of St. Boniface's College, Oxbridge). “ And eo you used to be at St. Boniface’s, dear Lokd FutB'
ACRES ! How VERY ODD THAT I DON’t REMEMBER YOIJ AT ALL !” ,
Noble Earl [who succeeded his Cousin). “Ah, well, you see—I was only Mr. Dobbs in those days—not even HonourablE !
THE MILLENNIUM IN MONACO.
(Fro??i the Tales of a Traveller.)
I found Monte Carlo virtuous. The dreadful Casino had been
converted into a Working Man’s Literary Institute, and the croupiers,
once the miserable employes of a degrading establishment, had found
new places as Superintendents of Coffee-Palaces. Far from being
shunned by the virtuous residents of the Riviera, the little Princi-
pality was in their high good favour. As I arrived, the beautiful
walks on the terraces were thronged with the pupils of an English
Sunday-School, who had come in a pleasure-van from Mentone to
enjoy their annual treat on the loveliest shore of the Mediterranean.
Bun-shops were seen in all directions, and many of the resident
merchants had amassed, so I was told, large fortunes by the sale of
muffins, crumpets, and ginger-beer. Altogether, the place was in a
most satisfactory condition.
On the second day of my visit I was honoured with an interview
by the reigning Prince. The heir of the Grimaldis received me
most graciously when he discovered that I was a member of the
Society for the Perpetual Abolition of Gfambling Propensities. He
had long white hair, and a most benevolent expression characterised
features which were at once handsome and intellectual. He told me
that he heartily rejoiced in the suppression of. the viee which had
once rendered the home of his ancestors a hotbed of misery and
dissipation.
“ Ah! I shudder at the recollection ! ” he murmured, with a sigh.
JRouge et noir and trente et quarante were so silly, so wicked.”
“ Om»,” I replied inthe purest Parisian, to show his Highness that
although he spoke in excellent English, I was a perfect master of
the Erench tongue—“ Oui, but votre Altesse seems, in fact, to be
very comfortable.”
“ It is indeed so,” observed the Prince, glancing at the signs of
wealth that met the eye on every side. “ I have discovered that it
! is within the resources of civilisation to make a good income without
descending to gambling-house keeping. The representatives of the
I
late M. Blanc have, disappeared, but I still enjov my little V
centages.”
“Yes?” I answered, interrogatively.
“ For instance,” he continued, “I have my Monte Carlo p 1' t<
Exchange. We have the same rules as those used in Capel
Nothing can be more respectable. The brokers pay me a slight
mission upon their transactions, and at the end of the year i
my account with them has realised a nice little sum to sweU
balance at the banker’s.” , per
“ Commerce is a noble thing, your Highness. England owo s
great prestige to her mercantile ramihcations.” , rted
“ Q,uite so,” the Prince acquiesced. “ And then we have 6 ,£ ju
a copy of Tattersall’s. Really, you might almost fancy yourso ,
Knightsbridge in the grand salon.” , . jay,’
“ To sport our great country owes its love of pluek and iarr P
I cried with enthusiasm. j
“ You are indeed right,” responded his Highness, “ and aa -n0ok'
paid a trifling sum upon every entry in the ledgers of the ^oJJiy
makers, I do not do so badly. Then we have Clubs, wbe
1 a good whist-pl ay er
And to
jceef
Whist is permitted.”
“ Ah, a splendid game,” I observed,
be a man of wonderful attainments.”
“ Certainly,” smilingly rejoined his Highness. eJ1i
down the stakes to a reasonable amount, I charge a small V eX' .
upon all gains and losses.” _ _ tb e ^
“ An excellent regulation. And so, Prince, it is reaiiy
that you do not permit gambling in any form or shape ? ’
“ My dear Sir,” replied His Highness, solemnly, “I
your great country as my model, and I permit no more g' a atisb e e
Monte Carlo, than is countenanced in London! ” I
Later in the day I assisted at a performance of an amateur l} . 0i P (
in which the Prince himself took a part. True to the 10 .iy ;
ancestor, the great Grimaldi, His Highness appeared aSUpalieb ty'i !
‘ ‘ I thought you would like it,” said the good old man, 8TJtpr ple® 5® !
as he took his leave of me. “ The English are never bet
than when witnessing—a farce ! ” ^