Punch (95.1888)

178

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [Octobee 13, 1888.

REALISTIC.

Amateur Stage Manager {in black hat). "We've settled it. We're
going to plat ' the ticket of leave max,' and i 've cast you for
Melter Moss—you know, the old Jew. Splendid part ! "

Second Amateur {in white hat). " Oh, I couldn't do it, my Boy—I
should have to wear a False Nose !"

TWO YIEWS OP BOULOGNE.

{A Page from a Diary Jcept at Monte Carlo Minor.)

Monday.—Arrived by the Mary Beatrice, one of the best boats of the
South-Eastern Railway Company. Really delightful. Breakfast in
London at 8'30, eateh the 9'40 Express, and be in Boulogne in time for
luncheon ! Everything so fresh and foreign. Glad to see the red trousers
of the soldiers; and the place itself so cheery. The Casino admirable.
Capital Band. Theatre, too, very amusing. Light Opera, nicely sung.
Remarkably good. Seen worse things in Paris. And then the Chemin de
fer.' Of course object to gambling, on principle ; but what possible harm
can there be in risking a few francs P I did, and won ten by embarking
my fortunes on the blanc.

Tuesday.—Greatly disappointed. Boulogne is not at all like what it
used to be. "So English, you know." Too English, in fact, and not
good English either. More like bad Bayswater. The French soldiers,
too, are all undersized, and the place itself desolation in its most desolate
form. Hotels closed, and houses to be let or sold everywhere. The
Casino has certainly deteriorated. Band small, and not particularly
skilful. Theatre pitiful. Saw some dreadful piece, in five Acts, that
apparently was being played by amateurs. Most feeble performance I
have ever witnessed. And then the Chemin de fer! I repeat, I object
to gambling on principle; but granted that it is not wrong, what possible
good can there be in risking a few francs ? I did, and lost twenty by
embarking my fortunes on the rouge.

Wednesday.—Really Boulogne improves on acquaintance. I am not
surprised that some people call it "Beautiful Boulogne," the air is cer-
tainly delightful—I think finer than Brighton or Folkestone. I know
others say that the place has fallen off terribly since the establishment of
the so-called gambling at the Casino. This is absolute rubbish. I can
recall no prettier sight than the toy engine, with its model carriages, .
running round the track, with its piece of spring wire striking against | are couleur-de

the brass bars, and stopping now at Brussels, now at Vienna
—at one moment near the red, at the next close to the white.
It is so simple, that even a child might play at it. So different
from Monte Carlo. Everyone knows what that is like. There
fortunes are really lost, and suicides are of common occurrence.
But at Boulogne 'it is merely an amusing distraction. I don't
pretend to play myself, but I certainly won five francs by
showing a partiality to " Londres."

Thursday.—I am not at all surprised that some people call
this place "Beastly Boulogne." It certainly deserves the
name. The port at low tide is absolutely awful. No ; if you
want bracing air, go to Brighton or Folkestone. I am told
that interested persons declare that Boulogne is growing, and
owes much of its prosperity to the establishment of gambling
at the Casino. This is absolute rubbish. I know of no more
painful sight than to watch the eager faces of the players as
the monotonous model train clicks with its wire against the
brass rails. The time has arrived for writing plainly. The
gambling is the curse of the place. Stories are heard on all sides
of money squandered and lost. The mode of playing is so
simple that even a poor innocent child can risk and lose as high
a stake as five francs. It is so different from Monte Carlo.
Everyone knows what that is like. There you can avoid
playing if you wish, and may enjoy life at one of the loveliest
watering-places in the world. But Boulogne is vastly different.
A two-penny-halfpenny place, that only a few years ago was
the refuge of the fraudulent bankrupt! Boulogne, indeed!
And the gambling too is a hard business. It is no idle distrac-
tion. You see, day after day, men, women and children
standing round the baize table losing all they have! It is a
dreadful sight! A really dreadful sight! I don't pretend to
play myself, but I certainly lost five-and-twenty francs by
plunging blindly on " Bruxelles."

Friday.—Most amusing. Spent a day in looking about.
Went up to the Mairie to see a civil marriage. Very fine affair.
Carriages and carpets. The bride a good-looking young lady,
and the bridegroom decidedly distingue. Evidently persons of
good position. People lunching at the hotel also interesting.
One gentleman's face I recognised. Sure I have seen him
somewhere before and under pleasant circumstances. I do not
think he can be a parson, and yet he would adorn a pulpit; and
that reminds me,—I wonder why the clergy fight shy of the
Casino. They might do much good, I think, if they visited it
more frequently. Now, for instance, they might dance occa-
sionally at a Bal de Famille. Quite a nice set, some people in
evening dress, and one or two wearing gloves. Had heard that
the riff-raff from the fast hotels congregated at these gather-
ings. Not at all. I don't think so. And the games of chance.
Really nothing at all. Merely a pretence at baccarat. Could
not hurt anyone. As for the Chemin de fer, well, I can only
say that I have cleared thirty francs from first to last. I am
thinking of taking a deck-cabin on the Louise Dagmar (excel-
lent boat, always punctual) for my passage back.

Saturday.—Well, really it is too much ! Just discovered that
the bride at whose civil marriage I assisted yesterday was a
scullery-maid from a local restaurant' And the gentleman of
prepossessing appearance who lunched at the same table with
me, and who I at a first glance took for a parson, turns out to
be a croupier ! I should not have been in the least surprised to
have seen him dancing at the Bal de Famille, if his duties had
not required his attendance elsewhere. Such a Bal de Famille !
Fishermen dancing with fisherwomen; and on my word they
seemed the "best set." The rest of the company reminded me
of a dull evening at the Hall-by-the-Sea. And the gambling !
People writing to the papers about Monte Carlo when Boulogne
is ten times as bad! Baccarat played every night and ruining
scores, hundreds! As for the Chemin de fer, well—I can only
say that I lost three hundred francs at a single sitting! I am
going home at once by that nightmare of my childhood, the all-
the-way-by-sea-and-river London Boat!

French Rosycrucians.

Undee the exalted patronage of the Comtesse De Paeis, the
"Rose of France" has been adopted by the Royalists as their
distinctive flower, and. they have instituted among themselves
a new Society, entitled, the "League of the Rose." An apt
addition of the rose to the fleur-de-lys—a new alliance of lilies
and roses. The " League of the Rose" may be considered the
French counterpart of the British Primrose League. Revolu-
tions, we know, are not made with rose-water; but the rose
appears to have been appropriated to serve the purpose of a
Legitimist reaction. By wearing it in their button-holes and
displaying it on their banners, the confederates of the Rose
League appear to have persuaded themselves that their prospects

rose.