Nothing can convince born gamblers that there is such a
'thing as gambling. They all insist that what men call by that name is an exact science, which can be found out if one is only skilful and lucky enough to do it. Two Englishmen have, within the last few days, broken the bank at Monte Carlo four times, and another Englishman declares that they belong to a syndicate which has purchased from him a '" system" invented by a Polish player. We have no means of disputing the facts, which are exciting European interest, and no intention of doing so ; but the deduction drawn from them is preposterous. If the play is fair, there can be no 4' system" of calculating chances. They remain after a billion rounds precisely what they were when the rounds commenced. As the bank can stop the steady doubling of the stakes, and as it reserves one chance in fifty to itself, its victory against any player who goes on long enough to let the per- centage tell, is as inevitable as the occurrence of a cipher in oontinued multiples of five. If it were not so, how does a bank go on for decades playing every day against all comers, and earning a solid dividend for its proprietors?
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