Apr. 17.
In thole strazeles to agtée, disagree, over the Budget—whieh ought to have been voted three Wweeks ago—the Senate and. the Chantber of Deputies have express:
various opinions at (0 sri old confit between morality and exp frowned on public yamlling, where: as the French take the view, that, impossible to prevent people from indulging in this vice, or wea ness, of whatever one May" pref to call it, the State may as well profit in the form of taxes, to. the Telit of the community The Senate, by small majority, general.
adopted a clause which would have en-fabled the Casino at Enghien to be Feopened for baccarat. "At prtcent, the lave forbids any euch establish: ment in Paris or within a radi of 100 llonsetres, on the supposition that it would be too great a tempta-(o Paris cashiers and others who control money belonging to their "This action on the part of the Senate, which has hitherto been 0 sidered a champion of nieraits, was a surprise. The Chamber virtuously declined to agree, and the Senate did hot Insist. It also accepted the Chamber's proposal to from Apeil 1 next, the Paris gain Ting clubs known as levee once which could not logically claim an Indulgence refused to the casino at Enghien. On the other hand, both asceniblies agreed to allow "racine Steletics. to establish - pari-mutuel letting booths in places outside the race courses. This ix a blow at the bookmakers, who drive a. flourishing though illegal business, and deprive the State of its poreer age on bets. In future, any citizen who wants to back a horse will be able to do it openly, and take the profits, i any, Tess the State's Tittle commission, "Perhaps the—book: makers sill not suffer great 'They have their regular clients, and haman nature, ay the prohibition ists have discovered, enjoys doing something it ix told' not to do.
Cyete Racing Exeitements, 'The xix days' cycle race at the Velodrome d'Hiver has been the vstial success, due to the ingenuity of the man who invented the system of special prizes. In its ori form, u cycle race lasting six days. and nights was extremely tonous, interesting only to fervent followers of this kind of—sport. Cash prizes for sport sprints pro-ind are excellent from the ma ment's point of view, the Veing provided by the public—oeeasionally by some personage who likes to keep his name before the publi ut more often by musie all actress:
who regard this form of adver-fisement as useful. Other prize-fre wealthy men who cor Velodrome with ladies obtain cheap glory at the cost of couple of thousand francs. Thes patrons are attracted partly by: the excitement of close finishes on the track and partly by the amusing comments of the spectators in the cheap seats.
The humbler admirers of profes al cycling come in the afternoon hotiies of wine and baskets of provisions and settle down for a long innings. Many stay all night and are discovered asleep in uncomfortable postures when the dawn steals through the roof and the competitors are. taking things very easily indeed. The gallery is nothing if not outspoken.
When the speaker announces that some eminent politician has given in stentorian tones from the top Denches. Needless to say, the invitation is not accepted. The act esses are not so bashful. It is their business to be seen. One of them climbed on a chair and fired the pistol as the signal for a one-lap race for ker prize. A comedian parodying a song in pantomime caused one lot of riders to dally. 'A couple of their rivals seized the opportunity to put on a spuct and gained a lap, amid frantic howls and roars from the gallery. On the last night the place was packed to full capacity, and thousands wait-for hours in the hope of getting reform, who per-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.