GAMBLING IN RUSSIA.
Play has run so high of late at the St Petersburg Yacht Club that the most august personages in Russia have felt themselves called upon to check the gambling propensities of the Boyars, whose recent inordinate gains and losses have been brought under their cognizance. The particular episode which prompted Imperial intervention was the changing of hands, within a week, of no less than £600,000 in the playrooms of the club. More than half of that enormous sum was lost by Prince Demidoff, of San Donato, to his cousin, Colonel Count Schouvaloff—not the diplomatist, but an aide-de-camp to the Czar. This stupendous gambling transaction came to the ears of Count Loris Melikoff, who deemed it his duty to report the matter to the Emperor, craving his Majesty’s permission to dissolve the Club. This crowning disaster to the jcunesse doree of the Russian capital was averted, through the interposition of the Grand Duke Vladimir; but the Czar sent for Count Schouvaloff, and laid his commands upon that gentleman to return seven-eights of his winnings to Prince Demidoff, observing that “ he might be very well satisfied with having gained £40,000 at a game of cards,” It is needless to say that his Majesty’s orders were carried out to the letter.— London Telegraph.
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Patea Mail, 19 October 1880, Page 3
Word Count
213GAMBLING IN RUSSIA. Patea Mail, 19 October 1880, Page 3
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