TRIP TO MONTE CARLO.

Taihape Daily Times, 22 August 1919, Page 2

TRIP TO MONTE CARLO.

' A-N-D rnow IT was WORKED. A good story is told of how a pazrty of New Zealand Mounteds on leave from Egypt; were in Marseilles, and, wishing to visit Monte Carlo, found they could not get passes, so “tried it on” with astonishing results, as the narrative shows, most gratifying results ‘to themselves. A member of the party, writing to’ his father in Wellington, says: “I must tell you ‘how I three of us got to Monte Czarllo. After i putting in a day or two in Marseilles, two made up our minds to see Monte lCarlo, but we could not get passes Being so near and yet so ‘far from such a place was unbearable. ‘So ‘one ’morning off we went to the. station to ‘catch the 11 o’clock tirain. At the station we found that it was the “train ‘dc luxe,’f and that it was impossible to go ‘without a permilt‘. We trield to square the police sergeant, but it was no good, -and we were just about desperate when the unforeseen happen. ed. A -sergeant from the '.'RT.O."S office came rushing along :the platform, and asked us if we were a party for the train, and we answered yes (So we were!) We -had two Australian friends with us. ‘Well, jump aboard,’ he said, ‘everything is fixed, the fares are paid, also meals, and there will be someone to meet you at Nice! ’ So we did not say much, but jumped aboard as quick as we knew how, and got out of sight. It was great; we did not know how long we would reign. Whether the proper party was on the train or not we had no means of finding out, and when lunch came round, and a very swell waiter came along to escort us to the dining car, we did not: know what to do, because th'e other party might turn up. So we refused. But in‘ about 10 minutes another one came along and pointed out that everything had been ordered before for us and paid fior. So -this time we went,"and with us an: American captain who was in our eom- 1 partment. W'e had already told him the joke, and he thought it was fine.i Anyway, we had a great lunch, and made much of it’, At Nice another police sergeant met us, and gave us full particulars where to go and what to do. We struck the train to Monte; were shown all -over the Casino and everything of interest, but no one except "Hiose in ‘civic’ clothes is allowed ‘to belt. Then we caught the 7 p.m. train to Nice, as I arranged, and -arrived there at 8.30, to find a lady -guide there to direct us to‘ our lodgings, also to a restaurant, Where everythng was ‘ready fior us. Now I suppose you -are wondering when we will get caught." After spending the night at i Nice, we left. for Marseilles, and at-5 rived there just: in time to get the‘ train for Havre. What do you think, of that for a joke‘? The real party was to have been A'ust'ralians' and New Zealanders, and the wrong party was, too. Where the other party got to we can’t make out, and ‘we are still wondering who is going f 5 foot the bill! I

The trip from Nice to Monte Carlo is one -of the most beaufiful in the world. ”