MONTE CARLO, MONACO

It is a curious thing that the smallest country in Europe is also one of the most visited. This is the little independent principality of Monaco. Monaco is only about eight square miles in area; and it is two and a quarter miles long. The population of the entire principality is only 19,000.

Monaco—the city of Monte Carlo in particular—is so greatly visited for two reasons,—its charming climate and situation, and its gaming tables. It is an excellent health resort, but is world famous as a gambling place. It was in 1861 that a man named François Blanc obtained a gambling concession in Monaco for fifty years from Charles III. A stock company later got hold of this concession, and in 1898 it was extended to 1947, in return for a payment to the prince of $2,000,000 in 1899 and another payment of $3,000,000 in 1913. In addition to this Monaco obtains from the company an annual tribute of $350,000, increasing to $400,000 in 1917, $450,000 in 1927, and $500,000 in 1937. These great tributes make it possible for the inhabitants of Monaco to be entirely exempt from taxation.

In the principality of Monaco there are three cities,—Monaco the capital, Condamine, and Monte Carlo. At one time the towns of Mentone and Roquebrune belonged to Monaco; but they were ceded to France in 1861 for $800,000. The city of Monaco occupies the level summit of a rocky headland, rising about 200 feet from the shore. Here the prince has his palace.

Monte Carlo lies to the north of the Bay of Monaco, where are gathered the various buildings of the Casino of Monte Carlo, with the beautiful gardens, and many villas and hotels.

The history of this little principality is an interesting one. It seems that long ago a temple of Heracles was built on the Monaco headland by the Phoenicians. The same god was worshiped there by the Greeks at a later date, and they gave the place its name. The Grimaldis, the present ruling family of Monaco, became associated with the place in the tenth century; but they did not come into permanent possession until much later.

Monaco in the fourteenth century was notorious for its piracies, and the right to exact toll from vessels passing the port continued to be exercised until the end of the eighteenth century.

For many years Monaco was an ally of France; but in 1525 it came under the protection of Spain. Then in 1641 Honoré II threw off the Spanish yoke and made himself an ally of France. The National Convention annexed the principality to France in 1793; but by the Treaty of Paris in 1814 it was restored to the Grimaldis. Finally in 1860 Monaco passed again under French protection.

The present ruler of Monaco, Prince Albert, was born in 1848 and succeeded his father, Prince Charles III, in 1889. The prince is absolute ruler, as there is no parliament in the principality. He appoints a small council to advise him on matters of state. He also has power to appoint the mayors and other municipal authorities.

NICE, FRANCE

NICE, FRANCE, a very ancient and charmingly beautiful town, is the subject of one of the intaglio-gravure pictures illustrating “The Mediterranean.”

Monograph Number Four in The Mentor Reading Course

PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION