The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-09-26 00:00:00

LIFE AT BADEN-BADEN.

- -
The following is from the correspondent of the
Liverpool Albion, and as the exciting scenes he de-
scribes at the gaming-tables, where no many have met
their ruin, will soon be only things of the past, it is
probable that Baden-Baden will, ere long. be visited by
those who are seeking to recruit their health, rather than
the excitement so inseparable from gambling :
Just at this time Baden-Baden generally begins to "thin."
Though the season does not conclude till the end of October,
it nsually WFITIOS from the middle of September ; but the
number of visitors here at present Is very great—indeed so
much so, that in the evening there is a crowd of two or three
deep around the tables, and the play is high and fast. Among
the princes and princesses WIIOM I see are Prince Karl, eldest
brother of the King ot Prussia, and his wife. The widow of
the late King of Prussia is also here : :mil of German 41101
Russian princes and princesses there are a score. Princess
Karl drives out in a very handsome basket carriage, drawn
by hair thorough-bred blacks. The postilions wear very
light-blue jackets, with silver Inittons ; their head-gear being
a white that. On their threads they are decorated with fresh
nosegays. M. Rataui, the Italian statesman, and Madame
Ix Princess, his wife, are constant attendants at the tables in
the "conversation "resist Madame, you know, is cousin of
the Emperor Napoleon Her resemblance to the portraits of
the great Napoleon is even snore striking than that of Prince
Jerome. She is, I believe, exiled from France but that
seems to sit very lightly upon her. She plays day and night,
generally at trent.. et guaranty, hot sometimes at roulette
At the latter, one may lay down a Chiller. the equivalent of
is. 11.1. our money lost at the former nothing less than
a live-franc piece may be staked. Madame Itatazzi
plays with napoleons half-nopoleons, and with five-franc
pieces but more with gob' than with silver. With
rouleaus of the previous metal before her, and a mag-
nifleently-jewelled pair of eye-glasses in her hand, she
watches the play with great coolness, anti puts her money
here and there with that air which ever marks an adept at
the business. Very often M. Ratazzi stands behind her
chair : but he plays al-c. Last iii lit he was at one table
and Madame at another. I don't see her much about the
promenade ; but RllO is pretty sure to be found at play.
The dresses worn MO the sums staked here are amazing.
The costumes are sueli as one sees now here else, except per-
haps at Homburg. Of course, the tourist is altogether laid
ashie TO be in the fashion here you must he got up ranch
more it ,borately than you would lie for the Inds de Boulogne
or fly. :e park but there is a ,Pfe-csonapetre air about the
costumes which renders thenh different from what one sees
Iti Paiis or London. The shepherdess style is the prevailing
One with the ladies for promenade before dinner The hats
are a little flat plate of straw—placed on the top of the head,
inclining to the front—and elaborately ornamented with
flowers. The dresses are very much looped up, and the
petticoats are worn so short as to display the ankle to the
fullest advantage. No heel on any lady's (tooter shoe is lean
than thrift inches high. iiihw they can walk with such heels,
the points of them not being larger than a shilling, is what
I cannot understand ; but lift. perceive that moving about
with them is a niatti rot considerable embarrassment. The
ladies are thrown completely on their toes. Shoes with
elaborate rosettes are very fashionable. In such costumes
are hundreds of ladies promenading from twelve in the day
till eleven at night, but the crowded hours are from three
to live, and from eight till ten. In the Opera-house here
Nillson has been singing, and to-night Millie. Ilma
De Murska and Herr Waethall appear. Ti' be dull in
Baden-Baden is impossible, except you shut yourself
into your hotel. From seven in the monhing, when the
band begins for the tirst time and the swells go to the
pump-room to drink the mineral waters, there is incessant
amusement.
Following in the wake of the aristocracy, the tletni-monde
of Paris and Vienna is largely represented here, and even
London has sent its quota also. Cora Pearl is in the public
roomFl every night; and another of the Parisian sisterhood is
as conspicuous by her loud and vulgar talk as she is by her
play I have been told that in a quarter if Rn hour, the
other day, this latter person won tiny-six thousand francs.

The jewellery she wears Is astounding: If the diamonds
are all real they are a fortune in themselves. But the most
costly dress cannot disguise these women. They bear the
brand of their lives on their foreheads. and their attempts to
act the lady are a miserable fiasco. Certainly Baden-Baden
Is an excellent place wherein to study character and see at
one glance a specimen of the vanity, vice, and extravagance
of the day. But there is the bright and innocent side. All
about the exterior of the Kursall, and in the arsenals that
branch at all sides from the Central Garden, are merry
children of the mist, •cracy, enjoying, with their fathers and
mothers, the musk, the sunshine, the flowers, the trees, the
lines of shops in the fancy fair, and the toys brought from all
p Aga of Europe to supply the wants of this brilliant
little capital of an insignificant duchy. There are
Tyrolese here, hi their native costume, attending
In glove shops. There are jewellers from Paris and
Geneva, and a splendid glass establishment, conic from
Vienna. Everything around is suggestive of pleasure and
luxury, while a walk of half au hour will bring you into the
thick of the Black Forebt, where, " remote from haunts of
men," you ought imagine you were a thousand miles from
balls and operas and gaming-tables. As in the recently-
annexed d ))))) illiollB of the King of Prussia the fate of " the
table "has been sealed, I suppose the day is not far distant
when " the glories" of Baden-Raden will be no more Of
its natural beauties no king or no Parliament can deprive it,
but all that money has dose and does for it is done by the
gambling establishment. Nothing can be stronger to show
how much in favour of the bank and against the public the
system of play in these establishments is One hears now
and then of an outsider making a great haul, hut there is
unanimous testimony to the effect, that if you continue to
play, ultimate loss is certain. Few they are who, having
once won, have the good sense to at once stop play. tild
ladies tittering on the verge oi the tomb, reverend seigniors,
matrons who have left their children outside, even young
girls not yet out of their teen surround the tables and
stake gold hair alter hour. Baden, Baden is charming and
! amusing, but many of its charms and all amusements are
sustaif.ed on terms which ought to reconcile even its
! strongest admirer to seeing its artificial attractions among
the things of the past.

THE TRIAL OF MADAME RACHEL.
Under the head of "The Bond Street Mystery,"
the I,ollg Telcgraph of Tuesday gives the following
graphic account of the proceedings of Monday on the
trial Id Madame Rachel :
On the sultry August night, some five weeks ago, when the
c owd which bail hung about the Old Bailey for hours dos-
persed slowly, after learning that the jury in the Rachel ease
hail bees discharged without fintlitsg a verdict, everybody
fancied that the matter was done with. 'lke last thought
entertained by either the spectators or the actors con-
cerned in (lust strange drama of real life was, that at the
close of September they would be colleeteil together once
more to Ise-sr the same story recited again. That such
should be the fact is not the least mysterious incident eta
ease in which everything is unaccountable. How it is that
Nladame Rachel has lain in Newgate during these long
weary weeks, is in itself a dark problem to the outer world.
The amount fixed for her bail was by no means exorbitant.
It is obvil from the long list of eminent counsel whose
services the primmer has retained in her behalf, that she
cannot he hy any means destitute of resources; there was
far less reason than there had toecii at a former period to
suspect her 1,1 any intention of forfeiting her recognisances ;
and yet for some cause or other two householders, good for
£5OO a piece, could not be f sl to guarantee her use
appearance at the Seisteinber Sessions. And what makes
the fact the more odd is, that, to judge by experience, most
people woold have said beforehand Mrs. Borrodaile was not
at all likely to press the suit much further against the
woman she accuses of having defrauded her
Ile-ever, the result has viudicated once more the glorious
uncertainty if the law, though not quite in the sense lik
which that phrase is wont to Ile used. At the termination of
last ses-I,us, all the !most experienced dealers in legal wares
would have stated unanimously, that, even if we had net
seen tlw last if Sarah Leverson in a court of justice, we had
heard the last of Mary Tucker Borrodaile. Nevertheless, on
Monday morning, the curtain rose once niore on the
unfinished drama. The promised ammel has appeared at last,
though whether the mystery will be solved even now is a
matter on which It would be premature to express any
opinion. Would the ease really come on OS 1111 t ! would
Madame Rachel be placed in the dock except pro Jones;
would Mrs. Iforrodaile be forthcoming at the last moment,
These were the questions with which loiterers about the
court wiled away the long interval which elapsed between
the opening of Use day's proceedings and the con 111 l encement
of the particular tritsl 011 which piddle attention was fixed.
All persons interested in the Rachel case, on tone side or the
other, hail taken up their places is tie' Recorder's Court
under the impression it would lie beard before him mice
1110 Te. At last. when the long charge to the Grand Jury
was finished, the case of Sarah I.OVSTSOII, levison, cons-
moldy known as Nlatialllo Rachel, was called oss for hearing ;
but the sunamons Wait la:1411011 With all alltammenient that all
witnesses, or persons otherwise concerned is the suit, were
to attend in the New Court before Mr. Commissioner Kerr.
It seems odd that odic Judge, who necessarily understands
the bearings of the case, shottlil turn it Over—having already
heard it throughout—to another Judge sweessarily un-
acquainted with its Nery complicated details ; lout then there
are soo noassy itobl things stout English justice in general, :snit
about the Rachel ease in particular, that it is hardly worth
while to speculate 101 any one isnomialy more or less.
There was another long delay before the New Coart could
loe cleared ; Mal it Will rinse 1111011 11000111 S when the trial
rommenced in real calmest. The east-- if a theatrical term
may lie used—was the Sallie as at the previtum investigation.
Serjeant Ballantine, Mr. Montage Williams, anti Mr.
Straight appeared for the proosecution ; while the defenee
was conducted by Mr. Ifigloy Seymour, Serjeant Pam-,
Serjetuit Sleigh. and Nlr. Better-Rigby. Amongst the
audience, too, there et add be seen Lord nanelaigh, Mr.
Haynes, Mr. Cope, and all the witheases who had played a
prominent tinsel in the former trial. Madame Rachel made
her entry hot t the dock with the some air of extreme
lassitude and exhaustion which she bad worn last August.
As before, she was dressed in black, with a mantilla arranged
Oct ungracefully over her heath, atol grouped SO as to throw
the shadows -e deeply over her heavy, hueless face. Sloe
I tau col to the court on entering tlie Mark, pleaded " not
guilty in voice SO faillt fa be almost inaudible, tool
then -.at tinnily in a chair provided for her lice ; never com-
municating wait her legal advisers, all apparently paying a
very listle-s attention to the course of the pro;:ecolings.
Scrjeant Ballantine opened the ease for the prosecution
in a speeds somewhat over an hour in length. The
unrivalled reputation of that eminent council as a
master of the art sof cross examination hue some-
what depreeiated in public esteem Ids merit as an
advtocate ; 3 et, in pin-sr of persuasive pleading he
atands aectoial to none in his profession anil that
power was brought tillt 101 MOhllay With singular effect.
Ile laimure.l meter the grave disadvantage of having to tell
a thrice-told tale ; but he vontrived to t hrow a sart nut 110 W
clotns sail glamour over a obey which -owe ~f Is 6 heaseea
could almost have repeated toy rote. This-tidy marked M-
ier..oe between the two opening speeches which he has de-
livered in dna case was, that in the hustler he spike wills far
greater confideme, wills far less of the deprecating tone
which had characterised Isis former vindication of his client
Ile assunied througlit out that the result of the previous trial
had been too hurrah shown the case for the defence ; and on
this afaumption he played, to nil-pt a whist-player's phrase,
with Isis cards Mown upon the table. the wade tm scruple to
show his hand from the beginning. the declared his con-
victit on that Ms, herroslaile WaS a virtuous wile and virtue.
wishes;" he detied his opponents to liming ftorwarth one tittle
of evidence assailing her character ; he stated distinctly that
the mysterious " William" Wan a myth and a creation of
fancy ; alai, is: fact, he based his case upon the argument
that, while any proof if William'o existimre wool i he fatal
to isis client, yet no such proof could toe forthcoming :11111
that, therefore, in mammon sense, it must be atimitte,i that
this proof was hot adduced simply and solely because it was
non-existent. . .

At the close of the learned Serjeant's speech the Court
adjourned for half an hour; and then, after the Judge had
taken his seat, there was a very long and ond.nons pan,

before Mrs. It. wrodade answered to her name. It wa.: said
she was taken ill just before entering the witness-box ; and
certainly, Illicit she finally made her appearance she looked
wretchedly palcand nervous. As in August, she was lies-vd
in plain black silk, with a white worked collar across her
shoulders. and with the stereotyped black cotton gloves,
which seem the distinguishing nno k of genteel, British,
middle-class WiIIOWN tier whole air and *lento:mour were
unchanged. There were the same grizzly yellow ringlets,
the same obvious dislike to expose her countenance to the
sear-lung test 1 full light, the same simpering endeavour to
cover her face with her hand the same c mstant half-
hysterical giggle, the same odd mixture of natural shame at
her larch ion and pride in her momentary notoriety, the same
incapability of giving a plain answer to a plain question, the
saute querulous impatience if the question had to be re-
peated. However, during the interval site had not lost her
pretensions to amid looks; and a counsel might very ea-,ily
have a client less interesting in appearance tlian Mrs.
Bornalaile.

Throughout the whole of Tuesday Mrs. MorroMile was
exposed to a most protracted and searching cross-examina-
tion. Indeed, when the Coiirt rose, after some seven hours'
almost continuous sitting, Mr. Seymour had sot quite com-
pleted his task; and the prosecutrix would have to appear
again in the witness-lam The IllaSS of correspondence 1111011
which the case virtually depends was SO eimiplicated and
voluminous that great alb owance must be made for the delays
nece=sitated loy the formalities of our law. Every letter read
had to be identified by Mrs. Borrodaile ; and there was an
Invariable altercation between her and the cross-examining
counsel on each OCellailla that a letter was suluoitted to
her for inspection. She steadfastly declined either to
acknowledge tor deny the genuineness of the various
documents which purported to hear her simiature,
oe le lie in her handwriting. "It may he mine.
can't say it is not mine. I may have written it.
but 1,10 Sol recollect anything about it. I think it hi tO5O
jilts was the never failing string of dubious replies with
which she fenced about the simple question whether she had
written each letter or not. Ever and anon she would Ily out
into rambling complaints alt, the harshness id the treat- ,
went she had received, and, in spite of the entreaties of her
counsel, would persist ill volludeering statements as to her
own respectability and regard for truth. Probably there has
seldom lowm in the witness-loox a witness more calculated te
try an adverse lawyer's tenmer than Mrs. Borrodaile : and it
should fairly be recorded to Mr. Seymour's credit, that not-
aitlistamling constant provocation he kept his tealpee ad-
mirably, and never took unfair advantage of the openings
given by Mrs. ktorrodaile's indiscreet loquacity.
The major part of the crosses:twin:Anon to which Mrs.
Borroolaile seas subjected was necessarily a liters repetitii on
of details with whieh the public is already Liao familiar. The
whole of the correspondence read tont at the last trial was
not repeated again : but, on the other hand, several new and
extraordinary letters were itow produced for the first time in
court. Amongst others there was one addressed to the
mysterious " Witham" in which hp, was reproached for
having mixed himself up with the Fenians, the shelter ex-
expressing a regret that "Stephens" hail ever had a pound it
her money, or that her correspondent had united himself
Ith a hopeless canoe. In other letters fears were expressed
that " nail rendered himself liable to transporta-
tion, and that Rachel would use her efforts to get him trans-
ported. When usked to explain these allusions, Mrs. Borro-
dale only reiterated her stereotyped statement that an the
letters had been written at Itachel's dictation ; that she knew
nothing Id any " William ;'' and hail no recollection of the
specific contents of her dictated correspondence.. . . .
Meanwhile. it Call hardly lie said that this question, how-
ever interesting it may be front a legal point of view, has '
notch direct bearing on the unravelment of this strange
"story with,.ut all end." In the COlll.O of his cross-examina-
thon, Mr. Seymour elicited the admission that Mrs. Borrodaile
had stopped for a short time, Oa her first arrival in London
tot 1506, at a house of which she had afterwards had
Calla° to suspect the character, that she hail had unpleasant.
'leases with the landlords of other lodging-houses, and
that she hail had an acquaintance with a Mall
I 'limit:, who hail acted in her behalf at the earlier stages
these proceedings, and had left England just before the last
trial. The council asked her, too. a variety if questions
with reference to ramie man of a soldicrlike appearance, and
a woman called Hadley ; lout he gave no indication whether
these inquiries were intended to be corroborated by evi-
dence, or to form a substantive part of the case for the
proseeution.
At the close of the proceedings on Tuesday, Madame Rachel
went into an hysterical fainting 11t, and the inquiry had, in
consiinence, tip tie 811P1aalliea for a short time. elf the two
• woman who are virtually on their trial it would be hard to
Isay which looked the more worn and exhausted.

a net profit of from four to six thousand a day, taking
the average of the two seasons, winter and summer.
Then who loses? It is a mere truism to reply— the
players. And, notwithstanding the attendance of
ostentatious folk who fling down bulks of money, I
have been informed by those who should know that a
very large proportion of this amount is represented
by the class which is led on from speculating with a
florin to speculating with a fiye-pound note. These
are the individuals who only visit the rooms from
curiosity,' but remain, 'just to say they have had a
throw;' and then, not liking to see their coin raked up
by the callous man who sits at the middle of the table,
think to get it back, and so go whirling round for
hours with the pea in the swiftly-revolving basin."