The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-05-30
THE GAMBLING HOUSES OF PARIS.
LETTER FROM n. p. WILLIS.

NiNoS Vi TdIls. WIN the under
Standing, OF course, that it was only as a
: spectator, my friend who | had met at a
"'hner Party, despatched a note from the
.aoie' announcing to the temporary mas
.er OF ceremonies his intention OF pre-
sentlng me. We went at eleven, in full
ufess. was surprised at the entrance with
,he sPlendor of the stablshment-gilt bal
iustrades, marble staircases, crowds of SER
wants IN full livery, and all the formal an
nouhcement OF court. Passing through
several anti-chambers, heavy folding door
was thrown open, and we were received nv
one OF the noblest looking men have seen in
france, Count -. Twas put Immediate
y at my ease by his dignifed and kind DO.
Iteness; and after little conversation in
English, which he spoke fuently, the en-
trance OF some other persons left me at lib
erty TO observe at my leisure.
Every thing about ME had the impress OF
the sfndtod t-st. sc L;sL i:r~ The l,y;.L
and yet soft disposition oflight, the harmlao'll
ny of color in the rich hangings and furni-
ture, the quiet manners and snbdued tones
Of conversation, the respectful Difference of
the servants, and the simplicity of the slight
entertainment, would nave convinced me,
without my Asmodeus, that was in no ev-
cry day atmosphere. Conversation pro-
ceeded for an hour, while the members
came dropping in from evening engage
ments, and little after IL a glass door
was thrown open and we passed from the
reception rooms to the spacious suit of
apartments intended for play. One or two
Of the gentlemen entered the side rooms
for billiards and cards, but the majority
Rl0cnh ahO,,f tho fuhlo nf ha1arI tb,
tire hall. i had never conceived so beau
tiful an apartment. 1t can he described in
two words, columns and mirrors. There
was nothing else between the exquisitely
painted ceiling and the floor. The form
was circular, and the wall was laid with
glass; interrupted with pairs of Corinthian
pillars, with theit rich capitals effected and
re-refected innumerably. 1t seemed like
hall of colonnade Of illimitable extent-the |
multiplication Of the mirrors into each other
was so endless and Elusive.
felt an uncomfortable disposition to
abandon myself to a waking reverie Of
pleasure; and as soon as the attention of
the company was perfectly engrossed by the
silent occupation before them, sunk upon
sofa, and gave my senses up for while
TO the fascination of the scene. NV eve
was intoxicated. As far. as my sight could
penetrate, stretched apparently intermlna-
bic halls carpeted with crimson, and stud
ded with graceful columns and groups of
courtly figures, forming altogether with its
extent and beauty, and the subdued and
skilfully managed light, picture that, if
real, would be one of unsurpassing splen-
dor. quite forgot my curiosity to see the
game. / had merely observed, when my
companion reminded me of the arrival of
my own appointed hour for departure, that,
whatever was lost or won, the rustling bills
were passed from one to another with a
quiet and imperturba5le pol;teness that be-
trayed no sign either of chagrin or tri-
umph, though from the fact that the trans
fers were in paper only, the stakes must
have been any thing but trifiing. Refusing
a polite invitation to partake of the supper,
always in waiting, we took leave about two
hours after midnight.
AS we drove from the court, my compan-
ion suggested to me, that since we we've
out at so late an hour, we might as well
look in for a moment at the more accessible
"hells," and, pulling the Gordon, he order
ed to Frascati's." This, you know of
course, is the fashionable place of ruin, and
here the heroes of all novels, and the rakes
of all comedies, mar or make their for
tunes. An evening dress, and the look Of
gentleman, are the only required passport.
A servant in attendance took our hats and
canes. and we walked in without ceremo-
ny. 1t was different scene from the for
mer. -Four large rooms, plainly but hand
somely furnished, opened into each other,
three of which were devoted to play, and
crowded with players. Elegantly dressed
women, some OF them with high preten-
sions to French beauty, sat and stood at
the table, watching their own stakes in the
rapid games with fixed attention. The ma
jority of the gentlemen were English. The
table was very large, marked as usual with
the lines and figures Of the game, and each
person playing had a small rake in his
| hand, with which he drew towards him his
proportion of the winnings.
was disappointed at the first glance in
the faces. There was very little of the
high bred courtesy I had seen at the club
house, but there was TO very striking ex-
hibiton of feeling, and, should think, in
any but an extreme case, the whispering
silence and general quietness of the room
would repress it. After watching the va
riations of luck awhile, selected one OF
two pretty desperate losers, and young
Frenchman, who was large winner, and
confined my observation to them only
Among the former was a girl Of about
eighteen, a mild, quiet looking creature
with her hair curling long on her neck, and
hands childishly small and white, who lost
invariably. Two piles of Five Franc piec.
es, and a small heap of gold, lay on the ia.
BILE beside her and watched her till she
laid the last coin upon the losing color
She bore it very well. By the eagernes:
with which, at every turn of the last care
she closed her hand upon the stake which
she held, it was evident that her hopes were
his; but when her last piece was drawn in
to the bank, she threw up her little fngel
with playful desperation, and commenced
conversation even gaily with gentleman
who stood leaning over her chair. The
young FTenchman continued almost as in
variahly to win. He was excessively hand
some; but there was a cold, profligate, un
varying hardness of expression in his face
E drew gradually about his chair; and on,
or two of the women, who seemed to know
/, HIM well, selected a color for him occasion
ally, or borrowed of him and staked 70
,, themselves. We left him winning. TIL
other players were mostly English, and yer
, unnteresting in their exhibition or disaI
, pointment. My companion told me tn,
there would be more desperate playing t
wards morning, bat had become DISCUS
ed with the Geld selfish faces of the seen
4 and felt no interest sufficient to detain N
d At HuntInrton Pm N rock ouarried for