The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1841-12-17
FROM OUR PARIS CORRESPONDENT.

A. P. UPSHUR.
FROM OUR PARIS CORRESPONDENT.
Different games were played at each Of the three
tables and each had its train Of devotees victims
The passion for play seemed 10 be confined TO no age
nor condition. but TO he shared alike by the old and
decrepid and the young and thoughiless Here might
be old with hoary heads and careworn
faces who sought by this artificial excitement to re-
awaken the long dormant emotions and impulses Of
youth. There saw young men Of rich dress and
fashionable air who seemed play for The fun Of the
thing, and because they had nothing else to do with
their gold Their faces expressed the visible illusra
ton of the saying of Sheridan, that "the greatest
pleasure in life is to win money, and the next greatest
is to lose it Not few of the eager players had the
air of gamblers by profession, who noted with
each result of the game and Land down their stakes
with mingled caution holiness, according to their
judgment Of the chances. And there were lponen ,
too, some old and wrinkled, whose skinny and jewell
bedecked fingers seemed to belong rather to the grave
stone than the gamingtable yet they watched the
game, and threw down their forms or Napoleons
with an eagerness and business looking air, not
passed by that Of the practced backegs of the
other sex. And there were young and handsome
women too, whose external appearance at least indi-
Gated respectability, who nevertheless seemed not
ashamed to mIngle with the gambling throng and try
their fortunes in the midst Of backegs and adventur
ers Of doubtful reputation. This was the most dis
gushing sight of ALL and my esteem of the certain
Iy fell degree lower, when beheld the degradation
to which they unblushingly exposed themselves, at
this Of vice and dissipation in view of cores Of
deridng spectators.
These gaming tables licensed by the Grand
Duke, and enjoy absolute monopoly in the busi-
ness, within the dominion Of his Highness. in con-
sderaton Of this exclusive privilege, the proprietors
pay tax OF 10000 forms per annxm and are oblig
ed further to spend 100000 forms in the improvement
of the town, the promsnades, &c. Notwithstanding
this heavy tax, they said to clear 100000 forins
(25O,OO0 dcllar.) year. Occasionally, however,
Of fortune overakes them and they lose large
" for time, Their bank has been broken two or
three times this season by lucky Prussian
In the neighborhood Of Baden Baden are many ia
yore resorts Of travellers which are said to abound
with most beautiful scenery did not think it worth
while to explore these beauties well satisfied that af
ter all that l had in Switzerland, they would
appear tame and diminutive. i visited, however, two
castles near the town. one Of which is occasionally
the residence Of the Grand Duke, but the other has
been for centuries heap of ruins The latter stu
ated near the top of high hill from which j, over
looks the town and the surrounding country, to
I'M mense distance. In approaching the town. its bare
and gloomy walls, rising from the midst of forest,
form most conspicuous and picturesque object But
in ascending the hill TO the castle itself the traveller
is soon surrounded 10y dense forest and loses all
sight OF the castle until he is within few feet of its
walls. II is closely he1ged round with large trees
but its lofty and massive walls overlook their tops and
notwithstanding all that time and war have done,
they as if they would yet stand for thousand
ages Many Of the arched door-wa and windows
are still preserved in tolerably perfect state and
through the opening which they afforded, enjoyed
some lovely bird'styc views as | ascended the walls
from one story to another. But all The interior struc
ture has long disappeared and trees of large size
are now standing on the spot occupied by the
baronal halls. The walls of the castle vary in height
in their different parts the elevated standing
nearest TO the top of the hill, and forming doubtless
the chief stronghold or citadel in case Of attack AT
this point the labor of the mason has been in great
part spared by nature the foundations and a consde-
rable part Of the wall, being formed by massive
abumenl of rock standing out from the mountain
side. The view from the top of these ruined walls is
charming " embraces on one side the broken green
hills of he Black Forest excuse the buli-bup the
Black Forest is just green other forests and
'front.' and at the very base of the HILL are the town of
Baden, Baden, with lis shady walks and pretty valley;
while to the right stretches ai and wide the valley of
the Rhine, beyond which is dimy seen the blue out
line OF the distant Vosges. | counted more han six
ty villages which dotted the surface of this map.hke
panorama but looked in vain for the Strasbury Ca
thedral whose spre is said to be visible in very clear
weather, though sixty miles distant
Having refreshed myself with bottle of lemonade
gdssnse at little restaurant which has been stuck in
to one corner of the castle walls reiraced my steps
down the hui, painting under the heat of broiling
sun, to the new chateau it is called though it is
several hundred years old. This is immense and
very PLAIN buildings altogether lacking in the waike
appuftenances of its more venerable neighbor having
been constructed since the days of baronal warfare
when every castle fort. 1t serves as the coca
siona residence of the Sovereign and the OF
the Grand Duchess the period of my visit prevent
ed my seeing the interior. | conented myself there
fore, with exploring the curious subterranean dun
geons, where the Margraves formerly imprisoned,
tried, and punished offenders against the sovereign
authority There is numerous series of rooms, or
rather cells hewn out of the rock on which the oun-
dalton OF the castle stands they narrow, damp
and chilly, and the light OF day cntsrs them
The doors formed of great slabs Of stone eight or
ten inches thick, fixed upon wire pivols instead OIL
hinges N ope of the dungeons the guide showed
me around opening in The ceiling, through which |
a. 81
daylight. This was the termination of a cylinder or
wheel which extends nearly up TO the roof OF the cha
teau and through which the prisoners were let down
nto he "A n N