The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-07-26

Of the gambling scenes as he Witnessed there. Inc
extract below is from his description. The hur
Saal spoken of is a magnificent hotel at Wiesoaaen'
ain the public room OF the kur Saal are roueue
tables and other apparatus for gambling, which
after dinner and especially in the evening, are sur
rounded with persons of both sexes most OF whom
stake more or less money Directly opposite me at
dinner sat young man whose countenanee instantly
attracted my attention Hewas very pale ana thli,
while his cold blue eye, high check bones, ana al
most marble Wilderness and hardness OF features, To-
gelher with sullen aspect, made me shrink
from him as from some deadly thing Added to all
this when he rose from the table, saw he had an
ugly limb which made him seem more unnatural
and monster-like than before.
sWanderng, soon after, through the rooms, see
ing " hat was to be seen, came to q roulette liable,
around which were gathered gentlemen and ladies' Of
all nations and ages some of them stalking small
sums, apparently for mere amusement JUST theh,
this sullen, cadayerous looking young man came
mping up, and deposited a roll of twenty napo-
Icons, or about eighty dollars. single turn of the
wheel, and it was lost. He quietly drew iorlh an
other roll which also quickly lost Without
the least agitation, apparent excitement, he thus
continued TO draw forth one roll after another, TIL
ten of them, about eight hundred dollars, were
gone He then, as quietly, and without saying a
word, limped away. He had not spoken or
changed muscle the whole time, and manifested no
more anxiety or regret than if he had lost only so
many pennies. There said TO myself, as he
sauntered away, goes professed gambler, and he
has all the qualities fora successful one. Perfectly
cool and sefpossessed, under the most provoking
reverses he does not get angry and>rave at tickle,
perverse fortune, but takes it all matter of BUSH
ness | then knew, for the first time, why felt
such an antpathy towards him. A gambler carries
his repulsve soul in his face-n his cye-nay, almost
in his very gait He makes chilling atmosphere
around him, that repels every one that approaches
him. Gambling seems to metamorphose man
III shara ed
''At night the Kur Saa is thronged with persons
Of both sexes, and, as | stroed through it, came
again upon gambling table, around which were
sitting gentlemen and ladies of every age and nation.
English girls were teasing their 'papas' for few
soveregns to stake on the turning of card, and old
men were watching the changes of game with all
the eagerness ofy youth One lady in particular at
racted my attention. She was from Belgium, and
her whole appearance indicated person from the
upper ranks of society To an elegant form she
added a complexion of incompatible Wilderness,
which contrasted beautifully with her rich auburn
resses that flowed in ample ringets around herneck.
Clad in simple white, and adorned with profuslon
of Jewels, she took her seat by the table, while her
husband stood behind her chair, and, with her deli
cate white hand on pile of money before her, en-
tered at once into the excitement of the game. As
she sat, and with her small rake drew TO her. or
pushed from her, the money she won or lost,
gazed on her with feelings with which had never
before contemplated woman. did not think it
was possible for an elegant and we-dressed lady TO
fill ms with feelings of such utter disgust. Her
very beauty became ugness, and herauburn tresses
looked more unbecoming than the efn locks of a
sorceress. Her appearance and her occupation pre-
scented such an utter contrast that she seemed inf
nely uglier me than the cold-blooded cadaverous
looking gambler had seen lose his money few
hours before. While / was mentally comparing
them, in he came, limping towards the table, !
was half tempted 10 peep round, and see if he had
not clovcn foot With the same marbe-like fea-
lures and forbiddng aspect, he approached, and laid
down roll of twenty napoleons. He won, and,
putting down another, won again and thus contin-
ued winning, after another till he got back the
ten rolls he had before lost, and tive in addition.
Then, without waiting for fortune TO turn against
him, he walked away without saying word