The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-05-09

ssoAA' ihSA0 StAo SOlu6 Well KNOWN ln-
stances where wealthy young noblcmen
have been rescued from the pernicious
habit of gaming by FIRST loss, which.
though it partly crippled them, gent
them back from what might otherwise
have proved the road to utter ruin.
When man would tamper with any
species Of vicc, a happy misadyenture,
thoroughly disgusting him with his OK.
pertinent, is the most precious lesson he
can receive. In the collection of anec.
dotcs we have before alluded to, there
was one Of this kind which struck us
very forcibly. 1t is an admirable in.
stance of the bitter bit: but here the
young man who wished to be nibbl;ua
OF roguery (who in this instance hap
pens also to be a Russian nobleman)
got so excellent and SO salutary q lesson,
that we almost forgive the old consum
mate rogue who gave it.
The first Congress of Vienna had
collected together all manner of Jew
and gentiles-all who could in anywise
contribute to pleasure, which seemed
the great object of the assembly; for
balls, fetes, concerts, parties of every
description, were following in endless
succession, till one fine morning news
came that the lion wasloosc again. Ma
poleon had broke from Elba-and every
one scampered to his own home. A.
mongst the rest was clover Jew and
rich, who being very magnifcently ap.
parcled, and having that to lend which
many desired to borrow, had found no
difficulty in edging himself amongst the
grandecs of the society. This man
wore on his finger superb diamond
ring. The Count was struck with
admiration at it, and as matter of
pure curiosity, inquired what might be
the value of so magnificent stone.
The Hebrew gentleman, with the most
charming candor in the world, confes.
scd it was noe q stone-it was merely
an imitation. A real diamond of the
same magnitude, he said, would indeed
be of great value, but this, although
very clever imitation, and as such Ugh.
ly priced by himself, was nothing bet
ter than paste. The Count requested
to look at it closer, to take it in hand
and examine it; lie hhattcrcd himself that
he new something of precious stones;
he protested that it was real diamond.
The Hebrew smiled courteous denial.
The count grew interested in the ques.
ton, and asked permission to show it to
a friend. This was granted without
hesitation, and the count carried the
ring to q jewcllcr, whose opinion upon
such matter he knew must be decis-
i've. Was it a diamond or not? It tscas
diamond, said the jeweller, and of the
very purest water. Had he any doubt
of it? None at all. Would he pur.
chase it? Why-humph-h could not
pretend to give the full value for such
stone; it might lie on his hands for some
timc-hc would give $4,000 rubles for
it. You will give $4,000 rubles for
this ring? I will, said the jcwcllcr.
at that moment, the spirit of covctcous-
ness and of trickery entered into the
soul of the young nobleman. Back he
went to his Hebrew acquaintance, whom
he found seated at the whist table. Re-
storing him the ring, he said that he
was more persuaded than ever that it
was real diamond, and that he would
give him $4,000 rublcs for it on the
spot. CA pretty profit, he thought, Of
$4,000 rubles.) The Jew quietly re-
placing the ring on his finger, protested
he would by no means rob the gentle.
man, as he knew that it was not din.
mond. The count urged the matter.
at length, after much instance on the
one part, and reluctance on the other,
the proprietor of tho ring appealed to
his partners in the game Of whist. "You
see, gentlemen" said he" how it is
the count is so confident in his connois.
eurship that he insists upon giving me
$4,000 rubles for my ring, which de-
clare to be paste" ':And 1 declare it
to be diamond" said the count, "and
taking all the risk upon myself, will give
you 5O, 900 rubles for it." The bar
gain was concluded, and the money
changed hands. The count flew to the
jewcller. "IIerc is the ring-let me
have the $4,000 rubles.'
"For this! Pooh! it is paste--not
worth so many sons-worth nothing"
The Jew had t,Oo rings exactly alike,
with the little difference, that the one
was real stone, and the other an imi-
kNL. IN \