Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-07-01
GAMBLING AT WIEsBADEN IN GERMANY

And now, let us drop in at the Kursaal, a long and
imposing building on one side of the square, while
cUlonnades line other two sides with all manner OF
shops for the display of fancy articles for sale.
This Kursaal is tie temple of Wiesbaden, the
greatest gambling house of Germany; aud hay,
ing something of n national establishment charac-
ter about it With that strange but very commo
~tallacy by which governments as well as indiyidu-
ais often deceive themselves into the belief thai
what cannot be prevented must be licensed in or
der to regulate it, the government sells a license to
a company to set up gambling tables here, and a
handsome revenue is indeed secured to the Grand
Duke by the operation. The company pay to the
government about sos, 600 a year for the license,
and besides this they are obliged to lay out a large
SUM in keeping the house and grounds in order.
Will you walk inf
"What, into q gambling house %
"Why, every body seems to be going in, and is
now about time to dine; this is the great eating
house of the place"
Well, let us 60 in and see what is going on. In
tn dining rooms, or if you prefer to eat under the
sh 2de of the great trees behind, you may order a
dinner Of q dozen different dishes, which would
cost you about as many pence as you would pay
of shilings for such u dinner in London. These
two magnificent saloons, are twice q week the
scene Of gay balls were princes and uobles and
commons mingle in their merriest dances in which
Germans ever engage, with a sparkling Of French
and English, with titles and without. But now
these halls are silent though hundreds of men and
women are in them ghey are all crowded areund
q large rable, one in the center of each room. Not
a word is heard ON the sofas, around the walls
a few Lstiess loungers are sitting, but the rest are
scattered None may sit down except those who
play- The game is rouge et-mir- The manager at
the table where we are standing, sits by q wheel
the players place their money. as much as tbev
please, but not lessAhan a dollar, or whatever nun.
Der or color they choose; the wheel is Shirled
n little ball flies out and falls apOa a number The
r manager announces it, and the fate of each pisrcr
is instantly decided. Some have won, some bS ve
lost, mere OF the latter than the former of course
fer the bank msst wan in the lerg run, or Il could
' not pay the great sum demanded for Che licenso
and makestOrtuDes 80: the managers besides
AN intensiTely interested in studying TIE game and
the company. ilere just in front Of me Is a con,
e tee! looking man, with red mOustGche ana clear
white skin, -ather too spnch dressed b be q cen,
tlemsn he is playing high, Not with silver he
1 never lays down less than & Napoleon, and oftcn
2 hre end sometimes more of tsela at once. Ia
WINS every times end thru stisg out his litae wood
i en- scraper, draws in his rdcpble pile, and adds N
y the heap OF his side. Heloeses this time: he niavs
!, bat a Rngle 'oOan the next, lose that. and rises ,
e once from Ais seat and leave the house. Thai p.n
never plays whenhe thirks lack il turnipc aga;,s,
9 him. ahe aieKt enc to him on the same side ~ ,Lo
tatle seemst9 be q fixture. Bat be does po, W.
: always His 'a0ebinae of ehaaecs ssast be a secrc,
ana be watohes tho game as il lie could tei] ;ns,
ween he time comes " ueatuFe bis silver. for Ie
e never r'tks gold Ger ar hour he ha, made no
u gsins, but ne is hoping to do better, and seems IN