The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-09-20
Gambling at Wieshaden,


A score of your city girls.
Gambling at Wiesbaden.
sIren@us, Rev. s.. I.ePrime, in one Of his
letters to the New York Observer, from
Germany. gives sketch of Wiesbaden,
10 celebrated watering place, including
the following account of the Kursaal. one
ofthe greatest gambling establishments on
tho Continent:
And now. let US drop in a: the Kursaal,
q long and imposing building on one side
of the Square, while colonnades line tho
other sides with ali manner of shops for
the display Of fancy articles for sale. This
Kursaal is the temple of Wiesbaden, the
greatest gambling house Of Germany; and
having something OF a national establish
menf character about it. With that strange
but very common falIacy by which govern
ments, as well as individuals, often de-
ceiye themselves into the belief that what
oannot be prevented must be licensed in
order to regulate il, the government sells a
license to company to set up gambling
tables here, and handsome revenue is
indeed secured to the Grand Duke by the
operation The company pay to the gov.
ernment about $500 a year for the Ii.
cepse, e,,end besides this they are obliged TO
layout 4 large sum in keeping the houses
and krou unds in order. ( Will you walk In?
ssWhat, in gambling housea"
Why, everybody seems to be going in,
and il Is now about time to dine; this is the
great eating house OF the place"
Well, let Us go in and see what is going
on. In the dining room, or if you prefer
TO eat under the shade Of the great trees
behind you. may order. dinner of q doz-
en- different dishes, which would cost you
about as many pence as you would pay
Of shfllings for such dinner in London.
These two magnificent saloons. are twice
& week the scene of gay balls whore
princes and mobiles and commons mingle
ii the merriest dances in which Germans
eser engage, with sprinkling OF French
and English, with titles and without. But
now these halls are silent, though hundreds
Of men and women are in them. They
are all crowded around the walls, q few
listless loungers are sitting. but tho rest are
standing ct the table while perhaps twenty
are seated None may sit down except
those who play. The game is rouge-et.
nni<. The manager at the table where We
sfe standing. sits by wheel. the players
place their money, as much as they please,
but not less than dollar, on whatever
number or color they choose; the wheel is
&iiirled, little ball flies out, and falls up
on number; the manager announces it.
and the fate of each player is instantly de-
cidsd Some have won, some have lost.
ni0fs 81 me latter rthanlthe former OF course,
lorsths bank must win in the long run. or
Il could not pay the great sum demanded
for the license, and make fortunes for the
managers besides am intensely inter-
ested In studying the game and the COM
pany. Here just in front OF me is gen.
tssl looking man, with red moustache and
clear wIlite skin, rather TOO much dressed
70 bss gentleman; he is playing high
Not with silver; he never lays down less
than Napoleon, and often Ave and some
zines more of them atonce. He wins ey.
cry time, and thrusting out his little wood
eri surapsr, draws in his double pile, and
6ddsait to the heap at his side. He loses
this time; he plays but single coin the
next, loses that, hnd rises at once from his
seal, and leaves the house. That man
never plays when he thinks luck is turning
again him. The next one to him on the
suHnes side OF the table seems to be . hx-
tnrs.s Bat he does not play always. His
doctrine of chances must be . secret. and
be WAtche. the game as II ne could tell jus
when the right time comes 20 venture Ms
stlyerss ior ne never risks goia. FOR an
sna!rsns msoe no gains, put ne Is hoping 'e
90 better, ana seems 70 oe very sure ina
e whsseeean % ~ wln soon. aea ne mas oeel
S losing = sene sns 1uo, s:n: :..as. ons
ou .s nsse. saw NJ iau'0s - s1MDnne
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Rss I = ~ 81 s .I =. ~ :, 'S,l' s.,S
wan - s nj, -. IN ~ a;,s ,ss
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