Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-11-20
SEPTEMBER 10TH.

earth as well as above It, that battle mans
philosophy.
SEPTEMBER 10TH.
Yesterday evening we went with our
friends, Captain Tourel and his lady, to the
Conversation House. 1t seemed that all the
world had gone there before us, for every
room, hall and portico was OVERLOOKING with
beauty, fashion, rank and fortune. They
were walking and sitting, laughing and talk
ing, and amusing themselves in all possible
ways. But the principal attraction seemed to
be the roulette tables and the rouge ct noir.
Only players are allowed to be seated, but the
crowd around Thorn was so dense that it was
difficult to find a crevice TO peep through.
1t is said that 350,0O0 forms are lost at these
tables annually, and from what saw have
no doubt that larger numbers would come
nearer the truth. If the wealthy mobiles who
come here for pleasure were the only losers,
il would be well enough, as the Grand Duke
compels the lessees of the establishment to
give certain part of their winnings to the
poor, and to employ another certain part in
improving the town. But many young
man just entering life, with fine fortune
and but little knowledge of the world, makes
a fashionable tour to Baden. lie approaches
one Of these tables without the least intention
of playing; he wishes merely to look on. He
sees some one, perhaps young man like
himself, lay down a napoloon; he wins, he
has two napoleons. He leaves them both on
the table; wins again, and now he has four.
This time he moves them little, wins, and
has eight. Heigh, no, thinks our young gen.
tleman who is making his first acquaintance
with roulette table, this is fine fun and not
at all expensive, will stake pound. And
he does stake pound, and wins several times,
till he has quite little mountain of gold be.
side him. Then his luck turns, and he loses,
loses, loses, till he has lost all his winnings,
and hundred pounds besides. at will new
err do to quit now," he argues, al must get
my money back" And he plays on, in
creasing his stakes, always with the hope of
getting his money back, but always losing, till
he is bewildered and bound with terrible
fascination. Hours pass, but he does net heed
them; people come and go, but he does not
see them. He is alone with his throbbing
heart, and his burning brain, and the raven
Gus roulette swallowing up all his fortune.
Such one was pointed out to me. He had
sat by those fatal tables four days and nights,
losing, losing, losing. Never absent except
when he went to his bankers for fresh sup
plies, and all the time losing. His hair was
dishevelled, his cheeks pale, his lips COM
pressed, and his eyes red and staring like
those of a mailman. After he had lost, as he
supposed, his last cent, he found one napo-
leon which had accidentally fallen to the bot
tom of his trunk. He changed it into forins,
and was stalking them one by one when
last saw him. Is not this a terrible mad
ness?
Only last month, young man who had
lost his all, took out his pistol and blew his
brains out at the table that had tempted him
to ruin. Only imagine that gay and brilliant
company, with the warm blood on their beau
tiful garments, and the distorted body of the
dead man lying in their midst.
SEPTEMBER 18TH.
Yesterday we took long walk over the
green hills that spread their sunny slopes
round the little city. Every spot is beauti-
fed to the highest degree for miles in every
direction. Long avenues of oaks and lindens
lead to quiet hooks that tempt one to repose
Little waterfalls, and rustic bridges, and old
walls covered with ivy, and fairy temples
hidden in dark pine groves, make pretty pic
lures wherever the eye turns. Then there is
life ard motion everywhere, for the strangers
live outdoors, and one meets them in every
path. Some with their books, some with their
hunting gear, and some whispering soft tales
into the listening ear of beauty.
In the evening we went to the Converse
ton House again, and passed several hours
wandering through its beautiful rooms. This
house contains the library, the theatre ball
room, reading rooms, three or four gambling
rooms. and grand saloon. These are all
furnished with statues and paintings, mirrors
opd 0ildino rich sa4ipg drororiac and oor,ao,,e