The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-11-19

4
ly upon the table; no man regards to the
right or left, even to see who elbows him.
Around each Of the rouge-et.noir tables there
are fifty or sixty persons, one fourth Of whom
are women. In the middle Of the table,
two on each side, sit the coupiers, or bank
ers.
Before them are arranged their piles OF
money--notes Of France and Germany.
double Frelerics, Napoleons, five.franc pie
ces, double tlorins and torins. On both
sides Of the middle space where the bank is
deposited, there are intersecting angular
lines, and on one side a small red square.
and on the other side. corresponding black
square Players throw down
their pieces Of money. which are placed by
means of little long handled rakes, on the
lines or intersections of lines. or on the
rouge-st-noO, according as they wish to bet,
each position on the table gaining differ
ent sum. The money is all in place, and
| then eight or ten cards nj choice are turned
/ by one OF the bankers, and the result is de
/ clared. The board is quickly cleared by
the scrapers, OF the thousands offrancs that
were lost. another shower OF money covers
the angular lines and the rouge-d-n0,r, the
| same number of cards are again played ont,
again the little rakes clear the table. and
again another shower OF money falls, all day
/ long, with the same regularity and almost
with the same rapidity, that | have here de-
scribcd it.
! The eternal clinking Of money is one Of
the mos, fearful features Of this scene
/ Add TO this the staring. totally absorbed,
avid looks Of fifty Individuals absorbed,
I 50 avid, that even the bankers do not turn
/ their heads to the right or left to see with
whom they are winning or losing. and you
have scene that does not belong TO the
civilization nor the midst in which it is
found There is no such pandemomum this
side the river Styx. The startling silence
of the betters, and the horrible clinking Of
the money. which resounds loudly in the
| large hall, strikes the sense oia novice with
fearful effect. The rapidty with which the
| bankers rake in or throw out the money,
the apparent confusion that regns over the
game, turn hs head completely.
! But who are those individual so absorbed
! in the secret OF rougec-n0Tt They are
Princes and Generals. Princesses and ladies,
: IililIIoUaIt- N'ls
| mother aud daughter, with here and there q
/ professional gambler. They are the lew Of
/ that clas- Of individuals, found inevery com
munity, whose passion il this particular kind
OF excitement, and who seek this central rem
/ devious, because here their passion is most
largely gratiiied. They are respectable
looking men and women. at home are the
/ flower Of society. and bear names that re-
sound largely in theIand. The majority of
/ the old men we sce here to-day are Russians;
/ they betting largely and the bank is in vein,
it Is winning. The suns raked to the
centre OF the table are iabulous. Even the
bankers cannot resist a smile, although II j.
/ their bu.in,ss never TO change countenance,
/ But do they always gain! Away. in tbe
end. The sum left annually at the kursoat
OF Wicsba len by foreigners Is 100000 ilorlns.
f The chances allowed the bank against the
( players i , per cent. 1hlr advantage is
: fixed by the Government, and IN return for
I it the owDcrs OF the kWscdi are taxed cnor-
'Eoa,y 10 acsp ap 'ae grounds, baa'!s @.
music. and other attractions for yi-ltors.--
Fifteen pr cent Is just large enough an ad-
vantage 10 permit player 10 make an oc-
p NdNfDt4Hi l1l'IN AHs Ob tiiS bhlshs bH' W iahhF
him inevitably the loser al The end oi the
-easDn. These facts are "a pal pabie TO the
PLAYERS a. figures and the commGnest com
mon sense can make them they kD1w the
chance Of the game exactly they know tat
I the proportion Of gamers Is bnt one cut OF
/ ten but these do not eyail 10 withdraw them
from the temptation. This explains IN fact
why 20 few professional gamblers are en-
gagged in thu game the players are nue'ly
wealthy men. who have money 10 loe in the
; qualification of all absorbing passion.
The bank docs no, cheat--iH fact, cannot
{ cheat. The players grunbe at imaginary
. combinations which they charge UPON the
T bank IN connection with the two discretion
ary cards, which the bank u allowed 20
turn up but these combinations. II At
tempted. would bc sure 10 b. broken 10 up
90 by beiters psaring their money On the
winning figure 80 that II se-ms impossible
tina; tie bank can cheat successfully. IL
must rely solely upon ~ , pr cent. legal
advantage. AMI upon the intelligence AMI
bo'-or Of it, eroup,ers. Tb@e latter NAV
( cliea. by means Of sioolpig, ons; but they
casat the bank only and not tue public,
anil that l. the altar Oi tber empl0} }er.--
/ The card G-ed iE-yer serve bat once: they
are brough, in bearing the seAl of the
Goyernment, and are thas opcped in pack
agss before the players. They are already
shuffie,i. aDi ,arbel up by the dsaIsr ja., rs
found. As -ooD as iarnet up, they are
pushed into a hOl- in the middle " the table
and at night government ofeer destroys
them. They are .h2h.y srnas1sr than the
ordinary card. very tida AMI chs1piy got up.
Al Wei-fa'isn the bans Vl's on eaeh
ta1.s al TO- oelock N iie m1rHinz. At the
m0fsnt ~ opmnepcing. the following
Sums; ~ 1ilis II 600 iranc. J0iaw rate.
| nnn irrbl. Irarieri,L. ~ lapl lranra.