The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-09-25
An Hour Of He'll.

IS car0-playh3' anc no" through this large
greea-baize door which turns noiselessly up-
on It's well-oled and richly balanced hinges.
This apartment is more richly but less gau-
dy furnished. The glare of the chandeliers
is subdued by frosted globes; the carpet is
deep and yielding to our tread the chairs
are luxuliously upholstered but we may not
use them unless we decide to join the play.
All the decorations of the room bespeak
comfort and quiet, in strange contrast with
the oazziing scene just quilted. We stand
here awhile, silent spectators Of the absorb
ing and extraordinary scene before US, the
fascinating allurements OF which have made
the spot noted throughout the world. In
the ctnter Of the hall stands a long, broad
table, arocnd which are fifty or seventy-fye
ladies and gentlemen, some sitting, others
standing, but all deeply Interested, anG pre-
srl4'iHS various expressions of countenaEce,
corresponding with the fortunes of the play
n which they are engaged. Al. are utently
Watching wheel abuat thirty inches in di-
amct"r, Sc. IN the center OF the table, below
It's surface, which IS performing 9 tot rv no
ton, while little ivory ball, that oae Of The
for bankers has sent by twin. of his fin
gcgS, is rafting around it in contrary d.
rccuon All is anxiety to see 10 which Of
ihe little compartments, ranged entirely
around the circl inference Of the wheel, and
c,.ored alternately red and black, the little
b..i will settle. a few inches above the cen
tci o. the wheel, attached to metal post,
is 4 GiI;ering cross-bar, by means Of which
the vi Il is set in motion. The metal work
ha>hcs brightly in the strcnG light of the
lap Just above It, which is closely shaded
With green, to aarmonize with the mellow
ghl Of the room. Before the two bankers,
sitting on each side of The table, are huge
p':s o! gold and silver. They hold in their
ha, Is rads,r perhaps three feet in extent,with a
fat cross oieca two or three inches long at the
end, by which coin may be raked in Or push
I'd to the extremity of the table. There are
two assistants at each end Of he long table.
also holding ra1es, whose duty il is to help
apportion the gain and losses wnen the little
ivory Joker has pronounced It's fiat. This is
deAierousy accomplished in he incredible
space of few seconds The taLle is cover
eli with green cloth, and marked into dla-
grams enclosing figures, which correspond
with the numbers in the circumference Of
the Wheel and into black and red Spaces
The whole is so arranged that one MAY BET
on either COLOR which is deemed an even
chance, or on the chances Of the ball stop
ping within certain sections in theswheel, or
in subdivisions of the same section, or on
aLy one or more Of the thirty numbered COM
partments, and so on" If the player wins
on the red or black, he doubles his money
if on point where chances are three to one
against him, hp wins three times the amount
OF his stake; if where the chances are thirty
TO one against him, thirty times his stake. Let
the game 20 as it will, however, the chances
IL the main, favor the bank. This wheel i:
l,,-wn to gamesters as the roulette, and tht
game ;s called rouge et n0ir. 1t was set il
motion At ,,leven o'clock this morning, anl
will rot cease its revolutions until long afte
midnight.
The dealers at this table are an uncom
promisir g-looking set of men; not sparl
Of human sympathy warns their rigid tea
tures. nor single raw of elevated sentimen
Eliminates their countenances. which are thlI
and pale e,betraying dark crescent below eye
cold and penetrating as steel. These eye
are constantly glancing over the board, neve
turned III on the PLAYER, but directed to th'
sYoi!s, and hauling it in under those slltterins
obs do a hawk pounces upon its prey. Jhes'
gentlemen are expert in their line !: the whee
is accelerated by new twirl, tie hall sen
fi,ing around 50 quickly we seal ) see tn
operation. 1t is about to hop into its plac
when the operator sharply says call SET,
aLich puts a stop to betting. \ second
'wo p.ore and the game is announced, II
gold and silver is raAed in, the large sum
pusned out with the rake, the smaller one
tossed on, so dexterously and accurately tha
dozen pieces 90 flying across The table to
certain space, or number. aIightlng almost O
.op C each other. AL this is done qulcke
t'.an the time it takes to relate it. The Whee
has not Stopped yet, its motion has again ae
cslerated, and one minute has sutficed to pla
game where thousands Of dollars hav
been lost and won.
How still ii is. How noiselessiy peopl
change places. We hear the rich tink!e t
the gold, the harder ch;nk Of the silver, an
the mysterious ivory ball, upon which a
eyes are eagerly turned, and brcaths hel'
;ns, audibly yet ominously rattling, ard o.
o..;onv w low whisper; nothing NOR
wbo+ y, ., :. to study human nature! W
ol o, these couNtenarces the deeI
ast -, mos, an,ins- passions of the hama
hear. as plainly as We can see the cio"'S an
s,or,s n,ss over the SKY. Observe 4
stout lady at our left; hoT Composed 81
tries to be. and with what force S'"g-l'o
she tosses her money upon the table, !e' II
face is flushed, and her eye is unsettied''
There is disappointment about her lips, al
yexation. She has been plaYing some I'M