The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-08-16

Tnr GarAr 8AnsLiEs HousE At Hon-
souns.-Mr. Blaine OF Maine, now In Eu.
rope, In late letter which, is published In
tho Augusta journal, speaks Of the town OF
Hombourg. nine miles from Frankfort on
the Rhine, a. follows:
Il IA only twenty minutes ride from
Frankfort, and II one Of the finest watering
places in the world. In July and August
there are always from ten to fifteen thou.
sand visitors here. The season 10 not by
any means at lis height rs yet, hut already
there arc three or four thousand here.
Hombourg 10 most beautiful place, with
a great number Of 6no hotels. Wo arc
stopping NJ the Hotel do Quatrp Saloons
The great feature Of this place 10 the I'm
mer,so rambling establishment called tho
Kursaal. An American lady there says Il
should bs pronounced Curse all, ," for II is
q cursc to all who play there. Ii Is rcgu.
larry licensed by the government OF Hcssc.
Hoinbourp, and the Stock Company that
own IL hsSe capital OF f@,OOoo,eO0-s'O,.
600 900. Their building Is an immense at.
fair. fully 400 feet long BY 200 wide, built
moro elegantly than any palace ] have seen
contains the most gorgeous ParIor, read:
Ing rooms, lunch rooms, concert hall, ball
room, and then several very large rooms in
which tho gambling is done. All the gam.
bling is public, and crowds arc looking on
while other crowds are playing. Ladies
play and bet every night. Roulette and
Rouge-et.Noir are the only two games
played, and these 60 on Increasingly, day
after day, including Sundays. Vast crowds
have been playing there to-lay, and heard
an hour ago that one Englishman had to.
day lost $1,000 francs. II Is the vilest and
most wicked place ever saw. went last
night to look at il, aud ] saw large crowds
playing. There wns mon gold and silver
on each table than you could carry, and ten
moro like you. !.
They use nothing but coin, and they had
over million Of francs on the several IA
bles. saw great many ladies' playing,
but don, think wa should call any ono
lady In our country that would follow 80
vile habit. Connected with the kursanl
IS a very largo park, over 300 acres 10 ex-
tent. elegantly decorated with flower plat.
caus, with walks, drives. gr0ttos, m0unds,
fountains, and al manner Of staiuary. la
these grounds arc included all the famous
mineral waters for which invalids resort
here. They all belong to the gambling
company, but they allow everybody to use
them without charge. and their parks arc
all open to the public, free. They also
keep M ut their own expense q magnih.
cent hand OF nusic--60 pcrformcn-the
finest, ] think, I ever heard. This hand
plays on tho grounds from to D In the
morning, when the people are drinking the
waters. then they play from 3 to and to
o r. H., In nll six hours per day. The ex.
pense Of running the knrsaai Is $500 forms
per day-$l0O0 day in gold. Il Is the
most gorgeous, the most lavish, the most
extravngnnt and the most wicked establish
inent in the world. Il seems like the en-.
icring road to pcr,lition-the very gate Of
hell. The young man who enters to play
seems to be hopelessly lost. had often
heard Of the place, but ] had no concep. |
ton Of It's extent, its splendor, or OF It's ter.
rible wickcdness.
There arc q great many people hero
who never 70 near the miserable place ex-
cept once, to crafty curiosity. just as Mr.:
Morrill, and myself did last night; but still
i drnws thousands hero TO their ruin every
season.
Hombourg Is situated just in the shadow
Of the Taurus Mountain, on the very high
land overlooking Frankfort aud the long
valley Of tho Main. Il b place Of rsre
beauty.