Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-11-15
How the Day goes at Baden Baden.

place-tne SdTdtOSd vi UcImduy, ouo
compared with which, for dress and
fashionable dissipation, our Saratoga,
l am glad to say, is but shadow.
1t is beautifully situated in green,
cup-like valley on the borders OF the
famous Black Forest of Thuringia.
The Grand Duke has his palace there,
and above the town, on a deeply
wooded eminence, rise the vast ruins
of the old castle which was occupied
by the royal family for 400 years.
From these heights the town lies at
your feet, the spire of the Strasburg
Cathedral is visible, and the Rhine is
traced at a great distance, in its wind
ings through the rich and fertile plains.
On the left, the Black Forest stretches
as far as the eye can reach. The
view is surprisingly fine. The popu-
lation of the town is but 1000, yet
during the season it has 10000 visi-
tors. It's hotels, which are numerous,
are very large and fine, and its fash
ionable drive is one Of great beauty.
Baden first came to note through its
numerous warm springs. They rise
up out Of the valley in great numbers,
and are thought to be very eficacious
in the healing of disease. The water
is almost too warm for the mouth, yet
it is very clear, and the taste is not
insipid. Over the main spring there
is splendid building erected with a
Grecian portico and fine frescoes. In
the spacious hall within is the spring
pouring up its streaming indicated
waters, to which the multitudes resort.
Near this Trink Halle is very high
ly ornamented building, called the
Conversation house. 1t is gilded with.
in, and when the gas is all ablaze at
night, and the rooms are filled with
brilliant dress, and the music is play
ing in the gorgeous Chinese pagoda
without, and the flower gardens on
every hand abound with beauty, it is
like scene from fairy land, and the
eye is enchanted with the crystal
splendor. la the conversation house
are the famous gambling tables, where
so much wretchedness and ruin have
been wrought. This is Baden Baden
Now how docs-the day go? Up! all
invalids, between six and seven in the
morning, and amidst the fragrance OF
the gardens and the Ginning of the
music, swarm out to the Trink Halle
by the hundreds. In elegant morning
robes, sit and chat and drink the wa.
ter and perspire for an hour. If your
case is desperate, take a bath in the
same, from one to six hours long
Then home and to sleep till five
o'clock, if you have good conscience
when you are to appear in full dress
for dinner. After dinner, or between
six and eight drive in the park. You
will find the nobility there with flash
ing equipage and outriders, the money
kings, and all who can make shift tC
Join in the show, and for two hour.
there is a glitter of gold lace and {
whirl of beauty and fashion which
renders the scene one of exceeding
attractiveness and gaitey. All at one,
the park is left empty and SILENT
Fashion has retired to don its silver
slippers and tinselry for a genera
gathering at the great Conversation
house in the evening. Already music
is playing from the Pagoda in thu
grounds. The gardens are filled witt
light and airily dressed young mel
and maidenS, to whom the hours fiji
by with fairy feet. Multitudes of thu
more staid ones are sitting arounC
tables in the open air, under the shad
trees and in the gas-light, smokin!
and drinking wine and beer, whil
everywhere you hear the voice o.
merriment. But you do not see tn
Lion till you go within. Enter, 70
the doors are all open, and the COLDER
saloons fame with illumination
There are four gambling tables, suS
tanned by an association of capita
lists; against them the world ma
play. The games are faro and roule
te. The bank will play every nigl
until it has lost certain sum spec
fed by law, then it must close. 1t
stock is quoted every day on til
Bourse. Its earnings each year ar
numbered by the million. The table
are in full operation; men and WI
men equally deep in play surroun
them, together with any one who ma
choose to be spectators. The seen
is very quiet aud orderly, the younI
err ones showing their feelings whe
they lose by twitching of the mu
cles of the face and hurried air; b
the old stagers playing on, whatev'
the result, with the hard fixed loo
of fate. | saw many lose heavily, OIL
man parting with 81 600 at a thro'
and some gain equally so, one ms
beginning with a golden Napolec
and running up to 800 of them wit
out reverse. But the gain on t
whole must have been with the ban
One young and beautiful counte
gained rapidly at first, and then lo
all and much more, and grew furio
and hurried away in storm of rag
What was her rest that night, al
how was she fitting for that 9th
sleep? | saw an aged Russian Coul
ess, who lives at Baden so as to
near the tables, and to whom the {
citement of play has become so stro
habit that she cannot keep ava
ALI her vast income goes in this W;
and still her whole life is bound
in play. Thousands are thus ma
restless and reckless and are ruin,
1t is a moral whirlpool, and its v
tins are the souls of men. Few thir
are so irresistible, and | rejoice
learn that government has taken