Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-08-25
Fashionable Gambling in Europe.

IaSclnatlOnS TO which all classes yleIQ
themselves at the tables within doors
have never been better described than
in the letter which "Carleton" sends
from Wiesbaden, Germany, to the
Boston Journal. Startling as the
picture is, it scarcely overdraws in a
single feature of the scene observed
for an hour in that same Hall ten
years ago. We can find room only
for the following extracts:
There are four great saloons radl-
ant with lig ght-four restless. anxious
throngs of men and women-seated,
standing, walking nervously, calculat-
ing chances, exulting over gains, be-
wailing losses. The doors of this
magnificent suit of rooms are open to
everybody. The gambling is con-
Quoted on a democratic plan; prince
and peasant, countess and courtestan
all may enter and roam at will
through the gilded halls, play if they
please, provided they have guilder
forty cents American currency.
That man yonder, who has pale and
sunken cheeks and dreamy eyes, who
wears an old threadbare coat, who
convulsively clutches his last piece of
silver, who, if he loses it, will 60 to
bed supperless, may win a thousand
dollars, may ere daylight have his
pockets with handfuls of gold; or
that portly dame i'll chair upon the
other side of the table wearing a
white satin robe covered with gold
Spangles, with great pile Of gold be-
tore her, may 90 from hence without
penny in her purse. Be it one
way or the other, the men who whirl
the wheel or roll the ball will be ut
terly indifferent. They are as re-
mor5eless as fate. They work for
the bank, and the bank has no soul.
Come not here for soul, or heart, or
conscience. They are eXtinct-burn-
ed up. These men and women are
animate lormS only-hesh and blood,
bones, cords, muScles-destitute. ut.
terly devoid OF soul, of conscience,
to be quickened OF animated by NOR.
al considerations.
At the first table is a gray haired
man with u white moustache and
smoothly shaved checks. He must
be at least sixty years old, for time is
multiplying and deepening the fur
rows, He is not desperate game
- I' al r =.
He stakes but dollar at a time-lo
ses, gains, loses, and after a while
leaves the table. A young man witt
a tuft of hair on his chin and thin side
whiskers, hollow cheeks, sunken eyes
wearing a threadhare coat and dirty
linen, takes the vacant seat, pulls I
lean portmonaie from his pocket, lay:
a dollar on the green cloth and watch
es with intense eagerneSS the rolling
bali. He is poor, and this is th,
way he has taken to increase his for
tune. Luck is on his side. H,
clutches the shining silver, turns i
over; gloatS upon it with miserly sat
iSlaction; he lays another. mine
teen" says the man at the wheel, ant
the dollar is scraped away. Th
next time he will win again. He i
mistaken; the bank takes it. I'll
tries once more; sees the secon'
dollar disappear; then quits his sea
crestfaIlen, looking lougingly at tn
growing heap of gold and silver be
meath the hands OF the raker.
At the other side sits lady In tn
bloom of early womanhood, of fai
countenunce, and large lustrous eyes
She was here yesterday evening wit
a pile of gold before her: and wa
playing twenty francs at time
She wears a jockey hat with a super
ostrich plume, and her rich silk lila
colored robe lies at her feet in heav
!, folds. When she walks it is with a
air of a queen, and she sits ther
seemingly indifferent whether twent
, franc pieces are won or lost, and ye
, when four successive stakes have bee
swept away slight flush ogerSpread
/ her face; ic Ulteo her under-Hp
J smoothco the wavy hair upon he
forehead, and with an air of bravadC
, lays another piece and wins. A Ii
tie later every one of the shinin
, pieces OF metal have disappeared
, all gone into the bank.
} Standing behind the lady is
young man, dressed with taste an
elegance, who has a well-trimme
, beard, smoothly brushed hair, VIII
!, plays but dollar at time, but b
: lays it down with an air of one wh
. expects to win. He goes from tt
, table richer than he came.
I At the end of the table is a fello
7 with a hard, cold face-an eye of tt
3 color of steel, who looks not to tt
right or the left, but only upon tt
table. He lays down a thousan
l francs in gold. 1t is raked into til
q bank, and not a muscle of his count
:, nance moves. He lays a secon
: thousand, and sees it drawn ava
J with as much unconcern as if it wei
e but a half-dime. True it is not
8 great amount, but the wheel is all tt
|, while turning, and there are not man
: men who can afford to lose $40
c every minute.
t A tall man-broad shouldere
d with bald crown, thin locks of ha
$ about his ears, great shaggy ey
brows, rough features, wearing dal
suit, with a heavy gold chain to b
0 watch. laws a half dozen Napoleons-