Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-06-03

marks which belong to ours, Their color
is blush, very blue when they are boiled
They have one less back fin; and, worse
than all, they have scales, palpable and
actual scales. No microscope is needed
to find them. They are a scaly tribe
Their meat is white, and they are not as
rich as our trout
L have spent two evenings and the
whole of this day in the famous gambling
saloon of Baden. 1t is one of the most
beautiful buildings in Europe, having a
large assembly and concert hall, fine read
ing rooms and library, splendid cafes and
restaurants, an accomplished band, and
rooms for roulette and carte. In these
rooms gambling is perfectly respectable.
No odium whatever attaches to any one
who stakes his money on the roll of the
ball or the turn of card Old men and
young men, ladies and girls, were there,
and placed their silver and gold on the
table, on the colors or the numbers, with
out any sentiment or idea of the wrong.
Working men and servants, as | thought,
brought their earnings to try the chances
of the table. Some men and some ladies
would play for hours, and not leave the
place till the bank closed, or till their last
cent was gone. The bankers sat with un-
moved countenances, and as fast as each
) throw was decided would rake in the lost
money and push out that which had been
Won On every throw hundreds and
thousands of francs changed hands. Some
! played with perfect coolness, some with ex-
citemcnt that could not be restrained,
some with wild desperation. One young
man stood at the table with his young wife,
both extremely interesting in their ap-
pearance, and played heavily and swiftly,
or on many numbers at once. Almost
every turn would double his stakes, and
he had filled his own and his wife's pockets
with silver and gold in a very few minutes.
The delight of success fairly crazed him.
He played deeper, and in a few minutes all
he had was gone. Then his wife led him
off In the evening he came again with
his wife and one hundred francs. The first
throw it was all gone,-the very best thing
that could have happened to him. Two
young men, Russians, have been playing
very deeply for two days, and have lost all
they have staked One young man, OF
humble means, played thaler at time
until not a cent was left. A lady played
until She had filled her pockets, and then
|, with unusual self-posession rose and left
the table 4 girl of seventeen years, who
had been fluttering round the table all day
with few franc pieces in her hand, ven
tured to stake it at 10 o'clock in the
evening. She won, and again and again
she tried her luck, till she had won fifty
francs, and her mother then dragged her
away from the table, against her most ex-
cited protest. She has got her taste
formed, and her slight success will make
her gambler for life. From what have
seen | can readily believe all the stories
that are told of the infatuation and des-
peration of gamblers. This is not low
place of gambling, but government in-
stitnfion Hero the rich the heautifnl
the princely congregate. All the appli-
ances of art are used to enhance its pleasure
and to increase its responsibility. Public
sentiment sustains it. 1t is accompanied
with the most fascinating pleasures, and
surrounded by the most enchanting scenery
No oaths, no drunkenness, no vulgarity
ever intrude their hideous faces. The
most courteous of assemblies meet for con-
yersation, music, reading and gambling
all equally respectable. But beneath all
this outward proprety and elegance, and
this seemly show, there is the play of the
most tremendous Of passions. You car
see in the faces that surround the table
every variety of sentiment, in its most ac
tive shape. Hope, fear, envy, malice
anger, regret, anxiety, desperation, writ,
their lines on the cheeks and in the eyes o
: the PLAYERS And dozen suicides eacf
year tell how fascinating are the pleasure
of Baden, and how sad is their reaction
But how can men play when they mus
!. know that the chances are against them
If a man covers but one number with hi
money, there are thirty-seven chances il
. favor of the. bank If he should cove
: every number, and win on one certainly
!, he would still be in debt to the bank thrc
pieces. | studied it WELL and made u
my mind that there was no possible play
; and no possible combination of play, il
which the bank would not be the WHINE
= in the long run. 1t is mathematical
l demonstrable that the bank must wiz
. The playing is fair, but he who is give
up to the roulette of Baden is given up t
. the devil He will lose his money, and wi
. lose what is worth infinitely more, his sci
> reliant manhood 1t is Gods law ths
men shall earn their money by the swe;
u of their brow. and he who forestalls tn;
law at the gambling table must lose his c;
.e pacity for work and his capacity for tn
1t highest enjoyments of life.
, This bank, | am informed, is leased b
'e the Government for 100000 francs pc
year. 1t is also included in the lease tn;
g the bank shall pay an equal amount fc
" the improvement of Baden, fitting up tt
'e place with walks, fountains, parks, &
IL The expenses of the bank are 5000, 900
ie francs per annum, and its net profits al
u 81 5000 francs. The visitors, therefor
c at this delightful watering place, have
= - pay, besides their high hotel bills, a
lie annual tribute of over a million of do
III lars in gold to the bank. 1t is vel
i' costly town, the whole, to its guest
- But it is a lovely place, beyond anything
d. have seen in Europe. No words can
y scribe its varied and picturesque beautie
u Nature and art have done their best
lis make Baden the most fascinating place
vi the continent. Whether it will contin,
H. to attract visitors remains to be seen, for
III am told that the lease of the bank expir
nS in three years, and will never be renewe
e. The misery that has followed in the wal
IL of its magnifcence has clamored so loud
~ for its repression, that it will cease
~ exist b., law in three years. After tha
gambling may continue to be practice
- , but it will be as in our country, an ou
H. law, banished from social position, al
s. doing its work of corruption in secret.
er We shall leave Baden Baden for Ras