Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-09-01
Miscellaneous.
The Most Fashionable Gambling House
IN Americ1.


TIE HIGHEST PHASE OF GAMING
in America is that carried on ut the
establishment of John Chamberlain.
in Twenty fifth street, not far from
Broadway. The system. the patrons.
the betting and the game Itself are all
50 different from anything known in
the city or the country, ami are such
excellent types of this fast age. fast
society and the prevailing corruption
in business circles, that il NAV bc ~
well 10 take survey of the house. its
owners. customers and benciiciaries
from an interior view. Ascending a
bells demand the visitor Is met hv an
eiaboratev dressed mailman. whose
duty il is TO attend the door. The
ob>equious colored servant takes Your
hat. Your coat end whatever outside
garment you uay have. With particu-
lar nIcetv he shows YOU into the parlor
and there Won meet a scene of unex-
pccted luNuriance. The front apart
ment Is carpetcd in velvet. with sofllv
upholstered cushions to match. and the
tInts correspond with the prevailing
coloring of the walls winch are finished
in
DELICATE SHADES or LAVENDER.
The ceilings overhead have been
treated by an artists hand. and they
show. encircling the gracefully ont
lined medaliions. gilt tracery and
carved scrollwork that are very fine.
Large wall mirrors ascend over mantels
of Vermont marble. and pier glasses
terminate either end of the double par
lors. The front apartment is devoted
solely 10 the reception and entertain
ment of visitors. Ii contains some
elegant works of art. \ large copy Of
dante and Virgil in tue Frozen
Regions of He'll is supported on on"
easel. while another bears copy of
"Jeptha's Daus hter" Bronzes of
very considerable value are placed
upon pedestals about the room. and
represent human attributes, such as
fowls, beasts, and muscular action. A
cabinet safe, which the writer would
scarcely take for any thing above a par
lor ornament, is concealed in the rich
paneiliug Of ebony and rosewood. Bv
going into the parlor at eleven o'clock
it is found filled with the customers of
the house. They sit around in the easy
chairs, smoke, order wines. discuss
the topics Of the day. Often the reader
would be surprised to listen 70 the
critical acumen which some of these
men employ in speaking of current
topics. ana especially when debating
aesthetic culture. Several visits during
business evenings by the reporter dis
closed the astonishing fact that Clam
berlain's house is not only frequented
by what the world calls gentleman,
but also by men of erudition, refined
tastes and acute discrimination.
The back parlor is used for the game
On the eastern side stands the roulette
table. one of the handsomest pieces OF
furniture in America. Immediately
opposite On the western wall is the
sideboard, provided with decanted
liquors and the choicest cigars. Stand
ing athwart the room. at the southern
end is the faro table, which, probably
more than any other on the continent.
has been the foundation tor building
good or ill fortune to a fabulous
degree. In other respects the furniture
matches that Of the front parlor. Pass
ing through q heavy rosewood door a,
the southern wall of the back parlor
We are in an elegant dining room fitted
expressly for the purpose Of
EPICUREAN FEAsTs.
In all that relates to richness and
layish elegance this room is well suited
to its purpose. Its colyrs are dark.
the woodwork heavily moulded, the
figures wrought in profnsion of gilt
and the wainscoting. sideboaids and
mirror frames indicate wasteful ex-
travagance. Even the glass globes ol
the chandeliers are cut in figures,
representing rural scenery, hunting
exploits and marvels of the animal
kingdom. Fifty can dine at one spread.
The large hallway leading to the front
door is .tesseled in rich mosaic work,
and is capacious and lofty.
Such is the field where men gather
to be convival, to be social, to eat,
drink, make merry and gamble. The
effect is
DAZZLING