Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-09-13
BADEN.BADEN DOOMED.
The Last Days of the German
Gaming TabIes-SceBes at the
salon DOrG. 1.

Gaming TabIes-scenes at the
Salon DOrc.
From the London Globe, August 23.l
The decision of the Reichsrath has
been pronounced, and all the gaming
tables of Germany must positively be
closed on the last day Of December,
1872. Weisbaden, Ems, Homburg and
Baden must find fresh means of attract
ing the public and of deriving the funds
necessary for their great expenditure.
Homburg alone pays fine to the Gov
ernment of f70,0O0 year; and the ex-
tpenses of keeping up the beautiful gar
dens that surrounded it amount to an
annual outlay of $1,000, which are also
paid out of the receipts of the gaming
tables. 1t would seem, as might be ex-
pected, that this year will be an unusual
ly productive one; the players throng
round the tables every evening in rows
of six deep, and many have to retire
without the wished-for opportunity Of
stalking their money. The Salon Dore"
is crowded every night with spectators,
and the play becomes very exciting. A
company of Russians have come over
with the ayowed intention'of l.a,
G.. BREAKING THE BANK,
and night after night they may be seen
winning and losing enormous sums.
Each is attended by his secretary, who
sits beside him and registers the gains or
losses made by each coup. For one
night they played alternate stakes Of
10000 francs and $4,000 francs at a
coup-the latter sum, equal to e490 of
our money, being the largest sum which
the bank permits to be staked at a single
occasion. OF course, with all players
the chances of the bank make its ulti-
mate success certain; but the players
which it prefers are not the steady gam
blers, but the occasional visitors who
yield to passing temptation. A pro-
fessed gambler plays upon a system,
and the part of his system most objec-
tionable to the bank is this, that when he
wins large sum he stops. The cele-
brated Maltese, who broke the Homburg
bank three years ago, used to pay into
his bankers large sums whenever he was
successful, and ultimately left the place,
carrying away from it many.thousands
of Maps destined to be lost at Baden
Baden few weeks afterward. 1t is 9TH
wise with the tyro of the tables He
plays and. wins, becomes inoculated
with the fever of gaming, and ultimately
loses all he can readily obtain; at one
time you see him playing with gold,
flushed but anxious; then the wheel of
fortune is adverse; the lightly got coin
lightly goes; the boards are swept back
to their original source and he is almost
cleaned out You would think that
now at least he would stop; but no, the
hand that staked gold an hour ago now
stakes guldens. 1t is for such visitors
that Homburg spreads its attractions
with prodigality that is almost lavish.
Bands, concerts, balls, shady walks
under well-preserved tree plantations,
cricket, hunting, pigeon-shooting, the
sparkling waters of the Kaiserbrunnen
for the dyspeptic, reading-rooms for all
classes and for all nations, and all this
free; it only asks its chance at the table,
and it does not even ask that, but trusts
to the common propensity for gambling,
that is Independent of race, language
and nation. Day after day the train
takes back to Frankfort visitors who re-
turn with lighter purses than they
reckoned on. =" But there's aye a green
crop coming" and every night ,rI.
THE TABLES ARE AGAIN CROWDED.
As an illustration Of what expenses
are incurred without hope of other re-
turn than that which is paid down so
literally on the green cloth, it is known
that the opera costs the administration
more for every representation than
would be realized, assuming the house
TO be filled at the exorbitant prices that
are asked. Madame Patti alone receives
for thirteen performances, f350O, and
such artists as Trebelli-Bettini, Faucelli
and Bettini support her. Some miles
from Homburg there is the pleasant lit
tie town Of Nauheim, which has a natu-
raj salt spring, and is reached from HON.
burg by coaches that start at fixed times
daily. There a rival company have es-
tablished a kersaal and the necessary
gaming tables. Originally the HON
burg tables we're open every day Of the
week, but the law which compelled them
to close on Sundays did not include
Nauheim, probably as being too iusig-
nificant. The Nauheim directors ac-
cordingly made arrangements with these
coach proprietors that Sunday passen-
gers from Homburg should obtain re-
turn tickets at a single fare, the com
pany itself paying for their return jour
ney. Accordingly on Sundays
ALL THIS GAMBLERS OF HoNRuRG
packed off to Naaheim, and the rooms
there became so crowded that it was i'm