National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-07-26
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
We left next day at s A. NJ, for Stra.

stroyed during the siege, would take col,
umns of this paper. Churches, Library
City Hall, Theatres University, Barracks,
and private buildings without number,
could be seen in every direction one mass
of ruins.
You could get better idea of the hor-
rors of war by riding through this town
for an hour, than you could obtain by
reading library iull of books on the sub
ject.
We drove to the Cathedral in time to
witness the performances of the celebrated
clock, which was something like the one
we had seen at l}erne, but on a much
more magnificent scale. 1t had cock to
crow and flap its wings, skeleton to
strike the hours, a procession of apostles,
and much more of the same description.
The clock is situated on the interior of
the church, in the south transept, and
was erected about thirty years ago by
Schwilgue.
Luckily it was not injured during the
Siege, although the Cathedral was hit in
many places and masons were AZ work re-
pairing it while we were there. The Ca
thedral is built of reddish-colored stone
which is not pleasing to the eye. We
think it is not to be compared with the
Cathedral at Cologne, and others that we
have seen in Germany. The height from
the street to the tower is 524 feet being
the highest building in Europe. st.
Peters, in Rome, being only 400 feet, and
st. Paul's, in London, $40 feet We after
ward drove to the Place Gutenberg,
where handsome bronze statue TO the
great printer, who conducted his first ex
periments in this place, was erected in
1910. The four has reliets are emblemat-
| zeal oil the blessings of the invention in
four quarters of the globe, and comprise
the likenesses of many celebrated men
among whom, | was pleased to see that OF
our own Franklin. The next worthy
object of interest in Strasburg is the tomb
of Marshal Sake. in the Church of St.
| Thomas. 1t is a noble sculpture and one
of the most beautiful monuments We have
seen. ltrepresents the Marshal, calm and
deliberate in his bearing, stepping down
ward to tie grave, which Death is holding
open, while a figure representing France
seeks to detain him upon earth.
Leaving Strasburg on the 1920 A. NJ.
train, Journey of two hours from kehl,
on the opposite side of the Rhine. with a
change of cars at Appenwe Ter station,
brought us to Baden Baden, where com
Portable quarters swere obtained in the
Hotel Holland.
During the afternoon we took a walk
to the conversation House" which is the
name given to the legaized gambling
! pie. As conversation. except in whispers,
is forbidden in the gambling rooms, we
considered the name Inappropriate. The
building is a model of archte cture, sculp.
ture and painting.
The splendid portico is adorned by eight
corinthian pillars. On the south side is
restaurant capable of accommodating three
hundred guests, and on the north side is
realing-room for cosmopolitan visitors.
The great assembly or dancing room,
which connects with the gambling saloons,
is nearly as large as Apollo Hall, in New
York, and its polished waxed floors, gor-
geous drapery, elegant pier glasses, and
luxurious sofas are in the best style OF
European art. In the gambling
the game commences at / \. NJ. and con-
tinues without interruption till midnight,
Sundays not excepted. The three rooms
we visited had in the centre Of each a
table covered with green haize, about six
feet wide, and fifteen in length around
which were a crowd of men and women
busy watching the movements of the gam
bers, who dealt the cards at one OF the
tables and turned the roulette wheel at the
other two. There were four dealers at
each table, two on each side, whose duties
are to deal the cards, or turn the roulette.
watch the various plays made, receive the
money that is lost, and pay out to those
who are fortunate enough to win.
With but few exceptions, the playing
was very light, the most daring player
being Larry O'Brien," of New York.
who was PLAYING $1,000 bet subse-
quently heard that before he left Baden
Baden, he won nearly $50, 900 from the
bank.
The majority of the players were evil
IDENTIFY old hands at the business, and
looked hard, impassivc ana calculating
At each table were number of female
betters, but they risked but very little on
'the hazard of the die" while we were
there.
We noticed one old woman, dressed in
a seedy suit of black, who ii J not bet but
was const ntly watching the game and
pricking off the result Of each turn, on
card she hel in her hand, which was
printed in black and red lines. 1t seems
that IL he early part of the season, she
had commenced playing against the bank,
struck run Of hard luck, and "couldn't
win bet whether she coppered or not"
and the result WIS that in short time
she was "broke."
Since that time she has been constant
visitor to the rooms from the time they
commence playing till the game closes,
aud does nothing but prick off the turns
of the wheel on her card, not having q
sou to bet with. WHO she is, where she
came from, or how she lives, no one
knows, as she never speaks to a soul. The
crowd that assemble, ound the tables are
after all but small portion of the visitors
to the place. and of that crowd even, the
proportion of players is small compared
with the numbers that idleness, and the
reputation of the place, and Curiosity at
tract only to look on.
The town of Baden Baden is in itself
interesting in its ancient houses (sur-
rounded on every side by fine mountain
scenery with quaint rural avenues md
modernized streets, and buildings in which
curious wares. in wood and crystal. are
sold to strangers.