Smyrna times., 1872-12-04
MISceIIU % e D us.
The Closing Of the Gambling Halls at
the German Spas.

the German Spas.
Among the varied attractions of the German
watering places the green covered tables, on
which creduous worshppers of Fortune have
been wont to stake and lose their gold by the
! inScrutable processes OF roulette or trente ct
guarantee have not been by any means the
! least Doubtless the curative qualities of |
warm or bitter waters, the charms of music,
of scenery, and the concourse of cultivated
and wealthy people have had their share IN
drawing to Baden Baden, HOmburg and
Wiesbaden the thousands who annually fill
their hotels and crowd their kurSaB; but the
wide, lofty, eded saloons devoted to play
have not failed to be popular places of reunion
for the health seekers of fashion. Visitors
have staked their Napoleons with more regu.
arity than they took the baths or swallowed
unpal4tabe draughts. Prudent Americans and
! sanctimonious BritOns have crowded open
handed Russians and vivacious Frenchmen at
9 the tables staid dowagers have followed the
play of fast girls, the millionaire has placed
It his gold beside the silver of the reduced game
il ster, while the smiling croupier has raked IN
- the ventures of the many and paid the win
N nings Of the very few. There were cases in
i which the infatuated players left the hell with
lg heavier purses than they brought, but rare
5, indeed was it that the end of a soj0urn at the
"a "a spa did not find the bank the gamer Occa-
q sionaly there have appeared men who seemed
10 gifted with lucky charm, by which they won
ttr all wagers and threatened the reserves OF the
raj banks Late last Summer Maltese came to
lrry Hcmburg. He always hit the winning care
Il and his play was reckless. A rule of the hal
in restricted the stakes to twelve thousand francs
yya1 He was allowed to double that sum, and still
ne he won Finally, it is said, he went ava!
all richer than he came by one hundred and sew
re- enty-fve thousand dollars. Still the suspicion
OF is mystcriousy whispered that NJ. Bugeja wa
i"l ihs but a decoy," and that his marvellous win
i, nings were a clever advertisement for the las
be season of the play. Certain it is that the foe
bed bed of imitators who have unsuccessfully wooe
Ib' fortune in his wake has been great enough
'ei make the season one of unexampled profit t
'"' the bank, which will wind up its operation
ere with bountiful dividend.
'n,9 Under law of the German Diet, enacte
The two years ago, after this year public gamln
"'F is prohibited; consequently an unusual int
;on est was attached to the play during the seaso
less. At Baden Baden the halls were closed on IL
ass. scenes are given by n. Y. Herald correspo
heir dent on the spot. 1t tells how the porters al
ner' servant girls of Baden Ejsked their pet
ted savings on the green cloth and saw them rakt
the into the treasury Of the gorged bank by Il
NM: %ns atFable croupiers who watched the advance
aasy night, crying, as the clock pointed to twelv
fofs a Make your play gentlemen; this is the Ia
Il throw. lnc harvest Has UCcu lull OuC i
nan nan the Baden bank, which has cleared thr
Il I.9 BE million francs. Wiesbaden and Homburg a
raud to keep their hels open to the end of the ye
Pro-. and will pluck their last pigeons in Chrlstm
x A. as as week They, too, will wind up rich Tho
: most interested in the permanent prosperity
1ame ae the spas in doubt as to the effect OF
,rrel suppression of the play upon the value
,rn ,ITe their property. Probably their efforts
,o;ed supply the place of gaming by less objectiona
{ the entertainments will in the end bring then
"a pro DC more desirable class of guests and fully
guar tain the annual gathering of people seek
s6th enjoyment and willing to pay its fair val
be &C, Doubtless thO:e who wish to gamble will hs
. facilities provided for them elsewhere, but
sh"lI GnG removal of the pernclOus seductlons OF
I'd d,n;, not from the German watering places viii 81
thousands from fatal allurement, and OF
the healing fountains to many who have,
. now been deferred by the vice of the he
At Ems the season has ended after giving
s.. bank a profit Of $325,00 Mannheim,
Ill closed its halls on the same night as Ba
s&~ Baden, after unusual winnings by the ba
France, now making wonderful efforts to
charge the penalty OF the war and tree her
Is of German soldiers, looks wlstfully at the la
skill revenue she might derive FROM the re-establl
sole ment OF public gaming houses in Paris,
provincial cities and summer resorts.
Blanc and his confrereS, the bankers, wo
VI ly no doubt gladly repeat in the French cap
- their monstrous gains at the German 5
IINE from which they are driven; but Ere
morality justly hesltates before authorizing
public institution of hes, where citizens
- strangers, rich and poor, old and young, !
ine' and women alike, come to win and stay to /
be set Paris has already abundant opportunities
wing, d;ss;n.tion ond Eroncn can nj afF,rd IN IL,
eo'y matize a vice which has at last been Outla
by Germany.
60 Mr. Stewards house at Auburn ia fi