Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-02-10
A GAMBLING ADVENTURE.

One cold, rainy night, found my
self in the city of Paris-the city of
all cities. where vice is never slumber-
ing, but stareS you in the face on every
side in the most bewitchiug forms i'm
aginable. And woe be unto him with
weak resolution to stand aloOf fIOm all
fascinating temtation for, when most
unexpected, we find ourselves drag
ged down, down, in the unfathomless
depths of iniquity.
Registering my name in the Hotel
de Vile, L thought would stroll out
| and admire beautiful Paris by gas light,
But heavy mist hung over the city,
and all the beauty (if it can be called
that, was the Pickering of street
lamp ahead. l sauntered along I'M
c0ncious of t e distance | had walked,
until had found myself on the banks
| of the Seine. ! was about rGtraCing
my steps. when ! observed brilliant
/ ~ lighted house i'll one of the side
streets.
I resolved to enter and ascertain the
! way back To my hotel. crossed tn :
street and assembled the broad, mar
| bic steps, Which reminded me of some
of our fifth avenue residences, as they
| were of the same style. rang the bell
and Immediately very polite French
men opened the door, bowling and
smiling as if | was some great person.
age | requested him to inform lie
the nearest route To the Hotel de Vile.
| His face assumed Il very important
air and he answered:
"Nonsieur will step within and IN
quIre | am not allowed to converse
| with %iSitors.n
| stepped into the hall, and was soon
ushered into large, elegantly fur
nshed apartment, and at a glance |
| took in the surroundings. Seated
around large cotfin-sfaped table sat
! several men playing cards, who seemed
| To be org to the better class, staked
their all on luck, if their dress were
! indicative of respectabiiiIy and at one
corner Of the room L noticed man
| turning an Obl0ng box, out of which
| dropped small red balls, with numbers
| Gu tie side, which he called in loud,
| clear tones. And every few moments
| the cry of Keno ~ would arise from a
| long row of men seated at a table near
| the window fronting OH the street
| The truth dawned upon me that | was
! in gam bling hell, 20 common in Par
| is, where ladies go incOgnitO TO invest
in the game of chance.
Distinguishing the propriety of the
| house, | gained the infoI nation [ came
| in to ascertain and he very Hospitality
| extended cup of coffee, al the same
time eXcIainin3.
| Monsieur must be wet, and re cot.
| fee ees very good in re wet weather"
| / took the coffee and drank it, hand
| ing hin: some change in payne Mt
| He held his hands up aud shrugged
| his shoulders in astonIshment, and
Heemed To I've offended. | apologized,
and accepted his invitation to accom-
company him, aud hear an eXplana-
ton of the games. He explained how
! his game WAS played, aud what the
cards and checks Oh the table meant
| In ten minutes | understood exactly
| how TO play the game of ruin and III s.
cry, which had lighted many hap
| by home las well IN the New World,
as in the Old of that boon, called hap
piness, leaving nothing but desolatiOn
| aud dark despair. Why do such
| things prosper, when religion may
pass unnoticed? Oh world, thou arr
an engima!
Finally, l became so interested in
the playing, that l seemed To be as
! much excited as the players them
| selves. And an incOmprehensible re-
solve prompted me TO participate in
the game. | thought to myself il
would do harm, as | would only play
one game, On human nature, how
| weak thou art! when in our own esti-
1 nation we are the strongest, we find
teo soon that we are the weakest.
| laid for my checks. and quietly
waited for the game 20 proceed. pic
turing myself as a gambler and all
| that was W cked.
| But my musing was cut short by
| hearing inc crier call the numbers, and
| one after another | covered my card
with the number corresponding, until
| the line of numbers were covered, and
[ then in trembling tones / cried
"Kenow and Immediately a man
/ came and gave me a large amount OF
gold. How long played | know not,
| for was blinded by the excitement,
AID knew not when to stop. At last
n voice cried in French, that the bank
YVES broke for that evening, aud |, the
winner with heavy bag of gold
| arose from the table aud was about
4 20 leave the loom, when hand was
laid upon my arm, and voice asked
| "Monsieur, may ask your name p
| I turned around and beheld the pro-
prietor. / answered:
My name is Summers from the
| United States. What can / do for
Sou?"
"you may deem it quite impairment
| i'm me, Monsieur Summers, for asking
| your name; but l thought, perhaps,
YOU might never be heard of again
and by knowing your name miG hit be
able to throw some light on your muir
| der
Murder :" exclaimed In astonish-
| ment.
| "Monsieur, presume you are aware
that all eyes are fixed upon you, and as
they know that you are stranger IN
Paris. they are likely to take advan-
Iaue of your ignorance of the city, and
waylay you before you are half way
belwevn here and the hotel"
1 AZ have kept this place for fifteen
years" continued be, sand feel