Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-26
HIGH PLAY In GERMANY.
Interior of the Private Gambling
House in Baden.
where Tourists Most DO COngregste-
A Quiet Resort for che EngIishmen
who Bow at the Shrine of the PICKLE
Goddess.

Where Tourists Most DO COngregste-
A Quiet Resort for che EngIishmen
who Bow at the Shrine Of the PICKLE
Goddess.
Baden Correspondence of the London Times.
Hundreds OF tourists probably leave
without a suspicion that high play at
roulette and treute ct quarante is to be had
in Baden night and day; or rather, that l
NAV be strictly accurate, the pay is to be
had, not in the town itself, but in the i'm
mediate neighb0rhood. A ten minutes
sharp drive through a charming country
carries you from the old region Of roulette
the Conversation House-tO the new.
There is, of course, however, no attempt to
keep up the old splendor and style.
The modern "kursaal" is a very plain,
quiet-looking building, exactly like any of
the private houses by which it is surround
ed. Thousands Of people pass it without
any suspicion Of IFS real character. The
proprietor, though he speaks German, and,
indeed, every other civilized language, like
a native, is foreigner of ancient and il
lustrious descent, and of the most unim-
peachable integrity. He honOrs Baden
with his presence only during the sea-
son, and the races being over,
and the last tournament of doves"
sought out, he will probably soon trarsfer
the tables to his usual headquarters, unless,
indeed, the Baden military races in OctO-
Der, specially patronized by the German
Emperor, tempt him 70 remain. His hospi-
table door opens to all corners at all hours
of the day. mean, of course, the fashion
able day, from, say, p. NJ. to or A. 81.
as easily as that of any private house; far
more readily, indeed, than that of most.
THE SPHINX ON GUARD.
No mysterious signalling, tapping, or
watchword is required. You give an Ordi-
nary pull at an ordinary bell, and almost
befo. your hand has left tin order, per-
haps, that you may net be kept waiting
outside, a target to curious eyes-the door
flies open, and YOU find yourself face to
face with "gentleman's gentleman" out
of livery, and of aspect and manners so
quietly diguifed that for a moment you
doubt whether it may not be 'the Gentle
man" himself. But, if he does not know
you or the friend who introduces You, the
easy door has flown open in vain. he
will tell You with high-bred cOmpoSure that
his master is out or gone to bed, and if you
try to look mysteriously confidential and
whisper something about "play," he will
stare you out of countenance with cold
serenity that would do credit to the sphinx,
and remind you that play ceased at Baden
in 1872. But if he knows you or any men,
Der of your party, you pass at once through
two ante-rOoms, with toilette tables and
places for depositing coats and hats, into
the innermOst shrine where the sac ihces
to the god of gambling are going on.
THE GAMBLING ROOMS.
The shrine contains two rooms opening
into each other, one consecrated usually to
treCte ct quaraute, but i'm which faro and
other games of hazard are also played, and
the other devoted exclusively to roulette.
They are very quietly, though comfortably,
furnished, and the only thing that strikes
one as at all unusual about them-except,
of course, the tables-is that the various
pier-glasses are employed, Of all odd
places in the world, for posting
the placards containing regulations
with regard TO the different games
and other official notices. This novel
use of a mirror certainly looks like bust
ness, and prepares one for the discovery
that no ladies, whether 'sfrom Paris" or
elsewhere, are admitted, as they are to the
hotel roulette tables, which | have in
former letter described. Their presence
might lead to trifling and frivolities incOm-
patible with the serious objects of the
meeting. In the same earnest spirit there
is no flOurishing about, as al the hotel, Of
iced champagne. Any such public house
parade is carefully eschewed, not merely as
snowy and vulgar, but as reflection on
the game itself, as tending TO imply that
the genuine gambler and gentleman has
to be tempted into losing his money by
any other excitement OF pleasure than
that of the loss itself. But rs, Of course,
being human and reasonable, he must
drink, such simple and serious liquors as
brandy and soda, beer, aud light wines are
provided without stint. / have no doubt