The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-24
George Eiiot,s New Novel

da," opens abruptly with a portrait or Jng
heroine and picture of the German gam
bling salon in which she is introduced:
Was she beautiful or not beautiful and
what was the secret of form or expression
which gave the dynamic quality to her
glance? Was the good or evil genius domi-
nant in these Leams2 Probably the evil :;
else why WAS the effect that of unrest rather
than of undIsturbed charm? Why was the
wish to look again felt as coercion, and not
as longing in which the whole being con
sents!
She who raised these questions in Daniel
Deronda's mind was occupied in gambling; /;
not in the open air, under Southern sky,
| tossing cOppeTs against a ruined wall, with
| rags about her limbs; but in one of those
| splendid resorts which the enlightenment of
ages has prepared for the same species OF
| pleasure at a heavy cost of gilt holdings,
dark-toned color. and chubby nudities, all
cOrrespondingly heavy-formng a suitable
condenser for human breath belonging, in
great paIt, to the highest fashion, and not
easily proCurable to be breathed in else
where IN the like proportion, at least by
persons Of little fashion.
1t was near o'clock on September day,
so that the atmosphere was well brewed to
visible haze. There was deep stiffness,
; II
a small weeping sound, and an occasional
monotone in French, such as might be ex
pected 10 issue. from an ingeniOusly con-
structed automuton. Round two long
tables were gathered twp serried crowds OF
human beiHgs, all save one having their
faces and attention bent on the tables. The
one exception was a melancholy little boy,
with his knees and calves simply in their
natural clothing of epidermis, but for the
rest of his person in fancy dress. He
alone had bis face turned toward tine door
way, and fixing on it the blank gaze of q
bedizened child stationed as u masquerad-
ing advertisement on the platform of an
itinerant snow, stood close behind lady
deeply engaged at the roulette table.
About this table fifty or sixty persons
were assembled, many in the outer rows,
where there was occasionally a deposit oi
new. corners, being mere spectators, only
that one of them, usually woman, might
now and then be observed putting down
five franc piece with a simpering air. Just tC
see what the passion of gambling really
was. Those who were taking their pleas
ure at higher strength, and were absorbed
in play, showed very distant varieties Of
European type; Livonian and Spanish
GrecO-Italian and miscellaneous German
English aristocratic ani English plebeian
Here certainly was striking admission o.
human equality. The white bejeweled fin
gers of all English countess were very neal
touching a bony, yellow, crab-like hanc
stretching barred wrist to clutch a heap o
COMA hand easy to sort with the square
gaunt face, deep set eyes, grizzled eyebrow
and i'll combed, scanty HAIR, which seemed
a slight metamorpbosis of the vulture. AnC
where else would her ladyship have gra
ciOusly consented TO sit by that drY-lippe'
feminine figure, prematurely old, withereC
after short bloom, like her artificial flowers
! ! holding a shabby velvet reticule before her
and occasionally putting in her mouth tn
point with which she pricked her card
There. too, very near the fair countess wa
respectable London trsdesman, blond'
and soft handed, his sleek hair scrupulons
ly parted behind and before, conscious o
. circulars addressed TO the nobility and gen
l trv, whose distinguished patronage enables
D him to tSke his holidays fashionably, and I
a certain extent in their distinguished CON
y pany. Not his the gamblers passion ths
e null.fies appetite, but q Well-fed leisure
which IN the intervals of winning money i
e business and spending it showily, sees n
{ better source than winning money in pla
e and spending 1t yet more showily-refeci
ing always that Providence had never man
e Tested any disapprobation of his amus'
: ment. ana dispsssiOnAte enough TO leave o
c if the sweetness Of winning much and seein
e others lose had turned TO the sourness
q losing much and seeing Others win Fs
the vice of gambling lays in losing none
e At IL In his bearing there might be SONS
e thing OF the tradesmAn, but in his pleasur,
Is he was it to rank with the owners Of ii
, Oldest titles. Standing close 20 bis cha