Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-04-14
much for the establishment of the town,
promenades, diversions, races, etc.

much for the establishment of the town,
promenades, diversions, races, etc.
THE TWO GAMES PLAYED
At the bank are roulette and trente ct
quarante. 1t is not unusual to see men
lose fifty thousand francs in one day. An
amusing anecdote was told us OF a country
man who visited the bank one day. Be
ing tempted to play he had the good luck
to win ten thousand francs. Taking his
money he went out and asked for his UNI
brella at the vestibule. AS he had no
change to pay for its keeping he returned
to the play. room, but was told there that
no change was given out except while &C.
tually playing. So he put down a gold
piece at roulette and lost He contin-
ued, and lost again, and getting excited,
lost all he had won and the money he had
brought with him besides. We heard of
another incident which was not amusing
for one of the actors. An English noble-
man was playing, when he was accidentally
called away. Forgetting about his stake
he did not return Immediately. In the
meanwhile his stake won a number of
times in succession, until big pile of gold
was waiting for him. A Frenchman, who
had seen him leave and had watched the
game, could not endure the sight of seeing
all this gold disappear at one throw of the
dice so he went to inform the English
man of his luck and asked him to take
away his money. The Englishman told
him to mind his own business. Words fol.
lowed the next morning they had duel,
and the Frenchman
GOT A BULLET FOR HIS PAINS.
Many fortunes are yearly lost at Spa, and
suicides are of common occurrence, but,
the same as at Monaco, they are kept Sc.
cret for fear of hurting the town. Departing
from Spa we partly retrace our steps as far
as Liege in order to reach Antwerp. This
time we travel, for curiosity's sake, in a
third. class car, and have good opportunity
to study popular customs. Although third
class cars are far from being comfortable,
they are by no means used exclusively by
the lower class of people. Except ladies
of the better class, who do not travel in
tnem, they are patronized by all grades OF
society, and particularly because smoking
is allowed. By the time we reach Liege
our car is crowded. Among the passengers
there are a number of WALTON workin gmen
and peasants in their blue linen blouses or
smock-frocks and colored caps; women
with their strangely formed strawhats,
which are extremely wide in front and
stand up straight about foot, while the
rear end closely fits the head and sticks out
about six inches. A piece of white cloth
is attached behind and hangs down the
back. We notice in the crowd short, fat
Fleming in his velvet, BRASS buttoned jacket
and fur cap, accompanied by his better. half,
wearing short dress, low and gold-buckled
shoes and linen bonnet, or rather night.
cap, with flaps on the sides of her face a
foot long her forehead is covered by a
gold plate, and she wears gold earrings
nearly four inches long her fingers are full
of rings and half of her body is covered
with trinkets.
PARTY OF HUNTERS,
With their guns and outfit, make them
selves conspicuous through their arrogant
manners, though we can't think, to save
our life, where they could find any game in
country in which the smallest hare can
d
sporting men in the car with their fishing
apparatus and poles, which are especially
calculated to add to the comforts of the
passengers. There is also sprinkling of
tradesmen and merchants from the larger
cities, among whom that irrepressible indi-
vidual, called commis.voyageur or drum
mer, shines in all his glory. The United
States are blessed with book agents, ped.
oilers, and so on A; but when it comes to the
regular drummer, or commis-voysgeur, we
must concede the palm to Europe. Every
car, every stage. coach and every hotel
swarms with them. In Belgium, especially,
they are distinguished by their manners
and dress. Wearing a stylish dress and
affecting polite manners when coming in
contact with refined people, the commits
voyageur is the most ostentatious and con-
ceited braggart in the world. While trav.
cling he delights in selecting poor victim
for his commonplace jokes, endeavoring to
render it ridiculous, and feels proud of the
laughter his sarcasms have called forth. A
specimen of the kind was in our car, and
soon monopolized the conversation, which
had been carried on rather noisily by a
number of young men. His darts of wit
and repartee were followed by great APP
plause. Having exhausted his store of in
formation his glance lighted on the honest
and simple face of the fat Fleming, of
whom we have already spoken. The train
had just left Liege and was ascending
steep mountain by means of cable its
locomotive had been left behind. This ar.
rangement is similar to the San Francisco
cable-roads, with the difference that large
trains are pulled up at a greater speed.
The distance may be five miles. The cable
is about the thickness of mans wrist,
and cannot be seen from the cars when in
motion. This road has been in operation
thirty. five years, which proves that the
dummy arrangement of San Francisco is
not a new invention