New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-10-07
UNMASKED CARD-SHARPER.

UNMASKED CARD-SHARPER
The Story of a Young Man who was Detect
cd Cheating in a Club.
They were discussing the latest scan
dial. -Ayoung man ofgood connections
had been ANONYMOUSLY expelled from
a club. Playing in collision with a
professional gambler, he had cheated
at cards and in a few months he had
won considerable sum.
'sAnd has he killed HIMSELF" asked
some one.
"Bah!'' replied another. 1'Do men
kill themselves for so little nowadays?
1t was different in thegood old times"
Gin the good old times, as you call
them" said old General Roy, those
who adopted the card-sharper's pro-
fession killed themselves no more
than do those of the present time.
A few exceptions there may have been
among those who were detected at the
outset. But if the first attempt sue
ceeded, they did as they do to-day,
they quickly accustom themselves to
their degradation. All, it is SO easy!
When respect for his own name I'VE will
not restrain a man at the first step,
it is entirely dead within him, and even
a scandal will not reviveit. By the
way, can tell you of q curious case in
point, where the hero blew out his
brains, but it was not asuicide. Listen:
1T was some fifty years ago. The
press of that time was not the terrible
!, gossip that it is to-day, and sensation
al news never passed certain bounds.
There were not fewer scandals, but the
scandals were less known. In fact, /
think there were rather more. Not
that we are more virtuous, but the
fear OF publicity is certainly great
check
"Among the elegant young fellows,
the gilded youth Of those days, who
furnished the greater part of the scan
dalous gossip by their eccentrici-
ties and duels, was q young gentle
man ATTACHED to the kings household.
I shall call him the Vicomte Roland.
The name was not an illustrious one;
in fact, the vicomte was the fruit OF
one OF those mixed marriages introduc-
ed by Napoleon l. General Conte Ro-
land, whose heavy cavalry charges are
matters .of history, had married the
daughter Of the Marquis de Bransac a
member Of one of the wealthiest and
most powerful families OF France. His
son was then about twenty-six years
~ II L ~
an beauty of his father, who had been
one OF the handsomest men in the ar
my. His was rather the delicate and
distinguished grace ofhis mother, whose
idol he was. Having loved her hus-
band passionately the countess was
now wrapped up in his son.
''The eXtravagant life led by the son
had caused a quarrel between the par
ents. The countess lived in the Bran
sac Hotel, one Of the finest in the Fau-
bourg Saint Germain, while the general
secluding himself in a little chateau in
the forest OF Senart, passed his time
in the pleasures Of The chase. They
say he had ill-treated his wife, but it
was utterly untrue The fact is that
there had been between thegeneral and
his wife, two terrible scenes.
The first was caused by an idea
which took possession OF the countess.
She found this name Roland too
plebeian for her son, and tormented
her husband to obtain the kings au-
thority to add to it that OF De Bran
sac. The general energetically refus-
. ed.
My name has suffced for me- said
. he for me who have made it famous.
1t will do for this fine gentleman, nv
son. If he does not find it brilliant
enough, let him try to add to it's
lustre.'
"The second scene was brought
about by the yicomte abb Quoting bal
let dancer, and by a duel and a debt
which were the consequences OF this
little affair. The general brought the.
son before his mother and roughly re-
y proved him for his folly. Instead of
supporting her husband, the countess
made excuses for her son. Women al
ways are indulgent toward the man in
q love scrape.
"Asthe general told his son that his
fortune was not sufficient to maintain
such scandalous absurdities, the
countess unhappily interjected:
oh, the fortune Of the De Bransacs
will amply suffice for him r
She had not calculated the effect of
her speech. Anhour later thegeneralleft
the hotel and went to his chateau; at
'the end OF a week thefamily notary in
formed the countess that her entire
personal fortune was at her disposal.
The separation was complete, and the
general lived alone on the fifteen thous-
and francs which constituted the rev.
enue he received from his own for,
tune.
The son made ducks and brakes OF
hcrfortune. AT the end OF six months
the countess was half ruined, and the