Middletown transcript., 1886-03-05

the enemy's copses, terribly wounded
but still breathing. sgallantry ha'
been told to the general commanding
and when the latter passed th
wounded man, he took off the cross o
honor which he wore on his tunie
and clasping it on John Burter'
breast. said to him: Captain, accepI
this cross it is the highest reward
that France can bestow on brave men
In the name of my country I bestoV
it on you" On the following day
John Burter died in the field hospital
but before closing his eyes forever ht
confded the cross to a friend, saying
| as he handed it to him: " You viii
give this cross to my son, that it may
be a talisman which may always keep
him in the path of honor and duty
If ever an evil thought crosses his
mind, let him look at this cross, lei
him think of his father, aud feel sure
that he will Immediately return to the
sentiments which alone are worthy Of
an honorable man."
Long after the events recorded had
taken place, chance led me to the
shores of the Mediterranean. For
many days 1 staid at Monaco,
mot to- gamble, for, thank Heaven, |
have never felt the passion of play,
but to settle some family business.
Morning otter morning I had travelled
along the coast, and had admired the
truly admirable picture which nature
offers to the traveller who goes from
Nice to Genoa by the Cerniche road,
when one day theafaacy seized me to
enter the Monte Carlo Casino. The
impression I received was strange,
and must frankly confess that the
sight which met my eyes contrasted
.disagreeably with the beauties which
nature has lavished upon this country.
IF the view from the top of the terrace
of Monte Carlo .dazzles the eyes,
caIms the mind, and Ellis the soul with
an infinite charm, the scene which
the gaming saloon presents troubles
the sight, saddens the heart, and fills
one with a feeling Of weariness and
depression. i
Picture to yourself a splendid saloon
brilliantly lighted BY numerous
chandeliers the walls are magnif:
Gently decorated but the sole furniture
Of the room consists of tables and
chairs. On each table. may be seen
a roulette wheel, miniature rakes, and
q locked box. Gradually the crowd
enters, and the gaming saloon il filed.
Visitors Of the most varied types take
their places round the tables, the
croupiers come in, open the box, fill it
with bank-notes, and pile up before
them heapes of gold. The play begins.
This consists of throwing an ivory
ball, which revolves In a wheei-a
species of round basin with numbers,
and which is itself whirling in an op-
.posite direction. There are thirty-
-sixy numbers on the wheel without
counting zero. Each player stakes a
sum Of money upon q number. The
croupiers pay thirty-six times the sum
which is staked on the number at
which the balls stops. All the money
risked on the other numbers forms the
gains of the Casino.
Agentleman of military appearance
is standing near a table. He stakes q
louis, and whether he gains or whether
lie Ieses, the sum which.he risks never
varies--it is alwaysa louis. Across the
table young woman is noting down
the winning numbers; for hours to-
gether she is absorbed in this occupa-
ton, and in the evening. when she re-
turns to her hotel, she devotes herself
to making innumerable calculations.
She reckons how many times each
number has come out during the day,
she strikes an average, and thus settles
the number on which next day she
will risk the money at her command.
At another table two players Of diff.
ferent temperament face each other.
One is brutalized by play, the other. Is
impassive he has what is called "a
strong stomach" Whether be loses
or whether he wins, his face always
remains the same. No nervous con-.
traction betrays the feelings which are.
agitating his heart. He digestsl
equally we'll all fortunes vagaries,
and when the roulette carries off the
sheaf of bank-notes which is before
him, the digestion of this loss does not
appear to give him the slightest discom-
fort-hence his name Of "strong
stomach"
l had been in the gambling saloon
for some moments when I noticed
young couple enter. The woman was
French, the man spoke English, but
with a strong American accent.
Doubtless they were a newly married
compile who had come to Monte Carlo
for their honeymoon. Both took
their places at table and began to-
play. =
"The 9th of December was our