Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-09-24
A WINTER AT NICE.
ny Il. Won osTHN.
Ialnsl1ED FROM The eEallln By afr1lf E MILLER
Copyright 1891. by A. N. Kellogg Newspaper ca.
CHAPTER VI

1t was past ten clock, whe-. we en-
tered the gaming-halls. I scarcely rec
ognized the rooms. They were flooded
In sea of light, and the tables were
surrounded by host of handsome
women.
Behind them in double, yes, three
fold rows were the men; who, in order
to place their money, here bent over a
plump shoulder, there were obliged to
touch a round, bare arm, for which
they received an indignant glance.
In the aisles between the tables peo-
pie were passing to and fro; long trains
rustled softly, laces and ribbons trem-
bled, fans waved, diamonds sparkled,
ON painted faces pleasure beamed.
Conversation would only be carried
on in an undertone, a welcome pretext
for drawing closer to the diamOnd-orna-
mented ear and the perfumed hair.
Through the soft rustling, motion
and whispering pressed the monot-
onous cry of'the crOupier: ''Faites votre
jeu, Messieurs-le jeu est fait-rien ne
va plush
Many who stood there. to all appear
ance calmly, were gathering together
their last hope of life, bitter doubt
gnawed at another frivolous heart, and
the hardened gamester experienced the
pleasant sensations which he sought
there.
1 watched the faces Of the lovely
women gathered around the table.
Their eyes sparkled feverishly: their
cheeks flushed or paled under the
rouge; upon all lay the same strain,
and gave them a terrible similarity. /
know not, if in this assemblage there
was to be found better element; I
did not try to find them out, the passion
for play, the greed for gold, made them
all alike to me.
They saw, heard and felt nothing but
the gold, the voice of the croupier, and
the emptiness Of their purses.
AS this last stage arrived they awoke
from their intoxication and bethought
themselves of their beloved, their
ishing Of it.
do you not think" at this moment
said Lapotin's deep voice in my ear, SIT
would give one strange sensation If
one should meet amongst these priest
esses of mammon, face, which one
saw the last time in lilac bower, by
the pure light of the moon? Come"
continued he, zone must join them in
the game, or one begins to despise ones
fellow menu In the sanctuary proper
where only true believers and priests of
the idol congregate, in the hall of the
''Rouge ct noir," everything was
quieter.
There sat the veterans, refugees from
Baden-Baden, Hamburg. and SO forth,
who here found their last recourse.
They seemed to play without any ex-
element, but when one looked into the
deeply-sunken eyes, when one watched
the nervously twitching mouth, one
found the same disease there. They
were all possessed, possessed by
that evil which is the worst and
most destructive to the soul. And, in
stead of trying to do away with this
evil by all the means of progressive
civilization, home is established for it
here by the prince of Monaco and Mon
Sieur Blanc; home that could not
have been better chosen for the spread
ing abroad of the plague, and that in
the vicinity of Mentone. Lau Reno.
Nice and Cannes, those resorts for suf-
ferers from all lands!
Young, thoughtless people are mag
netically attracted by those magical
rocks, where vice appears in such
tempting form. Weak lungs breathe
the air of the gaming rooms until mid
night-nerves are strained to their ut
most; these people do not stake their
money alone, they stake their lives.
But what is that? What does it matter
that every year thousands of lives are
wrecked, hundreds commit suicide, and
the population are demoralized in
truly terrible manner?
The main object is that Monsieur
Blanc and his partner gain so many
millions in order to obtain princes for
their daughters, and to divide their
booty with the prince of Monaco. the
proud Grimaldi, a scion of the oldest
dynasty in Europe. Lapotin was right;
if one did not play, it was not interest
ing.
l breathed deeply as we stood once
again under Gods starry canopy, and the
fresh sea air cooled our heated brows.
The landscape was very peaceful in
the clear moonlight, which shed it's sill
very beams far over the sea.
But not long did it remain so calm
and peaceful. The last train to Nice
would leave in ten minutes, and from
the marble palace gay swarm streamed
out, in wild bacchanal mood, and
passed down the broad staircase
towards the station in wild confusion.
"A witches sabbath" my friend had
said; the word suited this dissolute,
midnight practice! The love of gam
ing, of intoxication. of love-great God,
what love!-rages in these people, whom
the fear of not finding room in the
coaches makes still ruder.
To my great surprise Lapotin got out
again, and saw him for a second in
the thick Of the crowd, next our
blonde. AT the very last moment he
Joined us, and away we sped through
the darkness!
On getting out at Nice there was
again coarse laughter and vvomen's
shrieks- A harsh, unmelodious voice
sang:
'Achi vie waer's moeelich damn
DaSz ich Dich lassen kann-"
This sentimental little folk song sung
here and in such a manner was revolt
ing.
At length we reached the hotel, which
was SO quiet that it seemed to soothe
our overstrung nerves.
CHAPTER VII
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