The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-10-07
A WINTER AT NICE.
TRANSLATED FRGa THE GERMAN BY HETTE E MILLER
Copyright. 1897. by AN, Kellogg Newspaper Co,
BY r. vor osTHH.
CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VI.
II was past ten o'clock, when we en-
tered the gaming-halls. | 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 sparlsled,
on painted faces pleasure beamed.
Conversation would only be carried
on in an undertone, 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
gnawcd at another frivolous heart, and
the hardened gamester experienced the
pleasant sensations which he sought
there.
] 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 q terrible similarity. I
know not, II In this assemblage there
was TO be found q better element; I
did not try to find them out, the passion
for play, the greed for gold, made them
oll 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
friend or patron, who had the replen-
ishing Of II.
''Do you not think" at this moment
said Lapotin's deep voice In my ear, ''it
would give one strange sensation II
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"
.<...ttu...l Il. tto.,o ,x.,.st tol,, tt,o,., L.,
the game, or one begins TO despise ones
fellow rnenIv 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-
citemcnt, but when one looked into the
deeply-sunlen 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 70 the soul. And, In
stead OF trying TO do away with this
evil by all the means Of progressive
civilization. n home is established for II
here by the prince Of Monaco and Mon
sicur Blanc; homo that could not
have been better chosen for. the aunnI,'
ing abroad Of the plague, and that In
the vicinity OF Mentone. Lau Reno,
Nice and Cannes, those resorts for suf-
fcrers from all lnpdsl g
Young, thonghtless people are mag
nctically attracted by those magical
rocks, where vice appears in such a
tempting form. Weak lungs breathe
the air Of the gaming rooms until mid
niQht--ncrves are strained 10 their ut
most: these people do not stake their
money alone, they stake their lives.
But what Is that? What does II matter
that every year thousands Of lives are
wrecked, hundreds commit suicide, and
the population are demoralized In a
truly terrible manner?
Tho main object Is that Monsieur
Blanc and his partner gain so many
millions In order TO obtain princes for
{hcir daughters, aud 10 divide their
booty with the prince Of Monaco. the
proud Grimaldi, scion Of the Oldest
|dynnsfy IN Europe. Lapotin was right;
one did not play. II was not interest
breathed deeply as we stood once
111in under God starry canopy, and the
r.. =. a.. a 80 - n.