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pen more current； a voice more eloquent； than mine to trace；
condense； vivify； and depict。 Taking everything； therefore；
for granted； let us suppose a vast saloon of regular proportions；
rather longer than broad； at either end garnished by a balcony；
beneath； doors to the right and left； and opposite to the main
entrance； conduct to other apartments； dedicated to different
purposes。 On entering the eye is at once dazzled by the blaze of
lights from chandeliers of magnificent dimensions； of lamps；
lustres； and sconces。 The ceiling and borders set off into
compartments； showered over with arabesques； the gilded pillars；
the moving mass of promenaders； the endless labyrinth of human
beings assembled from every region in Europe； the costly dresses；
repeated by a host of mirrors； all this combined； which the eye
conveys to the brain at a single glance； utterly fails in
description。 As with the eye； so it is with the ear； at every
step a new language falls upon it； and every tongue with
different intonation； for the high and the low； the prince； peer；
vassal； and tradesman； the proud beauty； the decrepit crone； some
fresh budding into the world； some standing near the grave； the
gentle and the stern； the sombre and the gay； in short； every
possible antithesis that the eye； ear； heart can perceive； hear；
or respond to； or that the mind itself can imagine； is here to be
met with in two minutes。 And yet all this is no Babel； for all；
though concentrated； is admirably void of confusion； and evil or
strong passions； if they do exist； are religiously suppresseda
necessary consequence； indeed； where there can be no sympathy；
and where contempt and ridicule would be the sole reciprocity。
In case； however； any such display should take place； a gendarme
keeps constant watch at the door； appointed by government； it is
true； but resembling our Bow…street officers in more respects
than one。
‘Now that we have taken a survey of the brilliant and moving
throng； let us approach the stationary crowd to the left hand；
and see what it is that so fascinates and rivets their
attention。 They are looking upon a long table covered with green
cloth； in the centre of which is a large polished wooden basin
with a moveable rim； and around it are small compartments；
numbered to a certain extent； namely 38； alternately red and
black in irregular order； numbered from one to 36； a nought or
zero in a red； and a double zero upon the black； making up the
38； and each capable of holding a marble。 The moveable rim is
set in motion by the hand； and as it revolves horizontally from
east to west round its axis； the marble is caused by a jerk of
the finger and thumb to fly off in a contrary movement。 The
public therefore conclude that no calculation can foretell where
the marble will fall； and I believe they are right； inasmuch as
the bank plays a certain and sure game； however deep； runs no
risk of loss； and consequently has no necessity for superfluously
cheating or deluding the public。 It also plays double； that is；
on both sides of the wheel of fortune at once。
‘When the whirling of both rim and marble cease； the latter
falls； either simultaneously or after some coy uncertainty； into
one of the compartments； and the number and colour； &c。； are
immediately proclaimed； the stakes deposited are dexterously
raked up by the croupier； or increased by payment from the bank；
according as the colour wins or loses。 Now； the two sides or
tables are merely duplicates of one another； and each of them is
divided something like a chess…board into three columns of
squares； which amount to 36； the numbers advance arithmetically
from right to left； and consequently there are 12 lines down； so
as to complete the rectangle； as one； therefore； stands at the
head； four stands immediately under it； and so on。 At the bottom
lie three squares； with the French marks 12 p12 m12 d； that
is； first； middle； third dozen。 The three large meadows on
either side are for red and black； pair and odd； miss and pass
which last signify the division of the numbers into the first and
second half； from 1 to 18； and from 19 to 36； inclusive。 If a
number be staked upon and wins； the stake is increased to six
times its amount； and so on； always less as the stake is placed
in different positions； which may be effected in the following
waysby placing the piece of gold or silver on the line （_a
cheval_； as it is called）； partly on one and partly on its
neighbour； two numbers are represented； and should one win；
the piece is augmented to eighteen times the sum； three
numbers are signified upon the stroke at the end or beginning of
the numbers that go across； six； by placing the coin on the
border of a perpendicular and a horizontal line between two
strokes； four； where the lines cross within； twelve numbers are
signified in a two…fold manner； either upon the column where the
figures follow in the order of one； four； seven； and so on； or on
the side…fields mentioned above； these receive the stake trebled；
and those who stake solely upon the colour； the two halves； or
equal and odd； have their stake doubled when they win。 Now； the
two zeros； that is； the simple and compound； stand apart and may
be separately staked upon； should either turn up； the stake is
increased in a far larger proportion。
‘To render the game equal； without counting in the zeros and
other trifles； the winner ought to receive the square of 36；
instead of 36。
‘It is a melancholy amusement to any rational being not
infatuated by the blind rage of gold； to witness the incredible
excitement so repeatedly made to take the bank by storm；
sometimes by surprise； anon by stealth； and not rarely by digging
a mine； laying intrenchments and opening a fire of field…
pieces； heavy ordnance； and flying artillery； but the fortress；
proud and conscious of its superior strength； built on a rock of
adamant； laughs at the fiery attacks of its foes； nay； itself
invites the storm。
‘For those classes of mankind who possess a little more prudence；
the game called _Trente…et…un_； and _Quarante_； or _Rouge et
Noir_ are substituted。
‘The lord of the temple or establishment pays； I believe； to
government a yearly sum of 35；000 florins （about L3000） for
permission to keep up the establishment。 He has gone to immense
expense in decorating the building； he pays a crowd of croupiers
at different salaries； and officers of his own； who superintend
and direct matters； he lights up the building； and he presides
over the festivities of the townin short； he is the patron of
it all。 With all this liberality he himself derives an enormous
revenue； an income as sure and determined as that of my Lord
Mayor himself。'＇73＇
＇73＇ City of the Fountains； or Baden…Baden。 By R。 H。
Whitelocke。 Carlsruhe； 1840。
The Baden season begins in May； the official opening takes place
towards the close of the spring qua