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The Baden season begins in May； the official opening takes place
towards the close of the spring quarter； and then the fashionable
world begins to arrive at the rendezvous。
It cannot be denied that everything is right well regulated；
and apart from the terrible dangers of gambling； the place does
very great credit to the authorities who thrive on the nefarious
traffic。 Perfect order and decency of deportment； with all the
necessary civilities of life； are rigorously insisted on； and
summary expulsion is the consequence of any intolerable conduct。
If it so happens that any person becomes obnoxious in any way；
whatever may be his or her rank； the first intimation will be
‘Sir； you are not in your place here；' or； ‘Madame； the air of
Baden does not suit you。' If these words are disregarded； there
follows a summary order‘You must leave Baden this very day； and
cross the frontiers of the Grand Duchy within twenty…four hours。'
Mr Sala； in his novel ‘Make your Game；'＇74＇ has given a spirited
description of the gambling scenes at Baden。
＇74＇ Originally published in the ‘Welcome Guest。'
Whilst I write there is exhibited at the Egyptian Hall； London；
Dore's magnificent picture of the _Tapis Vert_； or Life in
Baden…Baden； of which the following is an accurate description：
‘The _Tapis Vert_ is a moral； and at the same time an
exceedingly clever； satire。 It is illustrative of the life；
manners； and predilections and pursuits of a class of society
left hereafter to enjoy the manifold attractions of fashionable
watering…places； without the scourge that for so many years held
its immoral and degrading sway in their sumptuous halls。
‘In one of these splendid salons the fashionable crowd is eagerly
pressing round an oblong table covered with green cloth （_le
tapis vert_）； upon which piles of gold and bank…notes tell the
tale of 〃_noir perd et la couleur gagne_；〃 and vice versa。 The
principal group； upon which Dore has thrown one of his
powerful effects of light； is lifelike； and several of the actors
are at once recognized。 Both croupiers are well…known
characters。 There is much life and movement in the silent scene；
in which thousands of pounds change hands in a few seconds。 To
the left of the croupier （dealer）； who turns up the winning card；
sits a finely…dressed woman； who cares for little else but gold。
There is a remarkable expression of eagerness and curiosity upon
the countenance of the lady who comes next； and who endeavours；
with the assistance of her eye…glass； to find out the state of
affairs。 The gentleman next to her is an inveterate
_blase_。 The countenance of the old man reckoning up needs no
description。 Near by stands a lady with a red feather in her
hat； and whose lace shawl alone is worth several hundred pounds
for Dore made it。 The two female figures to the left are
splendidly painted。 The one who causes the other croupier to
turn round seems somewhat extravagantly dressed； but these
costumes have been frequently worn within the last two years both
at Baden and Hombourg。 The old lady at the end of the table； to
the left； is a well…known habituee at both places。 The
bustling and shuffling eagerness of the figures in the background
is exceedingly well rendered。
‘As a whole； the _Tapis Vert_ is a very fine illustration of real
life； as met with in most of the leading German watering…
places。'＇75＇
＇75＇ ‘Illustrated Times。'
‘At the present moment；' says another authority； writing more
than a year ago； ‘there are three very bold female gamblers at
Baden。 One is the Russian Princess ； who plays several hours
every day at _Rouge et Noir_； and sometimes makes what in our
money would be many hundreds； and at others goes empty away。 She
wins calmly enough； but when luck is against her looks
anxious。 The second is the wife of an Italian ex…minister； who
is well known both as an authoress and politician。 She
patronizes _Roulette_； and at every turn of the wheel her money
passes on the board。 She is a good gamblersmirking when she
wins； and smirking when she loses。 She dresses as splendidly as
any of the dames of Paris。 The other night she excited a flutter
among the ladies assembled in the salons of the 〃Conversation〃
by appearing in a robe flaming red with an exaggerated train
which dragged its slow length along the floor。 But the greatest
of the feminine players is the Leonie Leblanc。 When she is at
the _Rouge et Noir_ table a larger crowd than usual is collected
to witness her operation。 The stake she generally risks is 6000
francs （L240）； which is the maximum allowed。 Her chance is
changing： a few days back she won L4000 in one sitting； some
days later she lost about L2000； and was then reduced to the；
for her； indignity of playing for paltry sumsL20 or
thereabouts。'
Among the more recent chronicles； the _Figaro_ gives the
following account of the close of the campaign of a gaming hero；
M。 Edgar de la Charme； who； for a number of days together；
never left the gaming…room without carrying off the sum of 24；000
francs。
‘The day before yesterday； M。 de la Charme； reflecting that there
must be an end even to the greatest run of luck； locked his
portmanteau； paid his bill； and took the road to the railway
station； accompanied by some of his friends。 On reaching the
wicket he found it closed； there were still three…quarters of an
hour to pass before the departure of the train。 〃I will go and
play my parting game；〃 he exclaimed； and； turning to the
coachman； bade him drive to the Kursaal。 His friends surrounded
him； and held him back； he should not go； he would lose all his
winnings。 But he was resolute； and soon reached the Casino；
where his travelling dress caused a stir of satisfaction among
the croupiers。 He sat down at the _Trente…et…quarante_； broke
the bank in 20 minutes； got into his cab again； and seeing the
inspector of the tables walking to and fro under the arcades； he
said to him； in a tone of exquisite politeness； 〃I could not
think of going away without leaving you my P。P。C。〃 '
SPA。
‘The gambling houses of Spa are in the Redoute； where _Rouge et
Noir_ and _Roulette_ are carried on nearly from morning to night。
The profits of these establishments exceed L40；000 a year。 In
former times they belonged to the Bishop of Liege； who was a
partner in the concern； and derived a considerable revenue from
his share of the ill…gotten gains of the manager of the
establishment； and no gambling tables could be set up without his
permission。'＇76＇
＇76＇ Murray's Handbook for Travellers on the Continent。
‘The gambling in Spa is in a lower style than elsewhere。 The
croupiers seem to be always on the look…out for cheating。 You
never see here a pile of gold or bank notes on the table； as at
Hombourg or Wiesbaden； with the player saying； 〃Cinquante louis
aux billet；〃 〃Cent…vingt louis a