按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
instance must undoubtedly be that veteran player Countess
Kisselef） has the town witnessed such an influx of tourists of
every class and description。 Hotels and lodging…houses are
filled to overflowing。 Every day imprudent travellers who have
neglected the precaution of securing rooms before their arrival
return disconsolately to Frankfort to await the vacation of some
apartment which a condescending landlord has promised them after
much negotiation for the week after next。 The morning promenade
is a wonderful sight； such a host of bilious faces； such an
endless variety of eccentric costumes； such a Babel of tongues；
among which the shrill twang of our fair American cousins is
peculiarly prominent； could be found in no other place in
the civilized world。 A moralist would assuredly find here
abundant food for reflection on the wonderful powers of self…
deception possessed by mankind。 We all get up at most
inconvenient hours； swallow a certain quantity of a most nauseous
fluid； and then； having sacrificed so much to appearances； soothe
our consciences with the unfounded belief that a love of early
rising and salt water was our real reason for coming here； and
that the gambling tables had nothing whatever to do with it。
Perhaps； in some few instances； this view may be the correct one；
some few invalids； say one in a hundred； may have sought Hombourg
solely in the interest of an impaired digestion； but I fear that
such cases are few and far between； and； as a friend afflicted
with a mania for misquotation remarked to me the other day； even
〃those who come to drink remain to play。〃
‘Certainly the demon of Rouge et Noir has never held more
undisputed sway in Hombourg than in the present season； never
have the tables groaned under such a load of notes and rouleaux。
It would seem as if the gamblers； having only two or more years
left in which to complete their ruin； were hurrying on with
redoubled speed to that desirable consummation； and where a stake
of 12；000 francs is allowed on a single coup the pace can be made
very rapid indeed。 High play is so common that unless you are
lucky enough to win or rich enough to lose a hundred thousand
francs at least； you need not hope to excite either envy or
commiseration。 One persevering Muscovite； who has been punting
steadily for six weeks； has actually succeeded in getting rid of
a million of florins。 As yet there have been no suicides to
record； owing probably to the precautionary measures adopted by a
paternal Administration。 As soon as a gambler is known to be
utterly cleared out he at once receives a visit from one of M。
Blanc's officials； who offers him a small sum on condition he
will leave the town forthwith； which viaticum； however； for fear
of accidents； is only handed to him when fairly seated in the
train that bears him away； to blow out his brains； should he feel
so inclined； elsewhere。 One of the most unpleasant facts
connected with the gambling is the ardour displayed by many
ladies in this very unfeminine pursuit： last night out of twenty…
five persons seated at the Roulette table I counted no fewer than
fifteen ladies； including an American lady with her two
daughters！
‘The King of Prussia has arrived； and； with due deference to the
official editors who have described in glowing paragraphs the
popular demonstrations in his honour； I am bound to assert that
he was received with very modified tokens of delight。 There was
not even a repetition of the triumphal arch of last year； those
funereal black and white flags； whose sole aspect is enough to
repress any exuberance of rejoicing； were certainly flapping
against the hotel windows and the official flagstaffs； but little
else testified to the joy of the Hombourgers at beholding their
Sovereign。 They manage these things better in France。 Any
French _prefet_ would give the German authorities a few useful
hints concerning the cheap and speedy manufacture of loyal
enthusiasm。 The foreigners； however； seem determined to atone
amply for any lack of proper feeling on the part of the
townspeople。 They crowd round his Majesty as soon as he appears
in the rooms or gardens； and mob the poor old gentleman with a
vigour which taxes all the energies of his aides…de…camp to save
their Royal master from death by suffocation。 Need I add
that our old friend the irrepressible 〃'Arry〃 is ever foremost
in these gentlemanlike demonstrations？
‘Of course the town swarms with well…known English faces； indeed；
the Peers and M。P。s here at present would form a very respectable
party in the two Houses。 We are especially well off for dukes；
the _Fremdenliste_ notifies the presence of no fewer than five of
those exalted personages。 A far less respectable class of London
society is also； I am sorry to say； strongly represented： I
allude to those gentlemen of the light…fingered persuasion whom
the outer world rudely designate as pickpockets。 This morning
two gorgeously arrayed members of the fraternity were marched
down to the station by the police； each being decorated with a
pair of bright steel handcuffs； seventeen of them were arrested
last week in Frankfort at one fell swoop； and at the tables the
row of lookers…on who always surround the players consists in
about equal proportions of these gentry and their natural
enemiesthe detectives。 Their booty since the beginning of the
season must be reckoned by thousands。 Mustapha Fazyl Pasha had
his pocket picked of a purse containing L600； and a Russian
lady was lately robbed of a splendid diamond brooch valued
at 75；000 francs。＇79＇
＇79＇ Pall Mall Gazette； Aug。 1869。
But the days of the Kursaal are numbered； and the glories or
infamies of Hombourg are doomed。
‘The fiat has gone forth。 In five years＇80＇ from this time the
〃game will be made〃 no longerthe great gambling establishment
of Hombourg will be a thing of the past。 The town will be
obliged to contend on equal terms with other watering…places for
its share of the wool on the backs of summer excursionists。
＇80＇ In 1872。
‘As most of the townspeople are shareholders in this thriving
concern； and as all of them gain either directly or indirectly by
the play； it was amusing to watch the anxiety of these worthies
during the war between Austria and Prussia。 Patriotism they had
none； they cared neither for Austrian nor Prussian； for a great
Germany nor for a small Germany。 The 〃company〃 was their god
and their country。 All that concerned them was to know whether
the play was likely to be suppressed。 When they were annexed to
Prussia； at first they could not believe that Count Bismarck；
whatever he might do with kings； would venture to interfere
with the 〃bank。〃 It was to them a divine institution
something far superior to dynasties and kingdoms。 。 。 。
‘For a year the Hombourgers were allowed to suppose that their
〃peculiar institution〃 was indeed superior