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！
‘For a year the Hombourgers were allowed to suppose that their
〃peculiar institution〃 was indeed superior to fate； to public
opinion； and to Prussia； but at the commencement of the present
year they were rudely awakened from their dreams of security。
The sword that had been hanging over them fell。 The directors of
the company were ordered to appear before the governor of the
town； and they were told that they and all belonging to them were
to cease to exist in 1872； and that the following arrangement was
to be made respecting the plunder gained until that date。 The
shareholders were to receive 10 per cent。 on their money； 5000
shares were to be paid off at par each year； and if this did not
absorb all the profits； the surplus was to go towards a fund for
keeping up the gardens after the play had ceased。 By this means；
as there are now 36；000 shares； 25；000 will be paid off at par；
and the remaining 11；000 will be represented by the buildings and
the land belonging to the company； which it will be at liberty to
sell to the highest bidder。 Since this decree has been
promulgated the Hombourgers are in despair。 The croupiers
and the clerks； the Jews who lend money at high interest； the
Christians who let lodgings； all the rogues and swindlers who one
way or another make a living out of the play； fill the air with
their complaints。
‘Although no doubt individuals will suffer by the suppression of
public play here； it is by no means certain that the town itself
will not be a gainer by it。 Holiday seekers must go somewhere。
The air of Hombourg is excellent； the waters are invigorating；
the town is well situated and easy of access by rail； living is
comparatively cheapa room may be had for about 18_s_。 a week；
an excellent dinner for 2_s_。； breakfast costs less than a
shilling。 Hombourg is now a fixed fact； and if the townspeople
take heart and grapple with the new state of thingsif they buy
up the Kursaal； and throw open its salons to visitors； if they
keep up the opera； the cricket club； and the shooting； if they
have good music； and balls and concerts for those who like them；
there is no reason why they should not attract as many visitors
to their town as they do now。'＇81＇
＇81＇ Correspondent of _Daily News。_
AIX…LA…CHAPELLE。
The gaming at Aix…la…Chapelle is equally desperate and
destructive。 ‘A Russian officer of my acquaintance；' says a
writer in the Annual Register for 1818； ‘was subject； like many
of his countrymen whom I have known； to the infatuation of play
to a most ridiculous excess。 His distrust of himself under the
assailments which he anticipated at a place like Aix…la…Chapelle；
had induced him to take the prudent precaution of paying in
advance at his hotel for his board and lodging； and at the
bathing…house for his baths； for the time he intended to stay。
The remaining contents of his purse he thought fairly his own；
and he went of course to the table all the gayer for the license
he had taken of his conscience。 On fortune showing him a few
favours； he came to me in high spirits； with a purse full of
Napoleons； and a resolute determination to keep them by venturing
no more； but a gamester can no more be stationary than the tide
of a river； and on the evening he was put out of suspense by
having not a Napoleon left； and nothing to console but
congratulation on his foresight； and the excellent supper
which was the fruit of it。'
Towards the end of the last century Aix…la…Chapelle was a great
rendezvous of gamblers。 The chief banker there paid a thousand
louis per annum for his license。 A little Italian adventurer
once went to the place with only a few louis in his pocket； and
played crown stakes at Hazard。 Fortune smiled on him； he
increased his stakes progressively； in twenty…four hours won
about L4000。 On the following day he stripped the bank
entirely； pocketing nearly L10；000。 He continued to play for
some days； till he was at last reduced to a single louis！ He now
obtained from a friend the loan of L30； and once more resumed
his station at the gaming table； which he once more quitted with
L10；000 in his pocket； and resolved to leave it for ever。 The
arguments of one of the bankers； however； who followed him to his
inn； soon prevailed over his resolution； and on his return to the
gaming table he was stripped of his last farthing。 He went to
his lodgings； sold his clothes； and by that means again appeared
at his old haunt； for the half…crown stakes； by which he
honourably repaid his loan of L30。 His end was unknown to the
relater of the anecdote； but ‘ten to one；' it was ruin。
At the same place； in the year 1793； the heir…apparent of an
Irish Marquis lost at various times nearly L20；000 at a
billiard table； partly owing to his antagonist being an excellent
calculator； as well as a superior player。
A French emigrant at Aix…la…Chapelle； who carried a basket of
tarts； liqueurs； &c。； for regaling the gamesters； put down
twenty…five louis at _Rouge et Noir_。 He lost。 He then put down
fifteen； and lost again； at the third turn he staked ten； but
while the cards were being shuffled； seeming to recollect
himself； he felt all his pockets； and at length found two large
French crowns； and a small one； which he also ventured。 The deal
was determined at the ninth card； and the poor wretch； who had
lost his all； dashed down his basket； started from his seat；
overturning two chairs as he forced the circle； tore off his
hair； and with horrid blasphemies； burst the folding doors； and
rushing out like a madman； was seen no more。
Another emigrant arrived here penniless； but meeting a friend；
obtained the loan of a few crowns； nearly his all。 With these he
went to the rooms； put down his stake； and won。 He then
successively doubled his stakes till he closed the evening with a
hundred louis in his pocket。 He went to his friend； and with
mutual congratulations they resolved to venture no more； and
calculated how long their gains would support them from absolute
want； and thus seemed to strengthen their wise resolution。
The next night； however； the lucky gambler returned to the room
but only to be a spectator； as he firmly said。 Alas！ his
resolution failed him； and he quitted the tables indebted to a
charitable bystander for a livre or two； to pay for his petty
refreshments。
It is said that the annual profit to the bankers was 120；000
florins； or L14；000。
‘The very name of Aix…la…Chapelle；' says a traveller； ‘makes one
think （at least； makes me think） of cards and dice；sharks and
pigeons。 It has a 〃professional odour〃 upon it； which is
certainly not that of sanctity。 I entered the Redoute with my
head full of sham barons； German Catalinas； and the thousand…and…
one popular tales of renowned knights of the green cloth；their
seducing confederates； and infatuated dupes。
‘The rooms are well distributed； the saloons handsom