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