is time the "game
will be made" no longer--the 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 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