Part 3

Gaming-houses in Paris were first licensed in 1775, by the lieutenant of police, who, to diminish the odium of such establishments, decreed that the profit resulting from them should be applied to the foundation of hospitals. The gamesters might therefore be said to resemble watermen, looking one way and rowing another. Their number soon amounted to twelve, and women were permitted to resort to them two days in the week. Besides the licensed establishments, several illegal ones were tolerated. In 1778, gaming was prohibited in France; but not at the court or in the hotels of ambassadors, where police-officers could not enter. By degrees the public establishments resumed their wonted activity, and extended their pernicious effects. The numerous suicides and bankruptcies which they occasioned, attracted the attention of the _Parlement_, who drew up regulations for their observance; and threatened those who should violate them with the pillory and whipping. At length, the passion for gambling prevailing in the societies established in the Palais Royal, under the title of _clubs_ or _salons_, a police ordinance was issued in 1785, prohibiting them from gaming, and in the following year, additional prohibitory measures were enforced. During the revolution the gaming-houses were frequently prevented and licenses withheld; but notwithstanding the rigour of the laws, and the vigilance of the police, they still contrived to exist; and they are now regularly licensed by the police, and are under its immediate inspection. The following items of twenty tables distributed about Paris (the established stake varying from a Napoleon to a sous) are from the most authentic documents:--

Current expenses 1,551,480 Francs. _Bail_ to Government 6,000,000 Francs. Bonus for the bail 166,666 Francs. Making together 7,716,146 Francs, or about £321,589 English. Gain of the tables, per annum 9,600,000 Francs. Expenses as above 7,718,146 Francs. Leaving a clear profit of 1,881,854 Francs,

or about £78,244 English! And yet, in spite of this unanswerable logic of _figures and facts_, there are every day fresh victims who are infatuated enough to believe that it is possible to counterbalance the advantages which the bank possesses, by a judicious management of the power the player has of altering his stake! The revenue formerly paid to the government for licenses, has recently been transferred to the city of Paris.

In England, the outcry against gaming is loud, and deservedly so; and the extent to which it is stated to be curried in the higher circles is rather underrated than exaggerated; but the severity of our laws on this crime, and recent visitations of its rigour, confine it to the saloons of wealthy vice. With us it is not a national vice, as in France, where every license, facility, and even encouragement presents itself. Lotteries, which have been abolished in England, as immoral nuisances, are tolerated in France, with more mischievous effect, since, the risk is considerably less than our least shares formerly were, the lotteries smaller, and those drawn three times every month. The relics of _our_ gaming system are only to be found on race-courses; but in France, half the toys sold at a fair or _fête_, where mothers win rattles for their children, are by _lottery_, whilst our gaming at fairs is restricted to a few low adventurers for snuff-boxes, &c. Despair is the gloomiest feature of the French character, and of which gaming produces a frightful proportion, notwithstanding all that our neighbours say about _our hanging and drowning in November:_ witness their suicides:--

In 1819: Suicides, 376; of which, 126 women. 1820: do. 325; do. 114 do. 1821: do. 348; do. 112 do.

Of the suicides of these three years 25, 50, and 36, were attributed to love, and 52, 42, 43, to despair arising from _gaming, the lottery_, &c. In the winter of 1826, several exaggerated losses by gaming were circulated in Paris with great _finesse_, to enable bankrupts to account for their deficiencies, many of whom were exposed and deservedly punished.

A few words on the _prevention_ of gaming, the consideration of which gave rise to this hasty sketch; I mean by dramatic exhibitions of its direful effects. On our stage we have a pathetic tragedy by E. Moore, which, though seldom acted, is a fine domestic moral to old and young; but the author

"Was his own Beverley, a dupe to play."

It is scarcely necessary to allude to the recent transfers of a celebrated French _exposé_ of French gambling to our English stage, otherwise than to question their moral tendency. The pathos of our _Gamester_ may reach the heart; but the French pieces command no such appeal to our sympathies. On the contrary, the vice is emblazoned in such romantic and fitful fancies, that their effect is questionable, especially on the majority of those who flock to such exhibitions. The _extasies_ of the gamester are too seductive to be heightened by dramatic effect; neither are they counterbalanced by their consesequent misery, when the aim of these representations should be to outweigh them; for the authenticated publication of a single prize in the lottery has been known to seduce more adventurers than a thousand losses have deterred from risk. But they keep up the dancing spirits of the multitude, and it will be well if their influence extends no further.

PHILO.

[1] As the Palais Royal may be considered the central point of the _maisons de jeu_, or gambling-houses, it will not be irrelevant to give a brief sketch of them:--

The apartments which they occupy are on the first floor, and are very spacious. Upon ascending the staircase is an antechamber, in which are persons called _bouledogues_ (bull-dogs), whose office it is to prevent the entrance of certain marked individuals. In the same room are men to receive hats, umbrellas, &c., who give a number, which is restored upon going out.

The antechamber leads to the several gaming rooms, furnished with tables, round which are seated the individuals playing, called _pontes_ (punters), each of whom is furnished with a card and a pin to mark the _rouge_ and _noir_, or the number, in order to regulate his game. At each end of the table is a man called _bout de table_, who pushes up to the bank the money lost. In the middle of the table is the man who draws the cards. These persons, under the reign of Louis XIV., were called _coupeurs de bourses_ (purse-cutters); they are now denominated _tailleurs_. After having drawn the cards, they mate known the result as follows:--_Rouge gagne et couleur perd.--Rouge perd et couleur gagne_.

At _roulette_, the _tailleurs_ are those who put the ball in motion and announce the result.

At _passe-dix_, every time the dice are thrown, the _tailleurs_ announce how many the person playing has gained.

Opposite the _tailleur_, and on his right and left, are persons called _croupiers_, whose business it is to pay and to collect money.

Behind the _tailleurs_ and _croupiers_ are inspectors, to see that too much is not given in payment, besides an indefinite number of secret inspectors, who are only known to the proprietors. There are also _maîtres de maison_, who are called to decide disputes; and _messieurs de la chambre_, who furnish cards to the _pontes_, and serve them with beer, &c., which is to be had _gratis_. Moreover, there is a _grand maître_, to whom the apartments, tables, &c., belong.

When a stranger enters these apartments, he will soon find near him some obliging men of mature age, who, with an air of prudence and sagacity, proffer their advice. As these advisers perfectly understand _their own_ game, if their _protégés_ lose, the mentors vanish; but it they win, the counsellor comes nearer, congratulates the happy player, insinuates that it was by following his advice that fortune smiled on him, and finally succeeds in borrowing a small sum of money on honour. Many of these loungers have no other mode of living.

There is likewise another room, furnished with sofas, called _chamber des blessés_, which is far from being the most thinly peopled.

The bank pays in ready money every successful stake and sweeps off the losings with wooden instruments, called _rateaux_ (rakes).

It was in one of the houses in this quarter that the late Marshal Blucher won and lost very heavy sums, during the occupation of Paris by the allied armies.

There are two gaming-houses in Paris of a more splendid description than those of the Palais Royal, where dinners or suppers are given, and where ladies are admitted.--_Galignani's History of Paris_.

* * * * *

A RETROSPECT.

Oh, when I was a tiny boy, My days and nights were full of joy; My mates were blithe and kind!-- No wonder that I sometimes sigh, And dash the tear-drop from my eye. To cast a look behind!

A hoop was an eternal round Of pleasure. In those days I found A top a joyous thing;-- But now those past delights I drop; My head alas! is all my top, And careful thoughts the string!

My marbles--once my bag was stor'd,-- Now I must play with Elgin's lord,-- With Theseus for a taw! My playful horse has slipt his string. Forgotten all his capering, And harness'd to the law!

My kite--how fast and fair it flew. Whilst I, a sort of Franklin, drew My pleasure from the sky! 'Twas paper'd o'er with studious themes,-- The tasks I wrote--my present dreams Will never soar so high!

My joys are wingless all, and dead; My dumps are made of more than lead; My flights soon find a fall; My fears prevail, my fancies droop, Joy never cometh with a hoop, And seldom with a call!

My football's laid upon the shelf; I am a shuttlecock, myself The world knocks to and fro;-- My archery is all unlearn'd, And grief against myself has turn'd My sorrow and my bow!

No more in noontide sun I bask; My authorship's an endless task, My head's ne'er out of school; My heart is pain'd with scorn and slight; I have too many foes to fight, And friends grown strangely cool!

The very chum that shar'd my cake Holds out so cold a hand to shake, It makes me shrink and sigh:-- On this I will not dwell and hang, The changeling would not feel a pang Though these should meet his eye!

No skies so blue or so serene As these;--no leaves look half so green As cloth'd the play-ground tree! All things I lov'd are altered so, Nor does it ease my heart to know That change resides in me.

O, for the garb that mark'd the boy! The trousers made of corduroy. Well ink'd with black and red; The crownless hat, ne'er deem'd an ill-- It only let the sunshine still Repose upon my head!

O, for that small, small beer anew! And (heaven's own type) that mild sky-blue That wash'd my sweet meals down! The master even!--and that small turk That fagg'd me!--worse is now my work,-- A fag; for all the town!

The "Arabian Nights'" rehears'd in bed! The "Fairy Tales" in school-time read By stealth, 'twixt verb and noun! The angel form that always walk'd In all my dreams, and look'd, and talk'd. Exactly like Miss Brown!

The _omne bene_--Christmas come! The prize of merit, won for home'-- Merit had prizes then! But now I write for days and days For fame--a deal of empty praise, Without the silver pen.

Then home, sweet home! the crowded coach-- The joyous shout--the loud approach-- The winding horn like ram's! The meeting sweet that made me thrill, The sweetmeats almost sweeter still, No "_satis_" to the "_jams!_"

* * * * *

ENGLISH DRESS.

(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.)

Mr. Editor.--In No. 200 of the MIRROR, you will find an article, entitled _Female Fashions during the early part of the Last Century_. The author then promised to give a description of the dress of the English gentlemen of the same period, but as no such description has _yet_ appeared in your pages, I trust you will insert the annexed at your first convenient opportunity.

G.W.N.

_Dress of the English Gentlemen during the Early part of the Last Century._

In the reign of King William III., the English gentlemen affected to dress like their dependents. Their hats were laced, and their coats and waistcoats were embroidered with gold and silver fringe; indeed it really became extremely difficult to distinguish a man of quality from one of his lackeys. They did not, however, long persevere in this ridiculous imitation, for they soon afterwards, like the ladies, servilely followed the French fashions. The great partiality of the English _beau monde_ towards the _bon ton_ of France, was a wonderful advantage to that country--an advantage which the English government in vain endeavoured to abolish, although a heavy duty was imposed on all French ribbon and lace imported into this kingdom. Many millions were annually expended in French cambric, muslin, ribbon, and lace, which useless expenditure very sensibly injured our commercial transactions with other nations.

Perukes and long wigs were worn at the revolution; but these being greatly inconvenient in all weathers, some people _tied up_ their wigs, which was the first occasion of short wigs coming into fashion. Some few years afterwards, bob-wigs were adopted by the gentlemen, especially by those of the army and the navy.

The English costume was remarkably neat and plain anterior to the year 1748; at which period, however, all gentlemen rather resembled military officers than private individuals, for their coats were not only richly embroidered with gold and silver, but they even assumed the cockade in their hats, and carried _long_ rapiers at their sides. At length this imposing attire was adopted by the merchants and tradesmen of the metropolis, and soon afterwards by the most notorious rogues and pickpockets in town, so that when any person with a laced coat, a cockade, and a sword, walked along the streets of London, it was absolutely impossible to determine whether he affected to be thought a nobleman, a military officer, a tradesman, or a pickpocket, for he bore an equal resemblance to each of these characters.

In the year 1749, hair-powder was used by the _finished_ gentlemen, though the use of it, a year or two previous, was prohibited in every class of society. Of the costume of this period (_i.e._ about 1749), the immortal Hogarth, in his works, has left us numerous specimens, which need no comment here: his productions, indeed, are so equal in merit, that it is impossible to decide which is his _ne plus ultra_.

In conclusion, I would advise the reader to refer to a few of Hogarth's prints, for they will admirably serve to illustrate the above observations on the fashions and habits of our forefathers.

* * * * *

_Astronomical Occurrences_

_FOR NOVEMBER, 1827._

(_For the Mirror_.)

Should the afternoon of Saturday, the 3rd of the month, prove favourable, we shall be afforded an opportunity of witnessing another of those interesting phenomena--eclipses, at least the latter part of one, a portion of it only being visible to the inhabitants of this island; the defect above alluded to is a lunar one. The passage of the moon through the earth's shadow commences at 3 h. 29 m. 34 s. afternoon; she rises at Greenwich at 4 h. 45 m. 34 s. with the northern part of her disk darkened to the extent of nearly 10 digits. The greatest obscuration will take place at 5 h. 7 m. 42 s. when 10-1/2 digits will be eclipsed; she then recedes from the earth's shadow, when the sun's light will first be perceived extending itself on her lower limb towards the east; it will gradually increase till she entirely emerges from her veil of darkness, the extreme verge of which leaves her at her upper limb 32 deg. from her vertex, or highest point of her disc.

We have the following in "Moore," some years ago, on the nature and causes of eclipses of the sun and moon:--

"Far different sun's and moon's eclipses are, The moon's are often, but the sun's more rare The moon's do much deface her beauty bright; Sol's do not his, but hide from us his sight: It is the earth the moon's defect procures, 'Tis the moon's shadow that the sun obscures. Eastward, moon's front beginneth first to lack, Westward, sun's brows begin their mourning black: Moon's eclipses come when she most glorious shines, Sun's in moon's wane, when beauty most declines; Moon's general, towards heaven and earth together, Sun's but to earth, nor to all places neither."

The Sun enters _Sagittarius_ on the 23rd, at 1 h. 2 m. morning.

Mercury will be visible on the 10th, in 10 deg. of _Sagittarius_, a little after sunset, being then at his greatest eastern elongation; he is stationary on the 20th, and passes his inferior conjunction on the 30th, at 1-3/4 h. afternoon.

Venus is in conjunction with the above planet on the 24th, at 9 h. evening; she sets on the 1st at 5 h. 7 m., and on the 30th at 4 h. 47 m. evening.

Jupiter may be seen before sunrise making his appearance above the horizon about 5 h.; he is not yet distant enough from the sun to render the eclipses of his satellites visible to us.

A small comet has just been discovered, situated in one of the feet of _Cassiopea_. It is invisible to the naked eye, and appears approaching the pole with great rapidity.

PASCHE.

* * * * *

RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS.

* * * * *

DOMESTIC ECONOMY OF THE ROMANS IN THE FOURTH CENTURY.

A recent discovery has added to our information the most extensive series of statistical data, which make known from an official act, and by numerical figures, the state of the Roman empire 1500 years ago; the price of agricultural and ordinary labour; the relative value of money; the abundance or scarcity of certain natural productions; the use, more or less common, of particular sorts of food; the multiplication of cattle and of flocks; the progress of horticulture; the abundance of vineyards of various qualities; the common use of singular meats, and dishes, which we think betrays a corruption of taste; in short the relation of the value existing between the productions of agriculture and those of industry, from whence we obtain a proof of the degree of prosperity which both had reached at this remote period.

This precious archaeological monument is an edict of Diocletian, published in the year 303 of our era, and fixing the price of labour and of food in the Roman empire. The first part of this edict was found by Mr. William Hanks, written upon a table of stone, which he discovered at Stratonice, now called Eskihissar in Asia Minor. The second part, which was in the possession of a traveller lately returned from the Levant, has been, brought from Rome to London by M. de Vescovali, and Colonel Leake intends to publish a literal translation of it. This agreement of so many persons of respectable character, and known talents, excludes all doubts respecting the authenticity of the monument.

The imperial edict of Diocletian is composed of more than twenty-four articles. It is quite distinct from that delivered the preceding year for taxing the price of corn in the eastern provinces, and it contained no law upon the value of corn. It fixed for all the articles which it enumerated a maximum, which was the price in times of scarcity. For all the established prices it makes use of the _Roman Denarii_; and it applies them to the _sextarius_ for liquids, and to the _Roman pound_ for the things sold by weight.

Before the Augustan age, the _denarius_ was equal to eighteen sous of our money; but it diminished gradually in value, and under Diocletian its value was not above nine sous of French money, and 45 centimes. The Roman pound was equivalent to 12 ounces, and the _sextarius_ which was the sixth part of a conge, came near to the old Paris chopin, or half a litre.

Proceeding on these data, M. Moreau de Jonnes has formed a table, showing, 1. the maximum in Roman measures, the same as the established imperial edict; and 2. the mean price of objects _formed from_ half the maximum, and reduced into French measures.

The following is the table drawn up by M. Moreau de Jonnes. The slightest inspection of it will enable us to appreciate the importance of this archaeological discovery, for no monument of antiquity has furnished so long a series of numerical terms, of statistical data, and positive testimony of the civil life and domestic economy of the Greeks and Romans:--

I.--PRICE OF LABOUR.

Maximum Mean Price in Roman in English Money. Money.

£. s. d. To a day labourer 25 Den. 0 4 8 Do. for interior works 50 0 9 4 To a mason 50 0 9 4 To a maker of mortar 50 0 9 4 To a marble-cutler, or maker of mosaic work 60 0 11 4 To a tailor for making clothes 50 0 9 4 Do. for sewing only 6 0 1 1-1/2 For making shoes for the patricians 150 1 8 1 Do. shoes for workmen 120 1 2 8 for the military 100 0 18 8 for the senators 100 0 18 8 for the women 60 0 11 4 Military sandals 75 0 14 0-1/2 To a barber for each man 2 0 0 4-1/2 To a veterinary surgeon for shearing the animals and trimming their feet 6 0 1 1-1/2 Do. for currycombing and cleaning them 20 0 9 9 For one month's lessons in architecture 100 0 18 8 To an advocate for a petition to the tribunal 250 2 6 9 For the hearing a cause 1000 9 7 6

II.--PRICE OF WINES.

Maximum Mean Price of of the the English Sextarius. Pint, Wine Measure.

£. s. d. Picene, Tiburtine, Sabine, Aminean, Surentine, Setinian, and Falernian wines 30 Den. 0 5 4 Old wines of the first quality 24 0 4 2-3/4 Do. of second quality 16 0 2 10 Country wine 8 0 1 5 Beer 4 0 0 4-3/4 Beer of Egypt 2 0 0 2 Spiced wine of Asia 30 0 5 4 Barley wine of Attica 24 0 4 2-3/4 Decoction of different raising 16 0 2 10

III.--PRICE OF MEAT.

Maximum Mean Price of of the Roman the French pound. pound.