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Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 51, 5 May 1863, Page 2 (Supplement)

A 'German Gaming Saxoon.— - -ASh alley of orange r trees— reach ■% costing about forty pounds— leads across the park to the far-famed palace of play.Through a noble portico the victim enters the hall, where he is received by liveried footmen ready to take charge of his hat, stick and overcoat. It is advisable to use their services, for a good hat or coat left anywhere in the saloons might prove too irresistible a temptation to one of the numberless marquises, counts, and barons prowling about. In front of us, as we enter, is a splendid ball room ,; but we turn to the left, then to the right, straight on ; that is the way to the devil's sanctuary. We find a splendid hall, longer than it is wide, and are almost dazzled by the glaring splendour of it. From the ceiling adorned with pictures hang dark bronze chandeliers bearing numberless lights, multiplied again and again by magnificent looking-glasses, placed at each end of the gorgerus chamber. A long range of high windows, separated from eaeh other by splendid marble colums, open to a view on the park. All the curtains, draperies, and furniture are of dark red velvet. And there is a little too much gilding, as one might expect. In the middle of this hall are placed two oblong tables, with a space of fifteen yards between them, both covered with green cloth ; one of them is the roulette, and the other the trente-et-un table. Let nobody think of a gaming table as of a board surrounded by men in despair. During thirty years' acquaintance with the German gaming haunts, I have not witnessed one violent scene, nor heard even a shriek, What I have seen has, with a few trifling exceptions, been much more ludicrous than tragical. There do occur shocking catastrophies ; but very rarely in the gaming house itself. The agents of the Spie pachter keep a sharp eye on all desperate people likely to be inconsiderate enough to injure the reputation of the bank bv publicly expressing their despair. — All the Year Round. An American paper states that those who go round with what is style 1 the contribution-boxin Californian churches plead and argue the case in the pews as they go along. The following dialogue, it is said, took place between one of these gentry and an honest-looking miner. Parson L exteaded the box to Bill, and he slowly shook his head. "Come, William, give something," said the parson. " Can't do it,"repiied Bill. " Why not, is not the cause a good one ?" " Yes, good enough ; but lam not able to give anything," answered Bill. " Pooh, pooh! I know better; you must give me a better reason than that.'' "Well, I owe too much money; I must be just before I am generous, you know." " But, William, you owe God a larger debt than you owe anyone else." " That's true, Parson, but he ain't pushing me like the rest of my creditors.'" The Rose Fields of India. — In Bishop Heber's " Journey through the Upper Province of India," we met with following amusing account of Ghazepoor, a district whieh is not only singularly fertile in corn-pasture and fruit trees, but is celebrated throughout-India for the wholesomeness of its air, and the beauty and extent of its rose gardens. " The rose-fields," he says, " which occupy many hundred acres in the neighborhood, are described as cultivated for distillation and for making ' attar.' Rose-water is both good and cheap here. The price of a seer, or weight of 2lbs. (a large qaart), of the best beink eight annas, or a shilling. The ' attar' is obtained after the rose-water is made, j by setting it out during the night and then skimming off the essential oil which floats at the top. The rose-water which is thus skimmed bears a lower price than that which is warranted with its cream entire. To produce one rupee's weight of ' attar,' 200,000 wellgrown roses are required. The prices even on the spot are extravagant, a rupee's weight being sold in the bazaar (where it is often adulterated with sandal wood) for 80 sicca rupees, and at the English warehouses, where it is warranted genuine, 100 sicca rupees, or £10. Mr. Melville, who made some for himself one year, said that he calculated that the rent of land and price of utensils cost him £5 for the above trifling quantity, without reckoning risk, labor of servants, &c." The Euryalus, on the China station, has lost twenty-seven men. from cbolera and dysentery. Captain Jones, Royal Marines, has also died. A correspondent in the Times strongly recommends common whitening, used for domestic purposes, as an excellent cure for burns. The France "announces the departure from Toulon of 700 men for Alexandria, on their way to Cochin China.