Berlin is greatly excited over a trial for gambling. It
appears that three young men of good family who had been officers attracted attention by an expenditure out of all pro- portion to their means. It was found on inquiry that they had set up a baccarat club which was a regular "hell," frequented by more than two hundred persona of their own class. As they made money by their club, and had none to start with, they were suspected of cheating, but this part of the charge has not been proved. What has been proved is that a large number of members of the highest society are accustomed to gamble for large sums—one man lost £2,000 in one night—in company with adventurers and ladies of the demi-monde, to borrow money of the bank and even of waiters, and to drink to excess. All this is wholly opposed to the tone of the Prussian Army, which is severe, and of Prussian society, which abhors wastefulness more than many other vices. It is believed that the Socialist party, which is always denouncing the dissoluteness of the rich, will make great capital out of the trial, and that the Emperor will issue an order even sterner than the celebrated one of 1893. He
should follow it up with an increase of allowances. A. Prussian officer may once have been able to live on £1 2s. 6d. a week, but he certainly cannot now, and the poor noblesse to which most of them belong can spare no allowances.
Previous page
