Sophocles, Diagoras,
Philippides, died of joy. Another Greek expired at the sight of
the three crowns won by his three sons at the Olympic games.
Many fine intellects among players have been brutified by loses;
others, in greater number, have been so by their winnings. Some
in the course of their prosperity perish from idleness, get
deranged, and ruin themselves after ruining others. An instance
is mentioned of an officer who won so enormously that he actually
lost his senses in counting his gains. Astonished at himself, he
thought he was no longer an ordinary mortal; and required his
valets to do him extraordinary honours, flinging handfuls of gold
to them. The same night, however, he returned to the gaming
house, and recovered from his madness when he had lost not only
all his gains, but even the value of an appointment which he
held.
UNFORTUNATE WINNING.
M. G--me was a most estimable man, combining in himself the best
qualities of both heart and head. He was good-humoured, witty,
and benevolent. With these qualifications, and one other which
seldom operates to a man's disadvantage--a clear income of three
thousand a year--the best society in Paris was open to him.
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