'Odds,' cried a player. It was ODDS, and the fortunate winner
pocketed the enormous sum just boasted of by the other.

On the other hand, sudden prosperity has deranged more heads and
killed more people than reverses and grief; either because it
takes a longer time to get convinced of utter ruin than great
good fortune, or because the instinct of self- preservation
compels us to seek, in adversity, for resources to mitigate
despair; whereas, in the assault of excessive joy, the soul's
spring is distended and broken when it is suddenly compressed by
too many thoughts and too many sensations. 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