eed, it is said that the whole expense
of police and city, and what is worse, yet better, the tending of the
sick, the feeding of the poor, and the succouring of the helpless and
desolate, are alike defrayed from the produce of the city's vice; and let
us add, the Senate's fostering care of it.

And if we wandered out beyond the walls to the right or to the left, what
do we find? On the one hand, "Peter Hund's;" on the other "Unkraut's
Pavilion;" mere dance-houses, after all, though for "the better sort."
"Peter" has a tawdry hall, smeared with the escutcheons of all nations,
where music and waltzing whirl through the dense air, hour after hour;
and what is at least of equal consequence to him, Peter holds a tavern in
the next room, where spirits, beer, or coffee are equally at the command
of the drouthy or the luxuriant. And so also if we followed the road
which passes through Stein Thor, away across the leafy fringing of trees
and shrubs which ornament the city's outline; and still on through the
shady avenues of youthful stems, when we come upon a great house with
deep overhanging eaves, square-topped chimneys, and altogether with a
Swiss air about it. There are idlers hanging about the door, for this is
"Unkraut's," and the brisk air of musical instruments streams out of the
open portal. Within all is motion and uproar. A large _salle de danse_
occupies the greater part of the ground floor, the central portion of
which is appropriated to the waltzers, while a broad slip on each side,
beneath an overhanging gallery, running round the whole of the apartment,
remains for those who drink, or take a temporary repose. Sometimes,
however, the flood of waltzers pours in upon the side-tables, amid the
clatter of chairs, the ringing of glass and china, and the laughter of
the spectators. Gentlemen are not allowed to dance with their hats on;
(where else, in Heaven's name, can they place them?) and must lay their
heavy pipes and cigars aside, as smoking is permitted only in the gallery
above. The company is of the "better sort" in the _salle_ below; that is
to say, that vice, shameless and unveiled, is not allowed to flaunt
without a check; but there is taint and gangrene among all; feeble wills
and failing hearts to bear up against the intoxicating stream of music,
and giddy heads for thought or reason amid the whirl and swimming of the
dance.

"Unkraut's" has, however, attractions apart from the ball-room. By a
qui