Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-11-17
Lottery Gambling.


As there are still many persons in this State
who are periodically afflicted with the lottery
mania, we copy the following hints for their
benefit, from Pennsylvania paper. The
combination lottery schemes, as they are
termed, admit of the most stupendous frauds
upon those who patronize them-and no per-
son should be considered sane who deliberete-
ly places his money at the mercy of gamblers,
by investing it in them
The lotteries in the States south of Penn
sylvania drive large business in the States
north, through their own impudence and per-
severance. They send letters to all the towns
in the State, with brilliant programmes, show
ing how fortunes may be made in minute, if
persons only have faith enough in the honesty
Of the system, and the fair dealing of its man.
ayers. Individuals in the interior of the State
frequently complain Of this species of annoy
ance, and there ought to be some remedy for
their protection. If Delaware chooses to
swindle her citizens by legalizing such fraud,
in order that the taxes Of her property holders
may be light, our Legislature, which has had
the wisdom to denounce this as well as other
gambling devices, should apply additional leg
islation to cure the evil inflicted upon the COM
munity by the gambling little State which lies
next door to us in geographical location
The Mining Register of Potsville says it has
had these letters, containing lottery schemes,
sent to it unsolicited for the last ten years
but the editor says he is not disposed to en-
gage in any specie of gambling, but if he
should turn his attention that way, gambling
through lotteries would be the last kind OF
black-legging that he would think of; for a
man might as well poke bank bills in the stove,
as to invest them in tickets, for in either case
the loss is certain, that the prospect of diff
ferent result would.n not be worth charging
the mind with. To prove the truth of his opin-
ion he goes into the following exposition OF
the principles upon which these lotteries are
conducted.
First, there are upwards Of seventy numbers
used in making out the tickets, and there are
three numbers on each ticket; now the first
question, how many different tickets can be
made. If but ten figures were used instead OF
seventy, there could be issued 1923 800 tick
cts, each different from the other and if
twelve figures were used instead of seventy,
there could be issued 479 900 800 tickets, SO
man in the first instance, where there are
ten numbers, would stand one chance out OF
1928, 800 chances, and in the last instance
where there are twelve numbers to change by,
he would stand but one chance out of 49,
00O, 900, and if the whole seventy figures are
taken, and if as many different tickets were is
sued as could be formed by the Formulation
Of these numbers, it is probable there would
be enough to more than carpet the whole ter
ritory of the United States. Of course they
print but very few compared to what might be
printed, yet there is just as good chance for
the prize to fall to an imprinted ticket as to a
printed one. If it does so, as no one can claim
the money, it remains with those making the
lottery. That such will be the case there are
thousands OF chances IN 1avOr OF tne lOttery
makers Again he says iflotteries were fair
Iy conducted, there should be hundreds or
thousands each month receiving fortune by
the high prizes alone and each year there
could be named from 1000 to 10000 persons
who had been thus favored by fortune. In
this we have only been speaking Of one single
prize in each lottery, and as there are many
important ones in each, the fortunate persons
ought to greatly exceed 10000 annually -
Yet how seldom do you hear that even $1,000
prize is drawn Still all the prizes of every
lottery should fall on some one at each draw
ing. Who gets them! Where do the favored
ones live; and how does it happen that their
names are not paraded before the public each
week, and thus used, to induce others to buy (?
1t is simply because no one holds ticket en-
titled to the prize, and of course the money
remains with the maker of the lottery. The
whole system would be perfect scheme of
gambling, even if honestly conducted, but man
aged as it is, it loses the character of even
honorable gambling, and should rank with the
lowest specie Of frand. irni b