Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-04-21
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

DEAD LETTERS, BOGUS LOTTERIES, &c-The
gullibtity of the American people, notwith-
standing their real and boosted intelligence. is
truly amazing. Few days elapse without de-
veloping some swindling scheme, which, after
being successfully carried on for weeks, or per-
haps for years, finally falls under the ban Of
police agents, and is broken up. Generally,
however, the guilty parties are suffered to 20
scot free, to perpetrate their nefarious games
under other titles elsewhere. No matter how
crude and transparent these schemes may be, it
seems that they all find willing dupes, through
whose credulity and weakness their originators
acquire a rich harvest. Among these swindles
may be enumerated bogus lotteries, gift
schemes, astrology, sorcery, palmody, and even
every grade of fortune-telling, together with a
host Of other almost unimaginable methods Of
obtaining money under false pretences.
Bogus lotteries, however, take the lead, so
far as lucrative gain is concerned; and it is
really fearful in moral point of view, to know
what multitudes Of people are deceived by
such swindles. Our readers will remember that
the New York police recently ferretted out and
broke up, in Norwich, Connecticut, no less
than three firms who have been driving a thriv-
ing trade in this description of business fer
heaven only knows how long time. They all
assumed business nommss de yl,me, and each
firm published and circulated gratuitously a
large sized paper filled principally with their
own advertisements.
Since their exposure by the police, the letters
addressed to these parties have been returned
to the writers, together with whatever they
contain. The number of these reaches several
thousand, and the money remittances enclosed
make an aggregate of upwards Of $40, 900. The
amount enclosed in each letter ranges from 81
all the way up to $50.
We are also informed that mum srous letters,
addressed to fictitious firm in New York city
in answer to an advertisement of medicine to
prevent conception, have found their way into
the Dead Letter office in consequence of the
party addressed having been run off by the
police. These also contain remittances, and
betray an amount Of degradation that is sick
ening to contemplate.
HE OPERA.-We have, since Saturday last.
been without room in which to notice the per-
Torrance on that evening of the 'Trovatore'
of Verdi, by the Maretzek Troupe. in the w ash
ington Theatre. The house was crowded with
avery fashionable and appreciative audience
in fact, the most thoroughly accomplished mu
steal audience we ever saw for almost all
Westinghouse known to us as persons of mu
steal accomplishment were present From the
rising of the green curtain to its fall, the Der.
Torrance was succession of triumphs. &C.
knowledged by a series of llaudits growing
each longer and louder than the last Miss Ada
Phillips as the gipsey queen took all by sur
prise, her acting being as perfect as her yocali-
cation OF the tender, and melancholy, yet in
tensely impassioned roIe she sang She carried
of the palm, in that part, even from D'Angri
who had previously made it emphatically her
own, here. AmodiO. too, as di Luna, demon
strated his claim to be the first Count in sTro-
vatOre" to whom America has so far listened
Brignoli, as Maurice. was called before the cur
tain, again, and again and again, amid such a
storm Of braves as he clicits everywhere on rem
dering the music of that part In truth it was
grand opera superbly performed
We hear that Manager Stuart made no money
by the engagement of Maretzeks Troupe; a
circumstance to be regretted by all lovers of
music and the drama among US, towards whom
he has fulfilled his engagements, one and all. to
the letter He deserved to have filled his mock
cts brim full, for the enterprise, good Judgment.
fidelity and liberality with which he has catered
for the amusement of the play -goers Of the Fed
eral metropolis. -
AQUEsTION SErTLED.-Yesterday. Mr. Shaw
(nf North Il 81;
one OF the ablest speeches of the session. TWAS
in reply to the speech of his colleague. Mr.. Gill
mer, which drew around that gentleman, at its
conclusion, crowd Of Republican members.
In the course Of Mr.. Shaw's remarks. Mr.. Gid.
dings took occasion to half deny the accuracy
OF our description of his share of the remarkable
scene rs described not long since by the Star,
under the head OF I" Kiss him, Giddings" No
member with less check Ito use plain Ian.
guage) than Mr. Giddings possesses, would ven-
ture on denial Of facts witnessed nv the whole
House. But Mr.. Giddings does such things in
that way, as all know, when to do so suits his
political purposes. However, Mr.. Shaw nailed
the occurrence upon Mr.. Giddings past all flu
ture attempts to deny it here or in North Caro-.
lima, as will be perceived from the report of the
days proceedings, to be found in another col
umn OF this issue of the Star. We are glad Ii at
be has done so inasmuch as it was an incider
that richly deserves to be incorporated in the
history Of American public affairs, to be read
and reflected on throughout all future time.
HE Hon. JOHN L. ROBINSON OF INDIANA
WASHINGTON, April IG, 1858
Editor Of the EreHing Star:
VIII YOU allow me small space in your paper
to notice communication in the States of Las,
evening, purpOrting to have been written at
Greensburg, Indiana,
The concocter of the article is evidently both 4
knave and fool-the former for the false state
ments he makes in reference to the meeting,
which YOU will find thoroughly exposed nv re