Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-08-30
OUR CHICAGO LETTER.
Chicago, Aug. 27, 1856

OUR CHICAGO LETTER.
| CHICAGO, Aug. 27, 1866.
Some of our wise doctors still inform
the public through anonymous cards il
the newspapers thet they have not seer
any genuine cholera in the city yet
Which will remind the dullest memory oi
the logical Irishman on trial for grand lar
ceny who Indignantly demanded acquittal
in advance because 4" be jsbers the Pros
ecuting Attorney could only bring three
witnesses to swear that they saw the fell
onious taking, while Michsel could bring
Il forty to swear they "Deyer saw him
stealin' at ell at all"
The new cases reported, average per-
haps a dozen daily, OF which perhaps one
fourth prove fatal. The papers give the
details in each case, and these show that
almost without exception, the disease has
been superinduced by dissipation, inju-
dicious diet, extraordinary exhaustion, or,
as in the majority of cases all these COM
bined with extensive personal uncleanli-
ness.
| THE WEATHER.
Has been raw and cold for ten days
past, and considerable increase of busi-
ness to family physicians has resulted.
The corn would keenly feel frost, and
almost stands still under the leaden skies,
but has gained too fine growth to leave
the quantity or quality of the harvest in
serious doubt
CHICAGO LOTTERIES.
An Oberlin friend called my attention
recently 10 the flaming advertisements of
the lottery dealers nesting here, and ex-
pressed regret that l had not exposed
them. His remark reminded me of let
ter recently received by a Doctor of Di-
vinity over the way from my office, from
former psrishioner in Ohio, enclosing
S5, and requesting the clergyman's good
offices to exchange it for a ticket of mem.
bership in the Crosby Opera House Art
Association, with the sheepish apology
that this scheme was devised for the pro
motion of art, ETC.
1t would be more complimentary to the
good sense of the reader of the LEADER
than to my own acquaintance with ha-
man nature if 1 should politely assume
that the Doctor Of Divinitys Ohio ex-par-
ishioner is not -noadar of tha I.rAn-.o
and that the LEADER circle includes none
of the gullibls and none of the weak
Addressing myself then to those who may
be seriously eanvassing the expediency Of
investing in one or another of the Chicago
Lotteries, now about as numerous as the
Delaware lotteries were ten years ago,
take time TO say:
l.-That these Gift Enterprises and Art
Associations originate in every instance
in the same human longing-the peculiar
American longing-to get great deal of
other peoples money in a short time and
without rendering an equivalent. The
Gifts are the merest bait 10 cover the
hook for gudgeons.
2 In nearly every instanee-I think
two exceptions, of which Mr.. Crosby's
scheme may be one, will save all the de-
cent men from the wholesale charge-the
managers are men as utterly destitute of
principle as any faro bankers; they are
men whose sole interest in the show bust
ness is the realization of the most money
with the least effort; men who would not
hesitate moment to take your purse
from your pocket if they could do it with
out detection.
3. No one ought to be surprised, there
fore, TO hear, as we have been hearing at
least once week for some time past, that
''So-and-So & Company, having sold fifty
thousand tickets in their great gift enter
prise, which was to have been drawn next
week, have suddenly left for parts un-
known, leaving wide circle of mourning
friends" Not sensible man is at ali
disturbed. Just good enough for such
friends. Each man hoped to get tie
$40, 600 prize which was to be made up by
10, 600 fools like himself for his individual
pocket. The managers hopes were idcn-
teal with his own, saving only the ques-
ton of ownership, and they having bet
ter facilities than he for realizing their
hopes, have realised, and left-that is all
He would be Just as mean as they under
similar temptation, or so nearly as mean
that few metsphysicians could measure
the difference.
4. The Crosby Opera House Art As
sociationn is only an exception to the rule
against lotteries so far as probably sin
cere disposition to make it lottery pure
and simple may make it an exception. Mr..
Crosby made fortune by speculating in
highwines- He was but young man,
and was unaccustomed to the manage
ment of large amounts. With a some
what vague but messurably laudable in
tention he undertook the construction of
a frst-class opera house. His plans out
ran his resources, but he was bound to
carry them out, and mortgaged the prop
erty for good part of its value to rsise
the necessary supplementary means. He
4 withdrew so much capital from his active
business as TO cramp himself, and after a
brief but hopeless struggle assigned his
assets His relative, Samuel s. Nicker-
son, ESQ, gentleman of considerable
wealth, had made a number of the ad-
vances in question, but the Connecticut
Life Insurance Company held first mort
gage for $4,000 and interest, and the
huge block must be converted to meet It.
No one would psy for the property more
than 50 or so per cent of its cost, and SO
not only was Mr.. Crosby hepelessly in
solvent, but his relative was uncomfert-
| sbly embarrassed
Having made one fortune suddenly, Ar.
Crosby naturally fell to deTising some
L ScleQl6 MAKING rs SQQQeOlN.
and the air being full of the sound of
grand prizes, he suddenly appeared in the
midst OF the smaller concerns with s
bona-fide $500, 900 grand prize, and $780,
600 in art-baits as trimmings. Of course
nothing was easier than to persuade his
relative to advances the necessary funds,
for the show" was good, and if held
there would be par for all creditors and
5000 600 or 100000 to start the enter
.prising young man in the world once
more 71
OF course there were plenty Of SYM
pathizing business friends to endorse and
\ commend the scheme, and so it was set
aHoat with the air of the most highly
respectable lottery of the hour.
8. But if it is to he lottery proper,
and not mere swindle, the tickets must
all be sold, or at least the large majority
of them, before the drawing csn take
place. And here again Mr. Crosby's for
/ @unr ie N, aorrir,nisa n say the least M,