Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-02-05
The Man who Drew the Opera House.

correspondence Win MIN SHOWS Inat
he was neither fool nor specu-
Iator, nor yet elated with his good
luck.
The following is copied from his
letter abiding to the drawing:
L mentally returned thanks to
my new friend Chamberlain, and
returned home considerably per-
picked, and not yet fully conscious Of
the reason Of my being in the hands
of so many new friends, who all
seemed to show so strong desire to
show me attention But a happy
thought struck me | will look at
my ticket and see if there really is
anything in it. Well, Daniel, when
| found it, there the figures stood
as plain as day, $500 and no mis-
take. In the meantime, Joe and Ma
had got hold Of the matter, and. to
my unbounded astonishment. they
received it at once as a fact. | had
undressed myself, for il was growing
late, and was sitting in my long
tailed night shirt, discussing the
events Of the evening, when thun-
dering knock at the door announ-
ced that all was not over yet. Ma
went to the door, and quickly re-
turned with the intelligence that a
man" wanted to see me, and that he
said had drawn "Crosby's Opera
House" "The devil, said |, II wish
they had to swallow the Opera
House" and after dressing myself,
went down to receive the new mes
senger. lie bowed to me, | bought
as though | was a man Of property,
and in suitable style delivered his
credentials. looked very carefully
over Well written letter OF six
lines, and derived such information
as induced me to believe that the
lucky holder of $500 was about to
become man OF property sure
enough, for this letter came from
Messrs. Pettes uLeath, "sent" as
they say, by instructions of Mr..
Crosby himself. | found this last
messenger pretty well informed
about the matter, and after seeing
him eat hearty supper, and arrive
at that condition when people, gen
orally, are confidential and good
natured, | took him aside and asked
him, "it it were a fact and no mis-
take" He gave me the most solemn
assurance that there was no mistake
about it, and that John Meyer OF
somewhere, Randolph street, Chica-
60, was humbug.
Very we'll Daniel, as l am really
the possessor of ticket No. $4,000, |
suppose the Opera House belongs to
me, and | just say to you that it is
for sale. suppose SOMEBODY wants
to buy it, and ! have to ask you to
sell it for me. 1t is Impossible for
me to leave my wife in her present
condition, or would 60 up to you
at once. | must wait until she gets
better, whether | get the Opera
House or not She is very i'll, in
deed, but | think her symptoms are
favorable for Improvement.
AT all events write me on receipt
of this.
Your friend and brother.
A. Ii. LEE.
Mr.. Lee replied as follows to Mr..
Crosby's telegram informing him OF
his good fortune
.. H. Crosby Esq, Chicago, H.:
DEAR SIR l received a dispatch
last evening, ia Belleville, Ill. and
note by courier, from Messrs.
Pettos < Leathe, OF St. Louis, in
forming me Of the very interesting
fact that my ticket, No. So, 600 had
drawn the Opera House. 1t would
seem that a sight OF the ticket was
Of some consequence, as several par
ties from st. Louis have already
been here to have a look at it.
| am sorry to say that | am un>
able to leave home just now, on &C
count of the dangerous illness of my
wife, which is a great drawback TO
the pleasure | should enjoy at the
marvellous piece Of good fortune
have written to my brother
Daniel G. Taylor, Of St Louis, to an
swer all questions for me concerning
business, until such time as | may
be able to leave home. In the
meantime, remain your much
obliged and humble servant,
A. III. LEE.
If you should desire to make a
proposal for the Opera House, please
correspond with Daniel G. Taylor,
Esq. All. L.
Thursday afternoon, Mr.. Lee left
Prairie du Rocher here, his wife hav-
ing become much better in health
and spirits. He arrived here at
half-past ten Friday night and
went at once to the Opera House
He was tired and received no visit
ors.
Saturday morning he had an in.
teryiew with Mr.. Crosby, and offered
him the Opera House for 5000, 900
cash. The offer was at once accept
ed, and within few hours the
whole transaction was completed.
Mr.. Lee is now forty-seven years
old, and has a wife and six children
three boys and three girls. As
none Of the latter are Of marriage
able age, no further notice Of them
is necessary. He was in the cons
mission business at St Louis for a
little over fifteen years, but for