The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1867-01-30

/ A. n. leo.
The following letter written by Mr.. Lee
to friend on the day after he first was no
tilted of his good luck. 1t explains more
than augbt else what kind of o man Mr..
Lee is, and shows that fortune in award
ing the magnificent prize exercised COM
mendable discretion in the selection OF her
favorite:
PRAIRIE Du RocHER, ILL.,, Jan %, 1867.
Dear Danicl-I was very much aston
ished last evening, at about o'clock, by
the sudden appearance of two men making
their appearance in our bedroom, where l
sat reading by the side of my wife's bed,
with the sudden announcement that had
drawn the opera house in Chicago. don't
think that was at all excited by the re-
port. l had slight acquaintance with
Mr.. Burroughs, one of the men; the other,
from Waterloo, was an entire stranger
The only document they brought was q
copy of the Republican of the 22d inst,
which had so many accounts of the matter
that hardly dared believe any of them.
However, bore the congratulations of my
new friends with commendable f0rtitude
and dismissed them with suitable acknowl-
cdgments.
After the lapse of half an hour, was
the recipient Of sundry calls from neigh
bors and friends in the village, all highly
excited. The report had flown like light
ming and the whole neighborhood was in
an uproar. I bore hand at receiving the
company, answered their numerous ques-
tions with rs much dignity as could as
sumo and in a state of semi-unconscious-
ness of what it all meant, started of to
commune with Frank on the curious ap-
pearance Of things.
had been there but few moments
when halloo was made ut the door for
Mr.. Lee. els Mr.. Lee here?" Well, I
went to the door and acknowledged that l
was that person. and went ut him with the
question of "Wh hat do you want?' "Why,"
said the poor frozen fellow, :" have dis
patch for you from Belleville. You have
drawn the opera house." received the
document, and, after asking Sally the priv
ilege of reading it by the light Of her lamp,
I read as follows:
A. H. LEE, Prairie du Rocher, ILL.,:
Crosby's Opera House is yours. Hold
your ticket. j. B. CHAMBERLAIN.
mentally returned thanks to my new
friend Chamberlain, and returned home
considerably pcrplexed, and not yet fully
conscious Of the reason of my being in the
hands of so many new friends, who ali
seemed to show so strong desire to show
me attention. But happy thought struck
me. will look at my ticket and see if
there really is anything it. Well, Daniel,
when found it, there the figures stood as
plain as day, $500, and no mistake. In
the mean time Joe and ma had got hold of
the matter, and, to my unbounded aston
ishment, they received it at once as fact.
had undressed myself, for it was growing
late. and was sitting in my long-tailed
| night shirt, discussing the events Of the
evening, when laundering knock ut the
door announced that all was not over yet.
Ma went to the door, and quickly returned
with the intelligence that "a man" want
ed to see me, and that, he said, had drawn
+" Crosby's Opera House." '.The DEVIL"
said l, IL wish they had to swallow the
opera house," and, after dressing myself,
went down to receive this new messenger.
He bowed to me, l thought as though l
was man of property, and in suitable
style delivered his credentials. looked
carefully over well written letter of six
lines, and derived such information as in
duce1 me to believe that the lucky holder
of So 600 was actually about to become y
man of property sure enough, for this let
ter came from Messrs. Pcttes & Heathe,
"sent," as they say, by instructions of
Mr.. Crosby himself l found this last
messenger pretty well informed about the
matter, and after seeing him eat hearty
supper, and arrive at that condition when
people generally are confidential and good
natured, took him aside and asked him
eff it were a fact and no mistake" He
gave me most solemn assurances that there
was no mistake about it, and that John
Meyer, of somewhere, Randolph street.
Chicago, was humbug."
Very well, Daniel, Us / am really the
possessor Of ticket No. $4,000, l suppose
the opera house belongs to me, and Just
say to you that it is for sale. l 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 con-
dltion, or l would 60 up to you ut once. l
must wait until she gets better, whether
| get the opera house or not. She is very
i'll indeed, but think her symptoms are
favorable for improvement.
AT all events, write to me on receipt of
this. Your friend and brother,
The following communication embodies
the reason for the sale to Mr.. Crosby, and
explains satisfactorily the diatoriness of
Mr.. Lee in reaching the city, and the re-
luctance he entertained relative to being
made an object of curiosity and remark:
To the Editor Of the Tmes-Dc0r sir
desire to publicly acknowledge the obi
cations am under to Mr.. U. III. Crosby
for the promptitude and courtesy with which
he has dealt with me as the drawer of the
opera house.
As soon as the books were unsealed by
the committee and my name discovered, a
.telegraphic message was sent by him to
Pettes & Heathe, the agents of the associa-
ton at St. Louis, to "put faithful man
on horseback and at once notify me of the
FACT" and this was done without expense
to me.
The illness of my wife has prevented
me from sooner coming to Chicago.
1t was my wish and request that might
come here and transact my business with
Mr.. Crosby without becoming the object of
unpleasant noteriety, and without having
my name heralded in the newspapers, and
! feel deeply indebted to him for the con-
siderate manner in which the request has
been obsesved, especially as it has cost him
some embarrassment as well as occasional
invidiOus comment.
Feeling that the opera house should
properly be owned by Mr.. Crosby, made
him the offer to sell It to him for 500. 600.
and the offer was accepted in spirit which
is very gratifying, and the money promptly
paid to me.
My connection with the opera house
having happily terminated, am sir, very
respectfully and sincerely yours.
"A, III. LEE.