The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-10-31
ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

The Methodist Episcopal church of Ds
venport have footed up the profits of their
recent fair and report 81 ,OO0 as the result.
The fair is therefore called success, and as
a result the church can again resume it's
robes Of sanctity and make war upon the
wicked ways of the world. The various
articles on exhibition did credit to those
who prepared them. The Tablsaux were of
q high order and displayed the fair ones to
the best possible advantage, The refresh
ments were relished by ell The attendance
was good throughout. All enjoyed the
reunion exceedingly and the church made
Il 900. This is large sum, but not sur.
prisingly large when we take into account
the means used to secure it. In view of the
we'll known opposition Of tina. church TO all
species of gambling we will, fer the benefit
of those churches whose treasury IS low aud
who are similarly situated, mention one OF
them. 4 dozen articles are selected
worth from five to twenty-five
dollars. A dozen books are made out, one
for each article. These books are placed
IN the hands of the young girls or of women
who have the most cheek and are the readi-
est takers, and they are turned loose into
the crowd. The FIVE dollar article is put up
for twenty chances at fifty cents each, and
then they commence: Take a chance"
'Do put your name down for lust one
chance" Ii makes no difference whether
you are a stranger or not, you are boldly
approached, more boldly urged and in most
instances given to understand that you are
small and mesn if you don's take a chance
If the fair solicitor is successful and gets
all of her chances taken she adds ten or nf
teen more and renews her efforts. Thus with
the dozen books the two to three Dozen
solicitors watch the door and 90 for
any unfortunate male who happens to come
in. They would look with horror upon q
a gambling nell, where q man can play or
not, as he pieases, and where he knows Just
how many chances there are against him
They would snsthmstizs the stool-pigeon
who would urge men to play against their
will. Yet under the cloak of church they & o
it all. The follow, man so presistep tly
that the result is,you visit these festivals snt
fairs and are surprised to see only dozeI
men present to q hundred LADIES'. Men like
to go to these places and would like &c
enjoy the sights, see the people there, anG
spend a reasonable amount of money, bu
this feature has succeeded most effectuall,
| in keeping them away. They DO not Ek,
to be bored aud even insulted if they insis
on not gambling, even when urged to do 81
by the best ladies in the place.
There are to be several fairs and festival
in this city during the next two months, TO
the benefit of churches and christian
societies, and, for their benefit, we have tolc
how this church made one thousand dollars
| We have some where heard the following
story: Some years ago a very excellent mai
Vas travelling about doing good. He hac
twelve men travelling with him anc
they were sometimes short of money
ms was great greet TO his followers eut
particularly to the treasurer, whom we vii
coll Judas. Now Judas had seen his mas
ter elude great many dangers and escsp'
from arrests in many miraculous ways, unit
he thought he could get away event if caught
so one day when one of the enemy ofere,
him hirtypieces Of silrer to betrey him, h,
! thought he would take the silver and hi
master would get away as he done before
and he would be able to surprise the other
with so much money and it would enabl,
them to continue their good work so mucl
more easily He thought how glad h
could make his master with the money and
how he would praise him for his able 6nan
ciaI management, and he took IL.