The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-07-01
IS Sundry HumbugS. F"

ssSundry HumbugS'
Under this caption, in our issue Of the
18th ult., we commented at some length on
a Gift Enterprise got up in this State for
the benefit of the "Solders and Sailors
Orphans Home, CT Washington, D. c.,
and of the Founding ASYLUM of the
Sisters of Charity, of New York" Since
the date of that issue we have received
letter from Maj George T. Castle, one Of
the commissioners, which said: .
eve have your paper of 18th inst, and
regret to find column devoted to 'Sundry
Humbugs,' wherein our enterprise is par
ticularly referred to. Upon the general
principle of the duty of journalists you
are correct, but an investigation into the
matter would have satisfied you, as it has
Messrs. Orange Judd & Co., of the Agra-
culturist."
Since the letter of Maj. Castle came to
hand, from which the above extract is
taken, we have received the July number
of the Agricultu.ist, and from its pages we
excerp the following, which we presume is
the opinion of Messrs. Orange Judd & Co.,
after an examination, which the Commits
sioner, whose letter we have quoted from,
says satisfied the Editors of the Agricul-
urist.
"SuNDRY HUMBUGs.-In reference to
one of the "Gift Enterprises " referred to
last month, that for the "Home" at WASH
ington and the "Asylum" in New York,
we have heard from several parties inter-
faI M of
Md, says, he believed it to be well con-
Quoted enterprise, everything on the
square, and he put in some property with
the distinct understanding, that all profits
from it should be given to the Soldiers and
Sailors Home at Washington. Mr.. Devlin
says, he took the New York agency of the
tickets, just as he would of any other bus
mess, which he believed honorably con-
Quoted, but he took extra pains to have
part of the profits go to the New York
Roman Catholic ASYLUM, in which he was
interested. Probably every one connected
with the enterprise would show similar
good intentions, unless it be that some first
originator who started it to get ready
market for real estate, that had come to be
an elephant on his hands. We believe
no one denies that, as a whole, the proper
ty offered in this scheme is priced far above
what it would sell for. Indeed, we are
told that it was estimated that the mana
gers should receive $4,000 each, and that
there would still be good surplus for the
institutions, after paying all expenses,
advertising, commissions, etc. 1t amounts
to just about this: People are invited to
pay in their money, partly because a small
percentage of it will go to benevolent insti-
buttons, which is "touching them in ten
der spot" and they are further stimulated
with the hope that there is a possibility "a
very remote one) that they may draw big
prize. The best result which can happen
to any but the managers, who get $4,000
each, and those who have put in property,
will be that: 1908 persons will get some
thing worth on the average half of what
is priced at in the scheme, and so 997 per-
sons will get nothing, except the consola-
ton that few cents on the dollar have
gone to good objects. The whole scheme
like every other one of the kind, is bad in
its results; it differs nothing in principle
from the old lotteries, and no amount of
good Intentions and good faith in carrying
1t out, can whitewash it into credit Lot
teries of any kind, in and for churches,
asylums, or otherwise, from the grab bag
mp to Pike's Opera House and the San
Francisco Library, are worthy of the
severest condemnation. They appeal to
and cultivate morbid hope of "luck,"
that STILES self-reliance, panstaking effort,
and manly energy, which lie at the founda-
ton OF all true success in life.'
We also have receive the following letter
on the same subject, from Mr.. A. r. Apple
man, of the Banking firm of Appleman &
Co., Hagerstown, Md, which, though not
intended for publication, perhaps by the
writer, will serve to set the enterprise so
fairly before the public from a point of
view that its friends take, that we venture
to publish it:
HAGERsTowN, Md, JUNE 24th, III.
Mr.. E. E. EwING-Dear Sir Il find in
your paper of last week that you have
made raid upon the Grand Gift Concert,
and call it a New York matter AS am
one of the references, take the liberty of
writing to you upon the subject. The
Concert was gotten up in Washington, and
not New York no New York name appears
upon it except p. C. Devlin, General Agent,
whose standing the Trustees and Commits
sioners know to be good. TWAS gotten up
in part for the benefit of the Soldiers and
Sailors Orphans home. I hope you will
investigate 1T at once, and make such cor
rectlons in your next that will do Justice
to the Concert, the gentlemen who are
acting as Trustees and Commissioners, and
yourself. For my standing will refer YOU
to Hon. J. A. J. Creswell.
Yours respectfully, A. r. APpLEMAN.
We have no opportunity of making any
special investigation of the /" Enterprise"
nor do we deem it necessary, when it is so
strongly endorsed by men of the undoubted
character and standing, of those above
quoted, and others whose names are given
in the circulars. The opinion of Messrs.
Orange Judd & Co., are so entirely in
accordance with our own views on the sub
ject of all such enterprises, that it is sub
stituted for any further remarks we might
have felt called on to make. There appears
to be an honest difference of opinion
among honorable men in regard to the
character of such charitable projects, and
we leave every one who chooses to invest
in that way, free to act as he thinks best
The Commissioner, Maj. Castle, has for
warded an advertisement of the Gift Enter
prise which he requests inserted in Tile
Wig until the 9th of July, the day to
which the drawing and distribution have
been postponed, which will be found in
another column. He also wants an agent
for Elkton. Some of our Sewing Machine
or Life Insurance Agents who find bust
ness slack just now, might desire to enter
this new field By applying to Hon. Hiram
Mccullough, one Of the Commissioners,
they can procure the necessary credentials
and instruction.
County Officers to Elect next November.
3 County Commissioners.
3 Members of the House of Delegates.
Judges of the Orphans Court.
Sheriff.
I State'S Attornev