Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-03-01
Patent for Drawing q Prize.

HU0GER is rather suspicious name,
but IA little story in which it figures in the
Cleveland Ptdip1edter is well authenticat
ed. Frank Hugger keeps saloon in
Cleveland, and Mrs. llugger, his wife,
sometimes tends bar, and handsomely
! waits upon customers. Matthias Curth is
an occasional customer. All the persons
named are Germans, and have great rev.
ference for old German customs. Curth
is good naturcd Saddler who allows his
generosity to get the better of his judg-
ment, and, although he works hard and
has a great deal OF money owing to him,
he sometimes cannot collect his dues. His
financial embarrassments thus produced
often make him melancholy and despOn-
dent and disS tistied with all the world.
Tnen he goes to Hugger's saloon for
drink of MS favOrite beverage, plain lager,
drawn, if not brewed, by the fair hands
of Mrs. IIugger. This revives his srir-
its, but does not collect his bills. The
other day he was unusually diSpirited.
Visions of constables and shel ifs began
to haunt him, and he hastened into Hug
gers to get drink. He was far from
happy and began TO talk over his trOu-
bles with Mrs. llugger. He took sec
Ond and third glass and then Il bright idea
struck him. 1t was Il thought born of
his FatEerland, the pleasant German Gus
tom of kissing for luck lie had read
the tempting announcement of the Grand
Gift concert of the Harmonic society," at
the Detroit Opera-hOuse on the 2lst inst.
lie proposed to Mrs. Hugger that they
buy ticket between them and kiss for
luck over it, according to the good old
German custom. The lady thought
she wouldn't go into the speculation.
Curth pressed the matter, and stated his
necessities so feelingly that Mrs. Iuggcr
finally consented to buy a ticket with him,
and they two then and there kissed for
luck as the German custom is. over the
bargain. They two repaired to book
store where The tickets were for sale,
bought one between them, each paying
halt the price and then and there kissed
for luck over the purchase in accordance
with the sweet old German custom. Mrs
Hugger then resumed her place behind
the bar. and Curth wendeJ his way 20 the
saddle-shop happier ifnOt richer man.
He had great faith i'm the German patent
for drawing a prize and Immediately be-
gan to see his way out of ali his financial
difficulties.
This transaction took place on the 20th
of January. The drawing was next day,
and he would not have long TO wait for
his luck to change. That night he
dreamed that the ticket i'm which he held
a half share drew S500-S250 would be
something. He rose early and treated
himself to a holiday. He vas soon at
Hugger's saloon and told his dream. 1t
is to be presumed that he took several
glasses of lager. according to the old Ger
man custom. He became so certain OF
success bv virtue Of German customs that
he offered to bet the drinks with every
body that came in that he would win a
prize. Nugger's customers laughed at
him and took all such bets, and then all
took drink. So the morning wore away
and Curth felt himself already rich man.
Mrs. IIugger had more faith in the thriv.
ing business she was doing in lager, thar
in the drawing which was taking place in
Detroit. Curth had informed the mana
gers of the drawing of the number of tn,
afternoon Mrs. Hugyer received a tele
graphic dispatch announcing that thi:
partnership ticket had drawn the grant
| prize. $50, 900. 1t was rather more thar
Curth expected, but he exhibited no sur
prise at the announcement. Mrs. Hug
ger was suspicious and did not believe il
her extraordinary luck until she read tn
following dispatch in the Cleveland Plain
dealer of the 22d inst:
DETROIT, Jan. 2l.-The drawing of tn
Harmonic gift concert is taking place a
the opcia-house to-day. The first priz
$4,000, WAS drawn by Mrs. Hugger, @
Cleveland, Ohio.
There was no further doubt about it
Curth thinks he can get along quite com
fOrtahly on $4,000, forgives his debtor
and means to cling forever to the trie
and true old German customs. Hugger
himself, knows all about it now, and doe
not object to the method which SO vastl.
improved his fortunes. What delightful
Observances the German customs are
Why can't they be introduced more gen
orally among Americans, especially VINE
lotteries abound? Then everybody Nigh
draw a capital prize and no gentleman {
any heart or generosity or sense wOul
think of buying a ticket without first cor
sulting a lady, sharing his fortune wit
her and kissing for luck" according I
the good old German custom. BY thi
method one might draw two prizes at tn
same time, and i'm such cases the none
would not have to be divided. There ar
MANY beautiful German customs, but kis:
ing for luck with such results is the no:
admirable of them all.-Erchange.