The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-05-23
mo-. 40.
Lottery Prizes in Paris.
THE PASSION FOR STORY
OF A HOTEL CASHIER AND
RUSSIAN COUNTESS.

SSSShitN NeONiESoa
PARIS, April 16.-When I wrote
the other day about the modern pas.
aion for gambling might have adj
ded something about the gambling
that is constantly going on here out.
side of the clubs. There are no
greater gamblers in the world than
those who stake their money every
day upon the Bourse, or upon the
Petit Bourse during the evening"
And the passion is not a whit less
strong among the people who invest
their small economies in stocks of
various sorts. All try to get some
thing to which lottery is attached.
There are semi-annual drawings to
the Paris loans, and number of pri-
yes. In the first place, the lucky
number gets 10000 francs of 20O,-
600 francs, according to the date Of
the loan; there is smaller prize Of
$4,000 francs, several of 1000 francs
and series Of numbers are drawn to
be paid off at the par value of the
bonds. The Turkish loan has
drawing also, and a grand prize Of
100000. Last year this was drawn
by man in Trieste, who came on
here to negotiate it. AS the Turks
do not pay interest on their bonds,
he had doubts about their paying the
prizes drawn in their lottery, but he
finally got some bankers to take it at
100000 francs, giving $4,000 by
way of discount. The Russian prize
amounts to 100000 roubles. All OF
these loans are popular (save the o.
toman at this time }, for all who in
vest hope to draw prize, and in ad,
clifton to their interest they have the
excitement attendant upon the in,
vestment in lottery. A curious
case has just come before one of our
tribunals, growing out of one of these
drawings. Three years ago Rus.
sian lady came to Paris and took
rooms at the Byron Hotel, where she
was very we'll received. She was a.
lady of a certain age, pretending To
be a countess and the wife of a gene
raj stationed in the Caucasus. She
had money and lived in style. In
very short time she took a fancy to
the lady cashier of the hotel, and the
two became exceeding intimate, The
cashier was an unmarried lady Of,
thirty odd, who was dreaming of ul.
innate marriage, and was saving her
money to buy her trosseau when the
fortunate being who was to be her
husband should chance along. She
had waited years for him, ut every
year added something to her wealth,
and made her more and more an oh,
ject to be desired. She confded all
this to the Russian lady, who gave
her encouragement and hope, and the
two spent many an hour together,
talking over the matter. Naturally,
the 0rande dame was informed of the
economies laid aside for the marriage
settlement.
AS time wore on the cashier saw
the lady's bills paid with less regu-
larity, and dunning letters became
frequent. Finally, she began to bor-
row from her "der friend" the cash
Ter. One day she pretended to have
received an order from her husband
to return at once to Russia, but lack
ed the 500 francs necessary for the
voyage. She borrowed this sum
from her friend, giving her 500 rou.
bic bond to cover this and other sums
to redeem it in six months,
This period covered the annual draw
ng. The time came, and tho bond
lid not draw prize. The cashier
hen wrote for her money and in re-
ply received an authorization to sell
The bond. On reflection, she conclu-
led to keep it herself. A year rolled
BY, and at the next drawing the iden-
,ical bond drew the grand prize Of
100000 roubles, The dreams Of the
,fs' Tier were now more than realized.
so far as money went, for she had ne
yer gone SO far as to fancy herself
the possessor of$75,O00. She went
to the proper place, showed her title
and received that sum in solid French
money. But she had scarcely depos-
tied in the Bank of France In her
own name when the Russian lady
came on to claim her bond and the
200, 900 roubles. She pretented that
the bond had simply been left as se-
curity for a debt. The case came
before the courts last week, and the
Russian lady lost her case, Her au.
t'lorization to sell the bond was re.
yarded as a sufficient title. and IL