The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-02-15
"What is thatp" inquired the Ameri-

see, mad been IN Naples before, and
two or three times l had invested, just
for fun. The prizes were very large.
So much for two figures, so much for
three, so much for four, and an i'm
mense sum for five, if you hit them
right. The plan was to select any of
the figures you liked, and pay in an
amount proportional to the number of
them you took. If they came out of the
lottery as you played them, you were
entitled to several times your invest
ment. For instance, suppose you
should choose and 7-57. You paid
Italian money equal to about so cents
for each of the figures, and the clerk in
side gave you check with a number
on it. When the drawing took place, if
81 came out-that is, the two figures
you had chosen, in the order you had
placed them-you got 1926 for your 81.
For three figures the prize was much
larger; for four, still larger, and for
five, if l recollect Alright, it was
some $4,000. OF course, the COM
binations of the figures were
almost endless, and tremendous ma
jority of the ticket-holders would get
nothing for their money. The Govern
ment could well afford to pay large
premiums for successful guesses. l
have every reason to believe that the
drawings were conducted with perfect
fairness. ALI Italy used to patronize
the thing, and when the drawings took
place the result was telegraphed all
over the country, so that every one
could see whether or not he had been
successful. The figures were drawn
out once; and the order in which they
came out of the wheel or box, or what
ever it was, settled the question. AS
an example, say five numbers were to
be drawn, and you had played 81. Ii
they came out G., 5, Z, 8, 9, you got a
prize; if the and the came out any
other way you lost. l had once drawn
about 1926.
The American, to whom explained
all this, was smitten with an idea that
he might be lucky.
Let us go in and try it," said he.
We laughed and went in. was about
to select two figures, when he put his
hand on my arm.
why don't you play for tiveP" he
asked.
"Oh, my dear boy" said I "where
would be the advantage in that! There s
no chance of winning
"What difference does it make? 1t
won't hurt us to try. Here; I'll pay for
all three of US. Let US try for the larg-
est prize going"
So he paid. Think it was equivalent
to some So so apiece for US, and we
went away.
A day or two afterward our friend,
the officer, received a sudden call
home. He was notified that he had
been raised to a post-captaincy, and
that his squadron was to sail in short
time for four-years' cruise. You may
imagine that we were all furried at
this. He was a second son, and his
brother had every prospect of long
life. His father, the Earl, was yet a
vigorous man, SO that his prospect was
not SO bright as might have been
wished-with all respect to his rela-
tives. He had only his profession to
look to, and it would never do for him
to lose his chance. There was nothing
for it but to go. That light he took me
into his confidence. He told me that
the one of the sisters that had cap
tured his affections was Pepita, the
youngest, and that he had made up his
mind to marry her at once, if her par
ents would allow it, and get away to
sea. We went to the house of the FAM
lily, and, to cut a long thing short, the
matter was arranged. l "stood up''
with him, and in the evening they took
steamer for England. I never saw a
more affecting scene in my life. The
parents and the sisters were fairly
broken down with grief at the parting,
and there was crying enough for a fu-
neral.
This is little aside from the lottery
numbers. When they were drawn, 10,
and behold, my little American got his
combination. The poor fellow was fair
" crazy with joy. His money was paid
him as soon as the check was present
ed, and at it he went. A lucky lottery
ticket is often enough a ticket over the
road to Averni, and so it was in this
case. He had never had great deal
of money, and this little fortune Just
turned his head. He neglected his
studies, and began to "see life.'' 1t
was death he saw in about month,
and very wretehed death at that, for
he jumped from his window one nigbtin
a tit of delirium tremens and was
smashed out of recognition on the pave
ment below.
You have no idea of how superstitious
some OF those Italians are -particular-
-ly those who play the lottery or other
games of chance. Every thing is a
"sign" to them. Every incident Of life
and every object means some number
or other. They hava Il all down, In