The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-06-02
How a Lottery Prize Was Won.

When | wrote the other day about the
modern passion for gambling l might
have added something about the gamb-
ling 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
whit less strong among the people who
invest their small economies in stocks of
various sorts. All try to get something
to which a lottery is attached. There
are semi-annual drawings to the Paris
loans, and a number of prizes. In the
first place the lucky number gets 1905
francs or 100000 francs, according to
the date of the loan; there is a smaller
prize of $4,000 francs, several of 1000
francs, and a series of numbers are
drawn to be paid Oft at the par value of
the bonds. The Turkish loan has
drawing also, and grand prize of Co.,
600 francs. Last year this was drawn
by a 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 500, 600 francs, Civ
ing $4,000 by way of discount. The
Russian prize amounts to 200, 900 roubles.
All of these loans are popular Save the
Ottoman at this time), for all who invest
hope to draw a prize, and in addition to
their interest they have the excitement at
tendant upon investment 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
well received. She was lady of a GER
tain age, pretending to be a Countess and
the wife of a General stationed in the
Caucasus. She had money, and lived in
style. In a very short time she took a
fancy to the lady cashier of the hotel,
and the two became exceedingly init
mate. The cashier was an unmarried
lady of thirty-odd, who was dreaming of
ultimate marriage, and was saving her
money to buy her rousseau when the
fortunate being who was to be her hus-
band should chance along. She had
waited years Cor him, but every year
added something to her wealth, and made
her more and more an object to be de-
sired She confided all this to the Rus
sian lady, who gave her encouragement
and hope, and the two spent many an
hour together, talking over the matter.
Naturally, the grande dame was informed
of the economies laid aside for the mar
riage settlement.
As time wore on the cashier saw the
ladys bills paid with less regularity, and
dunning letters became frequent. Final
ly she began to borrow from her "dear
friend" the cashier, One day she pre-
tended to have received an order from
her husband to return at once to Russia,
but lacked the 500 francs necessary for
the voyage. She borrowed this sum
from her friend, giving her 500-rouble
bond to cover this and other sums,
promising to REDEEM it in six months.
This period covered the annual drawing.
The time came, and the bond did not
draw prize. The cashier then wrote
for her money, and in reply received an
authorization TO sell the bond. On re-
Election, she concluded to keep it herself.
A year rolled by, and at the next draw
ing this identical bond drew the grand
prize of 100000 roubles. The dreams
of the cashier were now more than
realized, so far as money went, for she
had never gone so far as to fancy herself
the possessor of $4,000 She went to
the proper place, showed her title, and
received that sum in solid French money.