Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-27
THE LUCKY NUMBER,
How N. Aubrlot. the Winner Of the
Paris Capital Prize, ls Pestered
With Begging Letters.

WIN Begging lettefs.
London Glcbe.l
NJ. Aubriot, the workingman who
gained the principal prize, value 5000.
could give a strange account of the
many annoyances to which those
whom fortune favors are invariably
subjected. The postman who delivers
letters in bis district has been on the
point of asking for an assistant, and
the concierge OF the house in which
he lives has declined carrying him up
his voluminous correspondence. The
GOulois has been permitted to dip
into NJ. Aubriot's letter bag, and, side
by side with passionate, and at times
heart-rending appeals from widows
and orphans and the unemployed, are
communications from individuals OF
all sorts and conditions, some of whom
have expended three half-pence in a
postage stamp on the chance of being
able to find some weak point in the
heart or Judgment of the man for
whom they profess such profound
admiration, A group of seventeen
worRwomen, anxious TO open a CO.
operative store, which they intend to
stock with the produce of their own
busy hands, have written to Nine
Aubriot, asking her to take share
in their venture to the extent of
f8, so as to complete the capital they
require to commence business. Two
interesting young damsels declare
they had bought tickets hoping to win
a prize, which would enable them to
60 10 a grand dinner and ball, and
appealed to NJ. Aubriot, who has been
more fortunate than they have been,
to send them a trife to defray the
expenses of their toilets. A provincial
news vendor congratulated the win
ners, whose name and address have
been published in La France. He
expresses his joy at the grand prize
having fallen to the lot of such a
worthy man, whose health he is quite
ready to drink, while he regrets that
his means do not permit him to start
for Paris at once, so as to have the
pleasure of shaking hands and break
fasting with "the hero of labor.l' He
concludes by a postscript asking NJ.
AubTiot to hire a kiosk for him in
Paris. Others write to him as my
dear comrade," and explain their mo-
tive for addressing him with a prelim-
mary apology that, although unknown
to him, they have doubtless met him
at the exhibition, the rendezvous of
the laborious classes and the birth
place Of the lottery"
NJ. Aubriot comes from Perigord,
the country of trufles, and a dress
maker has written to him and his wife
for their custom, on the faith of her
having been born in the same district.
Strange to say, this is about the only
epistle which does not make a direct
appeal for some pecuniary grant. All
kinds ofpretexts are employed to OBJ
tain a share of the good things. For
tune has placed at the disposal Of NJ.
Aubriot. Husbands and fathers tell
him what small sum will secure their
happiness tradesmen and merchants
on the verge Of bankruptcy implore
his assistance inventors are anxious
TO show him how to double the money
he has gained small ~inanciers desire
to introduce excellent and high class
speculations to his notice, and newly
formed companies would feel honored
at seeing his name on their board of
management. Oneenterprising trades
man reminds him of the necessity of
giving a brilliant education to his
niece, whom he has adopted, and in
forms him that a medal was awarded
to him for his pianos at the exhibition.
and adds that if NJ. Aubriot will do
him the honor of calling he can show
him seme irst-class instruments, vary
ing in price from e6to f2j. A repent
ant prodigal asks NJ. Aubriot TO open
the future to him. He admits having
s%quandered his patrimony, and hopes
that the winner of the big prize will
not refuse him e720 to enable him to
pay off his debts, ESQ to be expended
in furniture so as to permit him to
marry, and GOO for the purpose of
starting his wife in business. The Sc
curity offered for the $1,000 consists in
an assurance policy on the life of the
writer, taken out at the expense of
the lender, and the joint guarantee Of
husband and wife to repay the sum
advanced as 0 o as they possibly
can" 1t would be curious to note
the total of the amounts NJ. Aubriot
has been asked to advance, and vary
ing in importance from 81 to $1,000:
suffice it to say that the sums written
down and added up on a piece of pa.
per would make even aCresus vince.
The lucky man, with his wife and
adopted daughter, have plenty of
work to do folding and inclosing the
circular he has had printed as an
answer to the applications which con-
tinue to pour in. The following La
comic reply is sent:
SIR If i complied with all the de-
mands similar to those you make, adj
dressed to me daily, l should be- com
PEELED to return to my work to-mOr-
row. Yours respectfully,
AUBRIoT.
LOng-Distance Walking.
The Saturday Review.
LOng-distance walking was imported
from the United States, where 1t seems