Connecticut western news., 1879-09-17
About Lotteries.

and carried over mile.
 About Lotteries.
 THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PLUCKED TO
 MAKE LOTTERY TENDERS RICH.
 The New York correspondent of the Cincinnati GGzette says:-The fact that two printers have drawn handsome prize in the lottery has given rapid i'm pulse to that nefarious and destructive business. The lucky men will probably spend the entire amount of their prize in tickets, while many others will be led to try venture. It it is we'll known that the fascination by which the game holds it's victims is of the strongest character. Hence, when any one pur- chases ticket the appetite thus begun generally increases in power until all possible means are exhausted. An illustration of this IS found in the case of defaulting bank clerk in this city who confessed that he had for many months spent $60 day for lottery tickets, but had never won. His pur- chases were only stopped by detection, and he served term in Sing Sing. This fascination impoverishes the work ing classes to 8 prodigious extent and leads to vast amount of theft. "Policy shops Gas they are called) abound in the streets occupied by the poorer classes, but no one dare exhibit as a sign the word "lottery," and hence exchange" is used as substitute. These exchanges are very dull places during the day, but at night they are full of business. Clerks, mechanics, theatrical performers and servant girls are found among the purchasers, and many of the latter often buy tickets for their mistresses. Some ladies of decided rank are addicted to this form of gaming, which can be done in secret manner, The amount spent by the poor for tickets is immense, and the colored people as class aress among the m ost inveterate "policy players" It may be called specially the oolored mans sin. There is also 8 class of fortune tellers who claim to lay out |" lucky numbers, 7" and thus one form of credulity assists another. Every prize stimulates greed, and hence the success of the above mentioned printers will lead many to attempt the same method of making 8 fortune. The lottery managers may well smile at the facility with which their victims are duped. There is 10 greater class of fools than those who enrich the lottery ticket aristocracy. Boswell (well known as the biographer of Johnson) had many weak points, one of which was passion for lottery tickets. While preparing the biography for the press he was much pressed for money, and this led him to try the chances of a prize, but he was grievously dis appointed. This was the more annoying since ticket bought in the same office, the same day, and for the same price, drew 5000. Boswell wrote the follow ing account of the affair to Malone, the Shakespearean critic, dated February 10, 1791: "I bought my ticket at Nicholson's and paid 916 8s. for it. That very evening I learned from an advertisement that ticket sold at that same office for 916 9s. had drawn e5, ,OOO. The number was mentioned in the ad- vertisement. I had sealed up my own number without looking at it, for had resolved. not to know what it was until after the drawing, in order to avoid any shock at blank. This advertisement made me highly elated, but on opening the envelope I saw that mine was not the lucky number. O, could I get but few thousands on credit for a few years, what difference it would make on my state of mind. I am sorry to add that your own ticket has also drawn blank" Boswell had invested sum equal to $120, while Malone's ticket cost half as much. Neither of them was in condition to lose, and yet their funds went to swell the profits of the proprietors.
 Lotteries in which corn and wine were distributed were known among the Romans in the days of Augustus. The first money lottery, however, was opened in Florence in 1530 for the benefit of the State, and the system gradually spread over Europe. The first lottery in France was established in 1539, in tho days of Francis l., who levied heavy tax upon each prize. The term "blauk |" IS derived from the white tickets (blanc), which indicated ill success. Three cen turies afterward 1836) lotteries were abolished in France, and the prohibition still remains, being enforced by heavy penalties. The benefit which this SUD- precision brings to the poor is illustrated by the fact that six months after it had taken place it was found that the deposits in the savings banks had in- creased to the amount of 500, GOO francs. The first English lottery was held in 1569, and the system continued till 1923 when, in view of its demoralizing effects, it was suppressed by act of Parliament. Lotter1es were naturally introduced from England to Ame11ca, and at ono time they were widely prevalent.