Evening journal., 1909-08-10
A Marriage Lottery
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[Originall


In smolensk, Russia, d. marriage is
really a lottery. -Four times a year q
prize is drawn there IN the matrimo-
nial market. Five thousand tickets are
sold at a ruble a ticket. The winner OF
the 5000 r1bles Is bound to marry
certain girl Should the girl decline tc
marry him they may divide the money
between them. In case the man is al.
ready married he may turn over the
money and the matrimonial prize to
any friend he may select.
One day a traveller stopped in the
town and. hearing Of the lottery, gave
servant 10 rubles and told him tc
buy ten tickets. The drawing was TO
take place that evening, and after sup
per the stranger strolled around to the
building appointed for the purpose.
The wheel was turned and a paper
drawn. He who drew It held 1t up.
looked at it and said:
"The winner is Dmltri Waronivich."
The stranger started. Every one
looked at every one else. No one
seemed to know who Dmitri Waroni-
vich was.
"If Dmitri waronivich is here, lei
him come forward"
The stranger advanced and after
some questioning was credited with
the money and conducted to the home
OF the girl he had drawn.
Mira Dovienieff was OF a station far
beyond those who would usually put
themselves up to be rafiied for. 4
| fancy for such role had taken pos
session of her, though she had no iden
OF marrying the man who should drnN
the prize OF which she was a part
Nevertheless there is fascination In
meeting one never before seen who is
! to be something more TO us than o
stranger and maybe Of immense impor
tance. Naturally Mira had dreamed
of many different kinds Of men and
that at their meeting he who had won
her would be mad to wed her. These,
OF course. were merely dreams, for she
knew the class that bought tickets in
the lottery and had no doubt she woulL
divide the money prize with the win
ner and remain a spinster-at least for
him.
1t was certainly an exhilarating mo
ment for these two when the door sep
aratlng them opened and they stood
face 10 face. Mirza's heart beating Ike
a trip hammer
"You are q stranger here" she said.
II am. I arrived this afternoon. /
bought some tickets to the lottery and
singularly enough. won.p
Il suppose you know the conditions"
"Thc only condition l know Is that
have won a wife"
'You arc mistaken. have the privi-
lege OF dividing the money prize with
you and remaining single"
"May ! ask why one OF your class
entered for this lotteryT
For a new sensation. And you
why did you buy ticke,sf"
For new sensation"
Are you quite sure the hope OF win
ming the money was no inducement7"
II shall resign my share Of the mon
ey to YOU
"And / have resolved to give my
share to the poor"
Singular" said the man wondering.
ly. that two people among 5000 should
have been cRptivated by a whim and
the man In the case should have won. .
Remarkable. especially since you dc
not live here"
"I hever was here till a few hours
ago"
"You reside
"In Tula when l am at homo, but /
am seldom NJ home"
During the dialogue the couple re
mained standing. but suddenly it oc
CURED to the lady that she was treat
ing the man who had won her very
coldly, and she asked him 10 be seated
Then she rang for refreshments. II
was late when the fortunate man lef'
the house, and on reaching his inn he
was besieged by a throng to know II
there would be wedding or division
He announced that there would be nei
ther The 5000 rubles were to be Civ
en- to the poor. This was done the nexl
morning.
The curious people Of Smolensk had
forgotten all about the singular out
come OF the drawing when It was re
vived by the appearance OF the winner
J OF the prize in the town. He lookes
somewhat thinner than before ant
eareworn. He came frequently aftel
that, always looking more distrait thar
before. Finally at one OF his visits b,
departed looking radIantly happy. Tn,
next day the townspeople were agos
at the announcement that the coupl,
who had won 5000 rubles and givoi
them TO the poor were to be married
after all
The groom prospective told his
hancee that after their marriage they
would live in his home in Tula; that b.