Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1910-10-12
LOTTERY IN ITALY
Gambling Under the Auspices of
the Government.
THE DRAWING IN PUBLIC.

tense lntsrest-The Prizes and IN,
Chances Of the Players.
King Humbert I. made the rules for
tho public lottery OF Italy:
Ffrst.-The public lottery IS tempor,-
rly maintained by the favor of the
state under the following laws.
Second.-It Is administered by the
minister OF finance. under whom the
chiefs are chosen for their respective
/ functions
Third.-The lotto is formed by nine
", numbered from To 90. Inclusive
I've Of which drawn by chance deter
mine the successful
tourth--One Gnu play the lotto In
the following manner:
On one number (very rarely playcdl.
On all Eve numbers (very rarely
played).
On two numbers-the "ambo.~
On three numbers. which is known
as tho "terno."
On four numbers. which is known as
the "quaterno."
the winner is paid ten times and n
half his output; when two numbers
are played tho winner Il paid $50
times his OUTPUT: when three numbers
are played the winner is paid $3.50
times his output: when four numbers
are played the winner Is paid GOOOO
times his output Therefore II one has
by any chance bought n No. ticket
and wins the four numbers (quaternol
he wins 100000
AT O'Clock on every Saturday after
noon throughout all Italy the drawing
OF the lotto takes place. In Naples
Z the ceremony is held AT the end OF n
foul. filthy alley known as the Impre-
| sa, back in great courtyard. In FUN
view OF the people ON the balcony OF
m old palace. From early In the aft.
crnoon until the fatal hour the streets
OF Santa Chiara and the alley ON up
with the crowd whose hope on this
day is 10 be deceived. The streets are
always so full OF life that FOR this
extra crowd. jostlinE. pushing and
| eager. there would seem 10 bc no place
IL Is comprised OF the very poor The
better classes watch FOR the telephone
or the showing OF the numbers I'm the
various banks In the city 10 discover
their fate. hut In the Impresa the
crowd OF people is rs dense as n shad-
ow. There are many here who have
paid their last cent for ticket. There
are many here who are IN debt for the
shoes they wear and will never be able
10 pay FOR them. But at the stroke Of
the church clock the blinds OF the bal
cony open and the paraphernalla Of
| the lotto are brought 0ut-a long
green table. on which is placed a crys-
/ tai ball bound with silver. and an iron
box containing ninety other little box
es. in which the ninety numbers are
locked by the state. The officers OF
this performance are coolly Indifferent.
and the only figure deserving OF note
is that OF the little orphan child, dress
ell in snowy white. chosen by law from
the orphan asylum 10 draw mp from
the crystal ball the five magic num-
bers.
At the sight OF these familiar. looked
for objects the crowd begins 10 cry
and chant. TO beseech and evoke. IL
begs the little orphan child 10 draw
we'll And the child in his white robe.
his innocent eyes on the mass OF pe0-
pie, looks down on the bcggarS with
their yellow locks and on the appeal
Ing mass One 10y one the balls are
taken out from their sealed boxes, dis
played to the people and dropped into
the big bowl.
They have blindfolded the little BAN
! Ia, d n gsho "a IL
only eight years of age and is small. in
full sight OF the people. The balls hay
ing been shaken around for the last
time. the child puts his hand in and
| draws The first number that he pulls
out is called forth-"NO. ." Now every
italian who has bought No. for place
has either won or lost. No one holds
this number in this crowd. however,
and there Is murmur-and n fresh
adjuration for the child 70 draw well
The people who have drawn for the
terno and the Quaterno still have their
chance. The child draws again. this
time No. AZ. and the holders or the
terno are now the interested ones, for
the next Will be their last chance The
enthusiasm breaks forth again with
murmurs and cries and prayers. and
the quiet child before the urn In his
white dress hears them and trembles,
for he knows that he IS menaced. Be
fore the people there is blackboard.
and a man posts up the numbers as
they are drawn-5. a., IL, 10 and 50
And this series OF Eve Is discussed,
yelled at. challenged. cursed. for not
one In the crowd has drawn fortu-
nate number The child's eyes are I'M
bound, and he is put down and set
free. The balls are returned into their
boxes sealed up and carried away I'M
der the eyes of the crowd. which after
waiting for a moment. unable TO be-
l,eve IT'S i'll fortune. breaks up and dis
rupts. Apathy Is thrown upon the ma
jority as much as such state OF mind
Is possible TO n Neapolitan mass as
they begin In groups TO discuss the
failure OF their schemes and their COM
binations. Marie Van Worst In Har'
per's Magazine.
Tow ta mora divine than sorrow for