Evening journal., 1911-11-17
BY IVAN TROGLOFF.

Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.
A young man. evidently a traveller.
was driven up to an inn in Smolensk,
Russia. stepped out Of the sleigh that
bore him and went inside. After en-
gaging a room Of the landlord he threw
off his long overcoat lined with fur.
went to a FIRE Of blazing logs and
warmed his hands, then. turning his
eye, was caught by a notice tackled on
the wall. 1t read:
The fourth drawing for the year OF the
matrimonial lottery viii take place at the
town hall tomorrow evening, Nov. II. at
o'clock.
The stranger turned to the landlord
and asked for an explanation Of the
strange notice.
"In this place" said the landlord,
"four times a year we have a lottery.
One Of our girls is put up as prize.
Five thousand tickets are sold at a
ruble a ticket. The holder Of the win
ming ticket is bound to marry the girl.
the money serving as her dowry. II,
however, she will not have him they
may divide the money between them.
In case the man who wins is already
married he may turn over the prize to
any friend he may select"
''Is not this a singular customP
'That may be, but It is very good
one. We have in Smolensk every year
+, n new lot Of girls that have come to a
marriageable age who are without
dowries. The lottery provides for four
Of them"
"And who is the prize for the present
drawings"
"Sonia Orloff."
j The stranger started.
do you know the girlI" asked the
landlord.
Eyes. No. The name is familiar to
me. But there are others Of this name.
How should I know her, I being
stranger in SmolenskT'
"She has not always lived here"
"Are the chances all takenT
ct have heard that not half have
{ been disposed of. The girl is not well
known. She keeps aloof and is known
TO be averse TO taking n husband IN
this way. But one of our philanthropic
{ citizens will pay for all chances not
taken Just before the drawing"
The next evening the town hall was
y crowded with those who had come to
see the drawing. The prize was present,
q girl with the fair hair and eyes Of a
Y Russian. She looked sad-indeed, more
y -. IL eorrfHrod fhQn fn hn
Z made q bride. Before the drawing
( the philanthropic citizen the landlord
I had spoken of asked how many chances
4 remained unsold that he might pay for
them. He and those about him were
n surprised at being informed that all
= tickets had been sold. This they con-
sidered remarkable since the day be-
: fore not over 1900 had been taken.
A great deal of time was taken up
p preparing FOR the drawing. Tickets
had been made bearing the names Of
the 1.5OO who had subscribed, but since
noon of the day Of the drawing $500
more must be made to complete the
y 1000. A dozen persons were engaged
in an anteroom making tickets while
}. those in the hall waited. The latter
spent the time chatting and strolling
back and forth before the prize, ogling
her. On her face was the melancholy
OF those deformed persons whose de-
\ formities are exhibited in museums.
This set the spectators wondering, for
at these drawings the prize girl usually
1 looked proud and happy.
It was quite late when the door OF
the anteroom was opened and a bas-
\ ket full Of bits Of paper, on which
4 were written names Of those who had
subscribed for chances, was brought
4 In. The contents Of the basket were
y emptied into a huge wheel. which was
revolved, and when it stopped a lid
was opened and the master of cere-
monies. biindfolded. put in his hand
and drew forth a name. There was a
a breathless silence till the announce
ment. Then he announced:
N paul Zabieskiw
y All eyes were turned upon Sonia Or
lon to observe the effect the name
would have upon her she was sit
4 tug where she could readily be seen