The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-04-18
STATE LOTTERIES.
Rise and Fall of a Tremendous
Gamble In England.
STARTED UNDER QUEEN BESS
The First One Was without Any
6laneks, contayn;ne Good Prices, ~
Wei Of Redy Money as of Plate and
Certaine Sorts Of Marchaundizes."


6laneks, contaynine Good Prices, 40
Wei Of Redy Money as of Plate and
certaine Sorts Of Marchaundizes."
Though it is certain that the custom
of holding lotteries was practiced in
European countries as far back as the
middle of the fifteenth century. It
seems that this particular idea was
unknown in England until more than
100 years later The lottery. in fact.
appears to have been included among
those many other important things.
both good and bad. that were intro
duced to public notice during the reign
Of Queen Elizabeth. it being her mai
esty's express command that this
ready means for raising the wind
on behalf Of the state finances was
adopted
The first English lottery must have
taken good deal Of arranging. owing.
no doubt, to the fact that the people
of that day required certain amount
of education in this form of gambling,
for although the idea was first brought
forward in the year 1886 lin Mary's
reign. the actual drawing did not
take place until three years later.
One of the original bills of Queen
EliZabeth's lottery has fortunately
been preserved. printed in black letter
and measuring five feet In length and
one and one-half feet wide II begins
by announcing "a very rich T.otterie
General. without any blancks. con-
tayning number of good prices lsic,.
as wei of redy money as of plate and
cer'aine sorts of marchaundzes. hav.
ing ben valued and priced by the COM
manndement of the Queene's most ex-
celIent majestic. by men expert and
skilful." and goes Oh to say that 1.-The
same lotterie is erected by her Elaies-
ties order 10 the intent that such CON-
mOditie as may chaunce to arise there
of, after the charges borne, may be
converted towardes the rerlration Of
the havens and strength of the Realme
ard toward such other pubiiqua good
workes." There were something like
10000 prizes in This gigantic venture.
| of which the first Was of the value of
| E5.0OO. y bile the entrance fee was
only two shillings anl six pens
James |. lent his "sreci;n favoarp''
to lottery w!:t.se object WAS the
| present plantation ut iiugtiS!l colonies
in Virginia" the prizes tonsis;ing nf
f5.GO0 in money. "beSidps rewartes Of
| cuSuaitie.' the tickets ha.rc dra WI
lin u new built house al H.. west end
| Of Paurs the 18th of .,tIne i6l2
This lottery does not. however. appear
we are assured by the historian that
| it was 'plaineiy carried and honestly
| performed. for owing to the want OF
| filling uppe the number of lots there
We're taken out and throwne away
| threcscore thousand blaneEes without
abating any one prize. certainly Il
| very generous proceeding ON the Iiart
this occasion was Thomas Shafnlifre.
"a Taylor Of London" who won the
first prize of 'foure thousand Crownes
in fayre plate. which was sent To his
house in u very stately manner"
Though to some extent poorly patron
lied. this lottery appears to have
evoked Il good deal of interest among
the important rarsOnages of the day.
for We are told that during the whole
tyne Of the drawing there were al
wales present diuers worshipfull
Knights and Esquires. accompanied
with suntlry graue discreet Citizens"
| As time went on lotteries for every
| conceivable purpose were held in Lon
don and other important towns. with
the Inevitable result that trouble con.
stantly arose between the promoters
| and those of the ticket holders who
happened to he unlucky or Thought
they had been unfairly treated. as no
! doubt many OF them were We find.
therefore. that periodical orders were
issued for the suppression of this form
CT gambling. though the law doe: not
seem to have had any great effect
1t last. however. any one proposing
to hold Il lottery was obliged 10 send
in Il petition to the king. and in
Charles lis reign we find mention Of
several such applications. One Of
these was for 1.-The ransom of English
slaves in Tunis. Algiers or the Turkish
gaileys or for any other charitable
use" the promoter making it Il bar
gain that after he had paid in third
Of the profits he should reserve the
rest for his own expenses and the re-
pair of his fortunes. ruined By loyal
ty."
Lottery offices for the sale of tickets
were established all over the country
as time went on, hut none was more
famous than the agency of one Rish.
who fiourished at the beginning of the
nineteenth century This enterpriSing
individual. whose chief offices were in
Cornhill and at Charing Cross. must
have made considerable fortune ont
of the much safer business of se!lin.
tickets than taking them. Bu. his
prosperous career. as also that Of lis
fellows. came TO an abrupt end when
the lottery act was passed in 1898. by
which 1t was provided that after the
] drawing Of the state lottery for tina,
!. year there were to be no more OF
! them.-London Globe.
Pas Weakness.
Little Nelly You've got a good papa
Willie. Wi!Iie-Pa amt so bad. bur
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