Evening star., 1932-11-13


its earliest days, 1t does seem that there
rust has to be a certain amount OF
harm always with US, and that about
the time we get one avenue OF evil bGrrl-
ca6ed some new and unforeseen chan
mel is opened Indeed, as to the broad ques-
ton whether we are getting batter or worse
the writer confessss he has huctuating mino,
and has about concluded that the question may
be answered both ways, depending upon the
angle of approach
One of our greatest evils in by-gone days, OF
which we still have a certain amount, was
gambling Most everybody in the early DAYS
was gambler and tried to get rich over mght'
and as usual few succeeded, though we are
told that some of the largest fortunes in Wash
inpton city had their origin in the profits
attendant on the disposal OF the chances OF
Fortunes wheel.
One of the earliest forms of chance, INDUCED
in here and elsewhere, was the lottery. and as
early as January 5, 1898, Samuel Blodgett Jr-,
succeeded in interesting the Commissioners
appointed by President Washington in lottery
scheme planned by him to build here hotel
to cost $4,000 We all know that this hotel,
known as Blodgett's Hotel was never COM
uleted and that thc lucky ticket, drawn by
Robert S. Bicl-lev of Philadelphia, proved OF
little value and much trouble to its holder
The building was on the north side OF Z street
between Seventh and Eighth streets, and was
yment for use as the Post Office Department.
The lottery at this time, was not looked upon
as a dishonest business, and many Of the best
ueople bought tickets expecting TO oraw
big prizes We find recorded the names OF
Benjamin Stoddert John M. Mason, M. Warlng
and Thomas Peter selected as committee to
draw and supervise the drawing of the Blodgett
Hetel prizes.
i.
N Blodgett with favor, as we might infer
from his Letter sent from Mount Vernon,
September Is. 1893, 10 Tobias Lear, in which
he says:
"I have not written to you since we parted.
but had just sat down to do it when your letter
of the 18th inst was brought to me from the
post Office, Alexandria.
"It gave Mrs. Washington, myself, and all
who knew him, sincere pleasure to hear that
our little favorite had arrived safe and was
in good health at Portsmouth-we sincerely
wish him long continuance of the latter
that he may be always as charming and prom
ising as he now is-that he may live to be
comfort and blessing to you-and an ornament
to his country As token of my affection Tor
him. I send him ticket in the lottery that's
now drawing in the Federal City; If it should
be his fortune to- draw the hotel 1t will add to
the pleasure feel in giving 1t"
But as Abe Lincoln has said, You can 1ool
all OF the people some Oh Llc tiiiie, Uus you
can't fool all the people all Of the time" So,
in Gen. Washington's letter of January "a,
1874, we find him in another frame of mind,
and he speaks follows:
ct wish you may have yet seen the worst
detail in Mr.. BloSgetts conduct. Finding that
he was determined to proceed in his second
lottery notwithstanding the admonition that
had been given him by the Commissioners;
that he had actually sold tickets in it-and for
Georgia land; directed the Secretary of State
to inform him in explicit terms that if he did
not instantly suspend all further proceedings
therein until the sanction OF the Commissioners
should be unequivocally obtained, would cause
the unauthorized mode in which he was acting
to be announced to the public, to guard 1T
against imposition. In consequence he has set
out, it is said TO wait upon them. If this De
true. the result you must know Little CONN.,
dence, I fear, is placed in MIR. Blodgett and
least where he is best known"
ny the following May, Washington seems to
d have concluded that the lottery Will not be
very productive, and says:
"Often through the medium OF Mr. Langdon
we hear of your son Lincoln, and with pleasure
that he continues to be the healthy and
sprightly child he always was. He declared II
his ticket should turn up prize he would go
and live in the Federal City. He did not con-
slider, poor little fellow, that some OF the prizes
would hardly build him a baby house, nor fore
see that one of these was to fall to his lot,
having drawn $40 only. Mr.. Bits (Blodg-
etts agency in this lottery will it is feared, be
more productive of thorns than roses; the
matter is not yet wound up, and the Commits
sioners appear to be uneasy. In all other re-
spects matters, as far as the accounts of
them have come to my knowledge, are going
well"
The trouble and dissatisfaction in this draw
ing did not seem materially to hurt the sale
of lottery tickets-which only goes to show
that Barnum speaking from past knowl-
edge when he said the American people liked
to be humbugged-and soon other lotteries were
gotten lIn for most every conceivable nurpoSe