A LOTTERY?

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 86, 8 October 1930, Page 15

A LOTTERY?

REMARKABLE OFFERS

Marriage 5s often referred to, metaphorically, as a lottery. Men and women, with matrimonial ambitions larger than their purse, Lave been known, however, to take the expression at face' value, and have availed themselves of lotteries to raffle themselves off for a dowry that should be shared with the winning partner in the.speculation, remarks an Australian writer. Two instances, one of a man, the other of a woman, must go down as famous in the history of lotteries. In 1810 the following advertisement appeared in the "Louisiana Gazette 7 : "A young man of good figure and disposition unable, though desirous to procure a wife without .the preliminary trouble of amassing » fortune, proposes the following cspediont to obtain the object of his wishes: He offers himself as the prize of a Lottery to all Widows and Virgins under 32: the number of tickets to be 600, at 50 dollars each; but one number is to be drawn from the wheel, tho fortunate proprietor of which is to be entitled, to himself and the 30,000 dollars." As for the other, there was a young lady of Calcutta, Dana Pepa de Verg"as by name, who offered her heart and hand, and, what is more, her dowry, as the prize of a lottery, for the sum of a lac of rupees, on the following conditions: —

. "1. Twenty-two thousand tickets at five rupees each. "2. The takers of tickets are simply to send in theiv names, the amount of their subscriptions to bo collected when the sum mentioned has been subscribed for. - * ■ . ■

"3. The lottery to take place at a date to be hereafter announced at the Town Hall, Calcutta, and to be drawn and conducted by Miss de Vergas.

"4. The owners of the winning number will have the option of the following choices: "(a) To marry Miss de Vergas, and share with her on the principle of community of goods her fortune of one lac of rupees; (b) or, in the case of refusing the. marriage, tho sum of 50,000 rupees will be paid to him. Miss de Vergas retaining for lierself 50,000 rupees." Miss de Vergas, for all her gambling propensities, did not lot them carry her to the altar without due caution. She added a filial clause to her amazing proposition:— "Miss de Vergas reserves to herself the right of refusing to marry the owner of the winning number should he prove to be a person she would not care to espouse. In that case tho winner will be paid the sum of 50,000 rupees. A 7/oung lady of birth, of noble family, we'll educated —she speaks Spanish, French, and a little English —clever, and a brilliant beauty; to all those qualifications add a fortune of 100,000 rupees." History, alas, fails to record the results of either of these daring experiments.

A largo glove made of thick, dark material, preferably black or navy velvet, with one compartment for the fingers and one for tho thumb, should bo kept near or j\ist inside the cou.l--skuttle (says a correspondent). It may easily be slipped on, and save spoiling the hands and frequent washing after handling the poker, tongs, and coal shovel. The glove is specially welcome when light needle-work is in progress,