WHERE MARRIAGE IS REALLY A LOTTERY.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 828, 13 December 1900, Page 4

WHERE MARRIAGE IS REALLY A LOTTERY.

In the Province of Smolensk, in Russia, there is held every three months, the most remarkable lottery ever devised. Husbands and wives are chosen by the chance drawing of a lottery ticket. The tickets ooßt one rouble (60 cents.) each. There is only one prize to be drawn, and it consists of the entire sum yielded by the sale of the tickets, amounting to 5,000 roubles (3,000 dots.), - together with a lady described as being of noble blood. The tickets are sold only to men, and the lucky winner of the prize will have to marry the damsel if be takes the 5,000 roubles (3,000 dols). If, however, he be already married, he is at liberty to turnover the money and the lady to any friend whom he may wish .to put in for such a good thing. • _ , , If the winner should be willing to marry, but is not found to be to thedamsel's taste, then they are to be excused from matrimony,: and- permitted to divide the roubles. It is not hard to imagine a condition of affairs where the lady in the cose refuses her chosen lord -and prefers to take the cash, deciding that 2,500 roubles is more to be desired than a more or less doubtful happiness with a husband of whom she kr^ws nothing. . ;

Mr. de Seiner (on being introduced to Adored One's mother) :.- Pardon me, madam, ' but have we not met. before ? Your face seems strangely familiar. - '■ .. Adored One's Mother: Yes) I am tha woman 'who stood, up before you for soma time in a tramcartbe other day' while jot Uoitwsdißfajsger. ".."._