LUCK IN A LOTTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18333, 24 February 1923, Page 2 (Supplement)

LUCK IN A LOTTERY.

AN AMAZING INSTANCE. .

One of the most amazing kinds of superstition, which appears to -be harboured by many, people in Italy, lias been roused by a tragedy which took place in Rome a short while ago. A young man hopelessly in love, cnticed he sweetheart to an hotel on the banks of the Tiber and murdered, her. He then gave himself up to the police. The crime, a particularly heartless one, caused"a great sensation in the neighbourhood. That was not because of the details of the tragedy", but because—a big popular lottery was about, to , take place ! . Superstitious Italians believe that all figures which are even remotely connected with a tragedy are in the highestdegree lucky. So in the present case people about to buy lottery tickets -were at pains to discover the ; young woman's exact age, the number of the room in which she died, the number of letters in her name, the street number of the hotel, and so forth. Having ascertained, these things, they, bought lottery tickets having such numbers or . combinations of them.

The nighbourhood is wildly excited, because the result of the lottery has been announced, and most of the biggest prizes have been carried off, by those who put their faith in this extraordinary way of spotting a winning number.

After being driven back by a hurricane the vessel did the 3000 mile trip across the Indian Ocean from Batavia to the Seychelles. Pass ago,.of the Red —where another of the party dropped out—and a tour of Europe in an automobile were further interesting features of the trip. Rejoining the Speejacks at Gibraltar, Mr. and Mrs. Go wan came home by way of the Cape Verde Islands, Porto Rico, and Florida. Throughout the voyage Mrs. Go wan took her regular turn at the wheel, except in the Red Sea, where the heat overcame her.

It is said the trip cost £5250,000, the petrol bill alone exceeding £20,000.