BIG IRISH SWEEP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21165, 23 April 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

BIG IRISH SWEEP.

MIXING THE COUNTERFOILS.

REMARKABLE SPECTACLE.

GIRLS IN VARIED COSTUMES.

Tho ceremony of mixing the Irish sweep counterfoils "was watched this year by privileged visitors from many parts of the world. They saw a spectacle more bizarre, more colourful, and more fantastic than has ever been staged in a Dublin theatre.

Hundreds of girls in a variety of novel costumes figured in what might well have been a colossal cabaret show. They were divided into two sections, the first wearing military uniform of tho Napoleonic period, consisting of green jerseys with gold epaulettes, blue waist-bands, and white trousers.

The other section were dressed to represent every nation subscribing to the sweepstake. Lancashire "had a representative of its own, a mill girl with shawl on her head. Then came Napoleon himself—Captain Spencer Freeman, chief official of the draw. " Forward, march !" ho commanded. His graceful soldiers moved as one man.

Tho mixing machines, looking and sounding like threshing machines, were in operation for hours, during which tickets from places as far apart as San Francisco and Athens rubbed shoulders a moment before the devastating wind separated them once again. The Day of the Draw.

lii describing tho draw .1 correspondent says:—"lt is great fun being in Dublin on this electric day. Try to picture the scene in tho Plaza. The Plaza, yesterday a ballroom, tho largest ballroom there is in Ireland. Now, all ablaze with lights and glowing with colour, it presents the appearance of a theatre on a popular first night. Tho floor is crowded with distinguished visitors. The press of all nations fill 200 seats. Cinematograph operators with their cameras occupy a round dais in tho centre. " General O'Duffy, tho Chief of Police, presides. On the stage are two drums. Tho larger one is the drum of fate, where your counterfoil and mine and seven million others aro slowly revolving. Its shell of sheet steel shines dazzlingly under tho beating lights. Tho smaller drum has the names of the horses. Perched above it all sits tho director of tho draw, Mr. O'Sheehan. In front of tho drum are the four hospital nurses in uniform who mako tho draw. Tho method of it now needs no describing. Ma-rvellous Organisation.

" Everything has been marvellously organised. Tho sweep is fraud-proof and accident-proof. General O'Duffy has even invented since tho last draw a system of codo signals to tho nurses to direct them in the event of emergency. Nevertheless, Captain Freeman gave a hint of tho nervous strain which the sweep lias put upon the promoters when he told me how they were haunted day and night by the fear of fire, or of a mischance involving tho loss or destruction of some of tho precious slips, for if even a single counterfoil were known to have gone astray it would invalidate the whole sweep. " Not until tho last prize is drawn," he said, " shall wo breathe freely again." " Immediately in front of the stage the staff of girl secretaries sat at a desk with typists, a topographical expert and several linguists. Even tho counterfoils written in ChiiMse and Arabic presented no difficulties to the linguists. The air quivered with bright excitement."