J
J
lOTTEKIES.
Under the head of “Sundry
Uumbugs,” the American Anricul-
turist for Marc]i has tlie following
remarks, which we copy as ap
propriate to the times:
“Witliin the limits allowed to
the Humbugs, we have not much
space for the discussion of gener
al principles, or to argue points
in morals. We assuiiie,4kl»t all
gambling, in the form of lotteries
or any other shape, is wrong, and
the great majority of thinking
people agree with us. Now and
then one disputes this position,
and asserts that a lottery fairly
conducted, is not gambling, and
that one who buys a ticket takes
his chances of getting back noth
ing, or recei^dng more than he
paid, and that as he does this
knowingly, there is no harm in it.
Let us suppose, what is very rare
ly the case, that a lottery is con
ducted fairly, we still find it a
? emicions affair. To illustrate :
f ten men put in a dollar eaoli,
and agree that one of them who
dra ws a w'hite bean, that has been
placed in a box witli nine black
ones, shall have the whole SlO, it
would he in the view of these
persons, a fair arrangement, and
as a lottery, vastly more upright
and above board than any lotte
ries are, and some persons would
say that as all went into it under
standing the terms, no wrong was
done. We look beyond the thing
itself, to its influences. Wo will
Suppose that these ten men are
laborers, or men whose work
brings tliem Si a day. Nino of
tliem have received nothing in re
turn, -svliile the tenth man lias
gained-S9 and done nothing for
it; ho has not done a stroke of
work, exercised a jiarticle of
brains, or done anything that the
rest have not, to entitle him to
the SlO, but blind chance or luck
has put them into his hands. The
dollar that each put into the game
Was needed at home, the family
of each iinluckj' one suffers on
account of its loss ; the losers,
half ashamed and half angry, are
determined at the very next op
portunity to try it again, and get
their lost money back with inter
est, while the winner, liaving eas
ily made, without effort, what he
would have had to w'ork nine
days for, is not at all iitclined to
go to work, he has found an eas
ier method of getting money; lie
will take a day or two for him
self, perhaps console the unhiohy
ones by “treating” them, and be
on the lookout for another chance.
Does any one with a fair knowl
edge of human character, fail to
see that the effects of this simple
and honestly conducted lottery,
must be altogether bad, demoral
izing to those taking a part in it,
and a source of discomfort to their
families. The loss of the money
is the least impoi-tant, but the pas
sions aroused, the whole effect
upon these men can not be other
than to make them less valuable
members of the community. We
have supposed a very simple lot
tery, with trifling sums at stake',
but increase the ten dollars to
hundreds or thousands, as in the
large lotteries, the evil effects up
on those who engage in them,
and con.sequent injury to the com-
inunity in which they are toiorated,
willlbe correspondingly iiiGreased.
In the assumed case of the ten
men, the wiiole affair was man
aged by themselves, and all the
money put in was paid out to the
lucky man. Let us suppose that
another, an eleventli man, pro
poses the game or lottery to the
ten, each of whom puts in hisdol
lar as befoie, but the lucky one is
to have only So, the elevmith
man keeping $6 for histroiilfle of
receiving the dollars, providing
the beans, and paying out the S.o
to the lucky one who draws tlie
wliite bean. The result in this
case will be that nine men will
lose Si each, one man gains S4
without having done anything to
earn it, and another man gets So
for doing no useful work, but a
really harmful one in inducing
the others to engage in tlie game.
It is not the least of the bad fea
tures of the lottery in all its forms,
that it allows a few men who pro
duce nothing, and wlio instead of
promoting industry by legitimate
business, carry unhappiness to
hundreds of homes ; to grove rich
at the expense of the industrious
Looking at it in all its bearings,
wo regard the lottery as perni
cious in its effects to those few
who draw prizes, as well as to tlie
many wlio draw blanks; and wo
include in this all the forms and
disguises of the lottery, wlietlier
called gift concerts, distributions,
or what not, and no matter what
charitable, or in itself worthy, ob
ject is used to cloak its ugly shapie.
Indeed, we regard the open and
declared lottery more respectable
tlian the scheme that skulks be
hind some other name, and pre
tends to be working for a charity,
while its whole end and aim is to
make money for the managers.
But feiv greater misfortunes can
befall a young man just starting
in life, than to draw a prize in a
lottery. Almost every one wlio
ciui remember the times when lot-
teriiis were not only tolerated, but
legal, can recall cases in which
men were absolutely ruined by
drav.'iiig a prize in one of them.
The gain of a few thousands in
this maimer, unfitted them for all
useful liusiuess ever after, and
they rained themselvos in endeav
oring to repeat their former luck.
Those who do not regard lotte
ries as gambling, and hold them
to be fair investments, do not
make very ivise distiiictious in
morals, and they are in a very
small inajoi’ity; the bettor tliouglrt
of the community, as expressed in
the laws of almost every State, is
against them. , , , The extent to
which this lottery evil extends, is
not generally known, aud the un
happiness it causes wives, moth
ers, and children, who see those
they love carried away with the
passion for tliis form of gambling,
is most sadden iiig. "VVe every
now and then receive
distance by mail. If one is in
fatuated by this or any other form
of gambling, ho will find means
of iudulgiiig in it, and there is no
large city in which lottery tickets
are not sold.”
I5or Slcart Was T®wchcd at
M06T PATHETIC APPEALS
from those whose homes are be
ing rained, asking what can be
done to arrest the destructive iii-
flueiice of the lottery. Some of
these letters are so touching, that
they would almost reach the lieai-t
of a lottery manager, i^las, what
can we do to help them ! Tliose
addicted to tliis form of ganubliiig,
will resort to every device, and
subterfuge to gratify their pas
sions.- Ill the majority of cases,-
they procure their tickets from a-
An old woman died in a lone
house on Croghan street Monday
night. No one knew it until yes
terday, wlieii overj’thiug looked
so grim and silent around the
house that the door was buret in,
and they found the old woman
dead, she had lived there for
years and years. People knew
her, yet no one knew her. Some
called her “Old Nan,” and some
thought her a witch. Slie never
left her yard, never spoke to any
one except to snarls and growl,
and a lone sailor drifting about
on the ocean could not have been
more distant from love and sym
pathy. She did not die in her
bed. She might have been ill
for three or four days, but she
did not call out and ask for assis
tance. Perhaps slie felt that her
time had come and not a human
liand could aid her, and as she felt
the weight of tlie shadow she was
a woman again. There were
longings in lier Iieai-t, new feelings
in her soul, and no one could say
that slie did not weep. She crept
off the bed, made her way to an
old chest, and from its depth slie
pulled up an old and tattered
Testament. Between its leaves
were two cards. On one was
pinned a lock of hair, tied with
faded ribbon—a brown, curly
lock, such as you might clip fi-oin
the head of a boy of five. In
a quaint old hand was written on
.a card tlie words: “My boy
Jamie’s hair,” On the other card
pinned three or four violets,
so ■'
liokling tlie book in her lap, and
her stiffened fingers held those
cards up to her blind eyes. Thus
tliey found her—a card in either
hand and the lioly book lying
open in her lap ! The men, wo
men and children who had crow
ded in witli the officer saw how it
was, and some of them wept.
She must have been a mother
once, and had a mother’s tender
feeling. No doubt she was loved
and happy when she severed that
brown carl from its mates and
wrote on the card: ‘ ‘My boy Jam
ie’s hair!” They removed the
precious relics very teuderhq aud
when thei/ came to look into the
face they saw that it almost wore
a smile, and that the hard lines had
all been rubbed out by the ten
derness which flowed in her
heart as death was laying his
hand upon her. Who pulled
those violets ? Where is Jamie?
Truly the greatest mystery of
life is-life.—Detroit Free Press,
BEHAVIOIS *0 OAE'S
FEXEfttiS'S.
“Titfc happiness
Consists not in a mnltitndo of Ifricnds,
Bat in their wortli ami olioico.”
—Bm Jomon.
“To bear and forbear” is al
ways and everywhere the secret
of good inamiere. Gentle words
and kindly smiles are tlie social
cetnmt which bind tog-ether the
social fabric. Let each of us
contribute as fiir as We can to
wards the perfection of the edi
fice ! Considering at how slight
a cost fee may jiromote one an-
otheifti happiness, it is wondei-ful
that we should so closely hug
ourselves in our selfish reserve
and churlish impatience. To lend
a^ book or a knife, to employ con
ciliatory langua^, to -answer civ
illy a civil question, to render in
formation where it will be nseftil
- these are duties which, surely,
it is not difBcult for any school
boy to discliarge. It should al-
waj-s be our object to insist, com-
foil; aod obl^e our corarades;
when we can do so Without vio
lating the discipline of our school,
or breaking through moral and,
divine law-s. There is a pleasure
in ohliffing (md being ohUged: it is)
only mean natures tliat resent ai
favor or rqfuse one. eDie oaata^,
in priemisTiip.
Civility to all does not imply in-;
cause he boasts of lii.s phj-sical
strength, wJiicli is after alli Sin ac
cident of nature; and Sowardlyj
because he only attacks thosd
nbo cannot defend themselves;
Finally, let me entreat you. to
preserve an equable temper iii
Vour relatiofis with your school
fellows. Make it a habit to think
twice before you speak mce. Avoid
all irritability and peevishness of
temper; Do not allow your com
rades to speak distespectfully of
your masters, and do not yoii
youraelves indulge in unjust as
persions. Never abet a school
fellow in a wrong action, nor con^
cert with him the means of de-*
ceiving your tutor. And abovd
all, thank God for his mercie^j
uptin your bended knees, both
bight and morning, and urgd
your friends and companions, to
follow j’om- example—-reniemijef-,
ing in your prayers the friends of
your school life, and the loved
ones who are praying for yoh' at
home.”—IF H. D. A., An English^
man. . ■
C3&jBd-€ouvcrstoM;
This doubt in fegafd Id chilli-
conversion does not come froni
tlie nait,ure of die case. There is
no obstacle on the part of.. God j
there is none-on the part ^ the '
child. A «eiy young chiH cart
uaderstaud what,it is to. We and
be Wad; what it is to «in hnd W
timacy -svith ah, and in a tohool,; libipiBcklly k this true
as in the world, there ate always-
natures w-hich will juot hai-nionize'
with your own,—-spirits whose in-
fluence it is your duty to
A boy may be ft-ee-liearted and
free-handed, lively of tongue aud
bold of heart, and yet be no -suit
able friend,-—in foot, it is such
boys -with -whom you must be on
your guai-d, lest tlieir vivacTy
as pinned three or four violets, and dasli and specious liberality
) old and faded tliat they look- cany you away “in a rusli ” be-
1 like pfqier. She sat m a ciiair, yoiid the bounds of dutyu ’ The
friendships coniraeted at school
have alway^s a powerful effect up-
A Car-load ofFroob.—Weare told that
New York City eats five huadfed pounde of
itogs(frogs’ leg’s ?)ev€ry day during; “frog
season.” Of tliis supply, Canada scuds the
greatest part.
At Ganenovue, Ontario, they ship frogs to-
New York by thousands. Frog catching is
nowa reguhir bimuess. The frogs are caught
aud placed in salt bags. The bags are spread
ont flat on the bottom of the ear aud sufficient
room is allowed each frog to crawl about a-
little, but no hopping is alftwed; a watcher
stands by to see that no hopping is done,, and
that theydo uot curdle together or crawl over
each other.. Riding ou the cars may he fine
amusemet,' but most likely the frogs enjoy
hopping about uuthe grouud-at Guuouqiiethe'
most.
on oui’ after Jives from the influ
ence they easily exert upon a
mind half cultivated, and a heart
as yet unsuspecting of evil. Al
ways endeavor, then, to seek for
a friend a person superior to your
self,—an example to imitate, a
guide to follow. “If thy friends
be of better quality than thyself,”
says Sir- 'Walter Kaleigh, “thou
may^t be sui’e of two things : the
firet, that they -^'iU be more care
ful to keep thy counsel, because
tliey have more to lose tlian thou
hast: the second, tliey will es
teem tliee for thyself, and not for
that which thou dost possess.”
Do not he too sadden in your inti
macies.—-Study well the charac-
tei's of those with whom you as
sociate ; and put tliem to the test
of experience. “Let frieiidsliip
creep gently to a height,” says
FuUer ; “if it rush to it,- it may
soon run itself out of breath.” Do
not oblige your friend at the ex
pense of your conscience.- Let
me especially warn my young
readers against tlie vice of huUying
-—the tyranny of the strong over
the weak—of bone and muscle
overthe mind and heart.
A bully
is the butt of a school, for he is
necessan'ily of a mean, selfish,
braggart, cowardly nature. Mean,
because he takes advantage of his
victim’s weakness; selfish, because
he consults his oivn will at the
expense of others; braggart, be-
aaioing children who liave enjoy
ed Clirfetiau instruction in their'
homes and hi Sunday Schools all
thiar lives. The average child ip
our chttroh'sclioolsinows niore'of
God and Chiistian trath tlian did
the jailor and his family,- and
many others of the converts bap
tized by (lie Apostles, Indeed
childliood is tlie most favora
ble time for conversion. This
ihrouglit is ti-ite. It is the. gi-oat
staple of Sunday Scliool speeches,-
and yet practically we forget iit. '
“Of such is the k-ingdom of heak'-
en,” said Jesus, Ghildren have’
hope, love, faith—the very qual
ities which mark the Ciiristian.-
What is needed is, that these bet
lifted up from earthly things and
fixed on God, 'Their hearts
have not yet been dulled by un-;
belief, nor hardened by sin. ’They
have not yet learned to substituto
self for God, as have older, per^
sons. Surely it requires no more’
knowledge to obey than to diso
bey. If old enough to sin the/
are old enough to repent- - What
sad memories they are saved from-
when they become Christians in
early youtli. Sin stains the soui
through and thfbfigh.- Even the"
blood of Christ cannot Wash away
the remembrance of early guill-
God may in his mercy forget, but"
we cannot. We never really foif>
get anything In ota- holiest
hours these siUs return in memeW
ry. The child saved in early'
youth is saved from tese fearfi^
and sad metciories.—Macarthur.s
ly'To-niorrow may never comet
to us. We do not live in to mor
row. Wo Cannot find it in aUM
title deeds-.' The' man who owns*
whole blocks of real esta,te, and
great ships on the sea, does not
own a single minute of to-morrow,-
To-morrow 1 It is- a mysterious
possibili'y not yet born; It lies
under the seal of midnight, be •
bind tlie veil of glittering consteD
iatious.—Chapin-.