The Olden Time Series Volume I Part 8

Thus far we have written mainly of American lotteries; as it is not our intention to take an exhaustive view of the subject, we will merely say, in reference to foreign countries, that lotteries were inst.i.tuted in England in 1567, and abolished by Act of Parliament in 1823, although allowed until 1826, when the last drawing of a legal lottery took place.

During this period they were patronized by all cla.s.ses,--royalty, the n.o.bility, gentry, and commoners. The first lottery was for the repairs of harbors and fortifications. The drawing took place at the "west door of St. Paul's Church." In 1612 King James I. granted a lottery for the "English Colonies in Virginia, ... to be held at the _west end of St.

Paul's,_" and "one Thomas Sharplys, a tailor, drew the chief Prize, which was 4000 crowns in fair plate."

To this day the lottery flourishes in most of the chief cities in Europe, and lottery tickets are vended in many shops as well as in regular offices. The Cologne Cathedral, as is well known, was only recently finished by the aid of a lottery. Lotteries are upheld, we believe, by the Roman Catholic Church in Europe, and many of the priests aid in disposing of the tickets,--at least so we have been told.

The sum of the whole matter as regards this country is that a good work was undoubtedly accomplished through the agency of the lottery in the early days of our national history. By its aid schools, colleges, and charities were founded, bridges, roads, and ca.n.a.ls were constructed. In our time public opinion is, of course, as it ought to be, against gambling in any form; but although our ways are almost always thought to be more honest, it is a question, after all, whether we are really more upright than our fathers, who sometimes engaged in transactions that are condemned by modern society, but who, on the other hand, knew nothing of "defaulted" railroad bonds, of "wild cat" oil companies, or of "watered"

mining stocks. It is easy enough to

"Compound for sins [we] are inclined to, By d.a.m.ning those [we] have no mind to."

[Ill.u.s.tration]