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Story
April 9, 1856
The Morning Comet
Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge County, Louisiana
What is this article about?
Satirical piece on Baltimore's lottery schemes; narrator loses $15.65 on $25 investment, receives polite loss notice from Egerton & Bro. on March 29, 1856.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Brilliant Scheme.
The city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, is by all odds the greatest place on the globe for Brilliant Schemes. The whole earth is no doubt apprised of the fact, for there are weekly—ay, daily editions of circulars papers of red, white and blue complexion,' whereon the most attractive sums of simple addition are made out in the most attractive manner. Thus we are informed in one now before us that a prize of $40,000 is equal to $40,000. The fact is arrived at by the very simplest rule.
Each city in the Union, has some characteristic feature, whereby it is known from other cities. Thus, when the city of Baltimore is spoken of great monuments of all manner of forms spring up in the mind, and lottery offices without limit present themselves to the sensorium with appalling schemes of wonderful magnificence.
This morning to our entire surprise (for we never took a ticket) we are politely informed by Messrs. Egerton & Bro's. that our investment of $25 in "Halves," brings us in debt to those benevolent gentlemen in the sum of $15 65.
We give the letter of the Messrs. Egertons, and presume others will understand it quite as well as we do:
Office of Egerton & Bro., Baltimore, Md.
March 29th, 1856.
Comer:—Dear Sir:—Enclosed please find a copy of the drawing of to-day's Lottery, your certificate of package in which results as follows:
25 per Tickets at $1 each, cost in all $25 00
Have drawn 2 double number, $3 40
7 single nos. each $1 prizes 7 95
Making a loss on the package of $15 65
As will be seen you have this time made a total loss of the amount invested.
We hope however that you will not be discouraged, but be induced to try again with better success. In one of our packages we had the satisfaction of sending off the handsome prize of $4267
Hoping yet to place one of at least a similar amount in your possession, and expecting to hear again from you, we remain,
Very Respectfully,
EGERTON & BRO
The city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, is by all odds the greatest place on the globe for Brilliant Schemes. The whole earth is no doubt apprised of the fact, for there are weekly—ay, daily editions of circulars papers of red, white and blue complexion,' whereon the most attractive sums of simple addition are made out in the most attractive manner. Thus we are informed in one now before us that a prize of $40,000 is equal to $40,000. The fact is arrived at by the very simplest rule.
Each city in the Union, has some characteristic feature, whereby it is known from other cities. Thus, when the city of Baltimore is spoken of great monuments of all manner of forms spring up in the mind, and lottery offices without limit present themselves to the sensorium with appalling schemes of wonderful magnificence.
This morning to our entire surprise (for we never took a ticket) we are politely informed by Messrs. Egerton & Bro's. that our investment of $25 in "Halves," brings us in debt to those benevolent gentlemen in the sum of $15 65.
We give the letter of the Messrs. Egertons, and presume others will understand it quite as well as we do:
Office of Egerton & Bro., Baltimore, Md.
March 29th, 1856.
Comer:—Dear Sir:—Enclosed please find a copy of the drawing of to-day's Lottery, your certificate of package in which results as follows:
25 per Tickets at $1 each, cost in all $25 00
Have drawn 2 double number, $3 40
7 single nos. each $1 prizes 7 95
Making a loss on the package of $15 65
As will be seen you have this time made a total loss of the amount invested.
We hope however that you will not be discouraged, but be induced to try again with better success. In one of our packages we had the satisfaction of sending off the handsome prize of $4267
Hoping yet to place one of at least a similar amount in your possession, and expecting to hear again from you, we remain,
Very Respectfully,
EGERTON & BRO
What sub-type of article is it?
Deception Fraud
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Deception
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Lottery Scheme
Baltimore Lotteries
Financial Loss
Satirical Letter
What entities or persons were involved?
Egerton & Bro.
Comer
Where did it happen?
Baltimore, Maryland
Story Details
Key Persons
Egerton & Bro.
Comer
Location
Baltimore, Maryland
Event Date
March 29th, 1856
Story Details
A satirical narrative describes Baltimore's reputation for lottery schemes. The narrator, having invested $25 in lottery halves, receives a letter from Egerton & Bro. reporting a loss of $15.65, with prizes totaling $9.35, and encouragement to try again.