Alexandria Gazette

Prize Gifts.

There was not a little stir and excitement throughout Saturday, at Odd Fellows' Hall: the gentleman calling himself "the Fakir of Siva," with his assistants, being engaged in his lottery operations. Hundreds of persons were constantly going to and coming from the "temple of fortune" to a few, and the temple of misfortune to the many; the latter having, on the payment of a dollar, been assured that every person purchasing a ticket gets a present.

We noticed a colored man, almost in tears, regretting his adventure, having parted with two dollars for two small printed sheets containing some alleged accounts of the wonderful exploits of the "Fakir!" But this individual was not in as bad a condition as a gentleman who had purchased fifteen dollars' worth of tickets, and received for his money fifteen "Fakirs."

Occasionally, something valuable was drawn, and the successful ones hurried off to claim their goods at the specified place of deposit.

Some of our most respectable citizens were in the crowd, selecting, in exchange for their tickets, sealed envelopes; the opening of which, with agitated hand, either gladdened or depressed their hopeful spirits. A person stood at the door to keep out, or thrust back, all who had not provided themselves with chances!

As to the propriety of such enterprises, every one should judge for himself. "It is reasonable to presume however, that the disappointed will now be more disposed to complain than the comparatively few who received vested dollars!"-Wash. Sen.