r name. Both exist ostensibly for the good of
others, who in reality are but the dupes of a most deceitful and vicious
system, against which every good citizen should indignantly turn his
face. It cannot be justly said in defence of Art-Unions, that they spend
more money for art than was ever done in the same period of time, nor
that they have distributed works amongst a class of people who never
thought of giving money for such things before. They must first prove
that this great amount of money which they have collected, has been
spent _judiciously_, for the benefit of deserving and meritorious
artists, and that the works distributed are such as to elevate the
judgment and enlarge the feelings in relation to art, among those who
may have received them.

It is for the interest of lotteries to offer some very large and
valuable prizes at the head of their list, to attract the attention of
the public, and thus to sell their tickets.

Similar means are adopted by Art-Unions to increase their subscription
lists, which show that the system is _managed_ in the most efficient
manner. Those who can look back fifteen and twenty years, will remember
that our country was literally flooded with the bulletin boards of
lotteries, printed in the most gaudy and attractive colors, showing a
brilliant schedule of prizes, and pledging almost certain wealth to all
who would venture their money on the "grand scheme." They will also call
to mind how many a victim there was to this deceptive and depraved
system of legal fraud, until it became so injurious to the public
morals, that Legislatures were forced to hurl the bolts of the law
against them, in all parts of the United States, and so put an end to
their iniquity. Lotteries have been justly prohibited by wise
governments, because they attract men from legitimate pursuits, into the
speculative, uncertain, and, morally, illegitimate pursuit of fortune.
The case is similar in its results to that of Art-Unions. They attract
many from a calling for which their talents have fitted them, into a
sphere so much above their natural powers, that they must in time fall
back, victims to vanity and love of gain, into a lower plane of life
perhaps, than that they once happily occupied. The effect of these
Unions is seen rather in the great number of persons of mediocre
abilities they have _encouraged_ to enter upon the cultivation of art,
than in the bringing forth greater powers and excellence in th