ose whose
undoubted genius is apparent to the world.

It was remarked by Carlyle, that our modern intellect is of the spavined
kind, "all action and no go;" and so it appears to be in regard to the
efforts that are being made to "promote the interests of art," in this
country. Art-Unions have been active enough, for many years, and have
possessed themselves of hundreds of thousands of dollars, and yet it is
"no go;" the interests of art still lie gasping, without much hope of a
change for the better. There is a great display made every year in the
"distribution of prizes," and every means used to gain public
confidence, by holding up the names of the most respectable citizens as
guarantees that nothing under their control can go wrong; and by issuing
bulletins in which is proved, by figures, the flourishing state of the
institution, and consequently of the beautiful arts; yet in spite of all
this, the great mass of common-sense minds and of true lovers of art,
heretics that they are, go away and exclaim, "Well, after all it's 'no
go,' the works distributed are no better than those of last year, and we
are really afraid there are no hopes for the arts in this country, so
long as no other plan is adopted for their improvement."

Some of the petty states in Germany and in southern Europe obtain a
large revenue from lotteries, which are entirely under the control of
the crown, and are hence commonly called "Royal," or "Imperial." The
prizes are comparatively small, but the tickets are fixed at such a very
low sum, say from ten to twenty cents, that they come within the reach
of the poorest inhabitants. The consequence is that nearly all persons
who are ignorant of the scheme which the Government has laid to tax
them, spend more or less every year for lottery tickets. We have known
persons who, under the excitement produced by these plans for rapidly
gaining fortunes, have pawned the last blanket from their beds, to
obtain the means of purchasing a ticket. At every drawing of these
"Imperial" lotteries, there is nothing left undone by Royalty to strike
the people with a sense of their importance, and the honesty with which
they are conducted. In an open square is erected a kind of stage large
enough to be occupied by some twenty persons. Rich canopies of scarlet
and gold overhang it, and above all are figures of Justice, Plenty,
Virtue, &c. &c. The "Royal" band of music is stationed near, and amidst
its enlivening tones, ho