Page:Panama-past-present-Bishop.djvu/234

214 of a poor charcoal burner, was the first of his race to become the bishop of this, the oldest diocese on the American continent. It is a bit startling to American eyes to see, in the ground-floor of the episcopal palace, the offices of the National Lottery. The drawing takes place every Sunday, between mass and the bull-fight.

Needless to say, there is much more taken in during the week from the many who buy tickets, than is paid out to the few who win prizes. This lottery is a shame and a curse to the Republic of Panama, but if our neighbors see fit to tolerate it, it is no affair of ours. Selling lottery-tickets or holding any such cruel sports as