Naples' Numbers

Almost nobody is too poor to play in the State Lottery at Naples which is drawn every week. Though a very beggar may have but 50 centesimi (2 1/2-c-), one of the 150 state banks will let him risk his all. Shoals of poor people win petty sums every week. But naturally the most stupendous prizes--paid on luckiest combinations of lucky numbers--turn up only once or twice in a decade. Six years ago $2,000,000 was won on the series 8, 65, 90, and ever since, with a peculiar fatalism, thousands of people in Southern Italy have been backing these same numbers every week.

To the question, "Don't you know that lightning never strikes twice in the same place?" a typical, tattered, cheerful Neapolitan will reply, "Maybe in your country, Signore (shrug), that is so."

Last week the 150 state banks of Naples wired to Rome, asking that fifty million lira ($2,500,000) be rushed south at once. Throngs of Neapolitans danced and cavorted through the streets, shrieking, delirious with joy. When the cash began to arrive in vanloads, each of the 150 banks became a scene of pandemonium. Once again 8, 65, 90 had won.