THE LOLLYPOP SWEEP.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 184, 13 January 1877, Page 2

THE LOLLYPOP SWEEP.

The Melbourne Herald has the following ; —Visitors to the Victoria Arcade have been startled by the appearance of two men, dressed m a manner so fearful and wondeit’nl as to attract general attention. The same men in the same costumes have occasionally been seen in the suburbs. Their dress consists of a loose suit and soft hat, with the addition of an nmViTa carried open in all weathers, the whole being completely covered by small colored handbills. It s anns that this is a mode Mr Henderson, of the Victoria Arcade, has adopted of advertising an American nolion which he has just introduced to the Melbourne public. In the United States tin*, confectioner imp >rt a mild clement of gambling into their business. They make up a large number of packets of confections from which the pmchaser selects as he or she pleases. In a certain proportion of these are placed coins of different values, so that some purchasers get their confections for nothing, while others are considerably in pocki-t, the majority of course getting nothing but the lollies they purchase. Mr Henderson has adopted this plan, and with success apparently. He places coins of all values, from 3d (o a sovereign, in his packets, the smaller ones necessarily being greatly in preponderance. The vendor alleges that his parcels of lollies, which are sold for a shilling, contain full weight, and are. according <o the present state of the lolly market in Melbourne, full value for the price charged. His version is, that it is the profits inislng from purchasing largely, and selling expeditiously, that enables him to offer the inducements of prizes to his customers. The police have been looking into iho matter, but so far do not appear to have discovered that any law is broken by the transaction.