Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-08-04
The Modern Midas

Tts'eu anu cohiiiIitteu l" Jan III NtN ! uik
Dr. IIankinson. alias DR. Bland ala, MAJ
other names. has for some time hour.Ls.I
that great city, luxurIuusly living uu.r =,
fools of the United States 4 sketch 4 ~
manner in which his career has been Lr.,,,r
to n temporary close, will we'll enough -
the general character OF his transaction,
DR. Harrison, II dentist Of Iiin.,. .,
time since received circular from Dr H.
kinson, eulogizinga legion # preu4ratI.T.
made by the latter 10 serve various purr,...
prominent among which preparation, AMI
of especial interest to the dentist, was ris,
for making gold and silver, or rather meta.
which the directors Of the Bank Of Euq,ni
could not distinguish from the real srtic.s
and which would answer equally well +,
every mechanical, ornamental, OF comm.,.
cial purpose. These metals, which could :.
furnished ut prices 50 low a. to DEFY conn,
tition, viz: gold tor SIS pound, aud .,ly-,
tor S3 pound. the dentist naturally de,iya,
to have.
In tho same circular which opened tt,
dazzling vision Of wealth, he Wa. also tj,
that the secret Ut the production OF the.
metals was III the possession ii "MctaIE
Transmitting Order" and that lew ysrar.
cies existed in this order, one ot which i.
the dentist, might perhaps NIL. Dr lIan.
son wrote to DR.. Hankinson, desiring far.
Their Information concerning the society tr
the diffusion of wealth, and III reply he Wa,
told that il contained six members, bat tina,
as they did not wish Ia monopolILe aud keen
80 great discovery locked up IN their own
breasts" they would be willing 10 adm, {,
their brotherhood few more upon the
terms following; each member Wa t. pay al
initiation fee OF ten dollars; If "a small Dag
ty desired Ia establish themsehe, IA thr ta.
siness 1T some other place, they could DO ,,
| by paying. in addition I" the above lee. fy.
| dollars tor "a Charter" this charter" wuui
| entItle them Ia knowledge ui all the -
| crets Of the order, 10 the receipts Tor making
| gold aud silver. Il certificates Of mrT Der.
| ship. and Ia the privilege ot purchasing
set of tools, mouldS; in hne all the lmplr.
ments Of the trade. The moral DR. Han.
knson closes this letter with the hint that
though there could lie no possibility Of de-
lection, yet COINS initiating the currrn,g
of the United States ar any other power
should not be attempted, ~ that w"ui
be unlawful. The dentist, still desirn!
more light, wrote once more t. New lDrk
and again received reply, this time ID
the form of printed letter which appear
ed to be the prospectus OF the Metas
Transmitting Order, or the Secret Cnbaa
The "Cubala" gave the whole secret II the
transmutation OF cheap aud worthless metal,
int" pure gold at tritlng expense; also the
great secret of taking Il correct impression
of any medal. note, bill, or anything else ia
existence. together with many other ways Il
making money IN IN easy, comfortable ani
safe manner.
DR.. Harrison, the Illinois dentist, came u
New York, aud called on DR.. llankinson,
who resided IN West 18th street; by ham be
was shown an American dollar, which va.
said to bo made Of the cheap metal, the WI.
thy alchemist evidently having forgotten h.,
warning against initiating Uncle Sans eur.
rency The dentist ut once ordered OGs
hundred and twenty-five dollars worth
of just such gold. for which he paid, on
the spot, fifty dollars in good money, be
Ing directed to call the next day for h.
bullion. lie did 80. lie tounl no Hank
inson. He called many times with equally
unsatisfactory results. lie then called ~
the police, whom he iunnd at home, and with
them he visited the luxurious mansion IA
West 18th street La the house they iouni
heaps of trash, consisting OF few die,
and tools, large number Of medals, rcam,
OF the circulars OF the Order" 50 called
archaeological books, too abominabie 10 be
mentioned, love potions. love powders charm
amulets, sundry bottles of water from tg
Fountain of Eternal Youth" which iowei
into the Doctors laboratory through b.,
back kitchen; in fine, all the paraphernalIs
of old-iashoned and newly invented ucke
ry. Nearly five hundred letters from The
mans dupes were found, showing that PEI
pie who ut home are by no means CONSIDERED
to be idiotic, have we'll established their claim
to the public charities tor the feeble minded
Ii is said the Doctor almost daily rrceyei
a hundred money letters. and 1t Is SUPPOSE
that at least fifteen Thousand deluied one'
have been deluded into joining the "Metalh:
Transmitting Order" At any rate, tbg
house in West 18th street is In"st gorgeJu,Iy
furnished from their pockets. OF course, there
was never the semblance Of any such sOcle
ty Is that described in the circular, and ths
Doctor munopoliHed the profits. FurnI.hci
with new name, and liberated from u:
hands Of justice, who in New York seen,
to wear the scales over her eyes, this Sue
cessful swindler will undoubtedly be soon
again coming money with the bel OF ioyl'
-BOstOa Courier
RuMMACE-On We good housewives whose