The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-01
Deceptive Advertisements.

ed, of prepossessing appearance, good edu-
cation, amiabe disposition and unblemished
character is desirous of forming a matrimo-
NAL connection with young lady not over
twenty-five years OF age, possessing equal ad- !
vantages. All communications will be con-
sidcred most strictly confidential. The
thoughtess and mischievous are warned not
to tamper with this advertisement
Such was the substance ofa paragraph put
forth by foolish young student, who had
more time than prudence or discretion, dur
ing temporary absence Of right feeling
OF course he received many answers and a.
mused himself by carrying on a correspond
ence with several who trusted him in all sim
ceritv, till his better feelings awoke, and in
one or two of the most severe cases he was
obliged to write an explanation. One reply
cut hin to the heart, especially as some cir
cumstances gave him the power of guessing
the name of the person, who, friendless and
homeless, and in a state of calling depend
ence, from which she could not extricate her.
self,had taken this means of seeking change,
relying (too frankly, as it proved,) on the
apparent honesty of the advertisement. He
learned one lesson, not to tritle in that way a
gain.
There is no DENYING the fact ; women will
be foolish and conEding, and it were well if
all notices of that kind had no worse intent
than the one named. But there is reason to
fear that many of them, especially those dat
ing from large cities. are only lures to de-
s,iuc,ion. Restless, novel-reading girls, in
country villages and districts, take them in
serious earnest, and if they have no friend to
warn them, are sadly in danger of being Ia
ken in.
Not long since Young girl called on Mr.
L., an eminent professional man in b., and
showing him daguerrotype Of a young man,
asked him i. he knew the original. His an
swer was that he did not, at which she ap-
pearcd much distressed, adding that she had
shown it also to DR. y. and he failed to rec
ognize it, and she did not know what to do.
story. Attracted by one of these advertise
mentS, which met her eye in her country
home, she had opened correspondence with
the advertiser, become engaged to him, ex-
changed daguerrotypes, and had been daily
expecting visit from him. Just when she
was anXiously looking 70. his arrival, in full
tlment of his promise, letter came in an
other hand, stating that he was alarmlngly
i'll. that DR. y. was in attendance upon him
and that MIR l.. had been employed to make
his will. If she wished to see him she must
-, come to him at once,and on her arrival a let
ter containing his address would be found at
a certain post office. She Immediately wrote
that she would leave by the noon train the
next day; her foolish mother, finding her
daughters heart set upon it, consented to
her leaving home and furnished her with
; MEANS and with the independence of a noun.
, tain girl, she set forth alone Arrived in B..
, she inquired her way to the office and receiv-
= ed her letter, when she found person wait
ing for her, who stated that he haG carriage
in readiness, and if she wished to see her
friend alive, she must lose no time. Here a,
; last her woman's instinct warned her, and,in
stead of trusting, she first went to respect.
able hotel ,and there noticed for the first time
= that the letter she had received gave her nc
distinct address. She then sought out the
lawyer and physician referred to, still hoping
and believing that all would be right.
. Happily MIR l.. was good man, and he
i saw at once the snare that was laid for her
- so, while he assured her that no such person
had applied to him professionally, he warned
her of the danger to which she had exposed
herself, alone and unprotected in great city
Il She was overwhelmed with grief and indig
nation, for it seemed she had trusted implic
! itly, and had INDUCED romantic vision of
: love and faith. The good man returned will
Il her to the hotel, commended her to the car,
- of the landlord, who happened to be known
u, to him, provided for her leaving town by tn,
first train the next morning,an left her will
= Il lesson and a warning she would not sool
, forget.
- This is but one case of rescue, to the rec
- ord of hundreds who vanish and are lost t
: sight, because they trust. Woe be to tn
weak parents and the weaker children VIII,
~ are led away by such pretenses. They ough
1t to know better, you will say but the way
=. of city are past finding out, and, simpl
:, souls, they never guess the evils that lurk il
=. ~ the lanes and by-ways and at the corners of
y &c the streets. If you publish them, the peopl
= do not read the papers, and not day passe
aI that unwary strangers are not taken in b
- ~ mock auctions, bogus watches, pocket-boo
!; stutfing, the drop game, and other devices o.
idle and needy villains.
lie E The workmen in the employ of tn