The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-06-08

THINGS Luxe TO SEE.-I like to see a
whole neighborhood get into quarrel about
nothing 1t shows that there are independ.
ent spirits in the world.
1 like TO hear the character Of my friends
slandered; il gives me a chance 10 defend
them
like to hear long prayers on Sunday
can sleep better during the remainder of the
exercise.
like to be praised TO my face; 1t makes
me think / am fool.
like TO be surrounded by by a lot Of idlers
when ! am in hurry ii learns me to be pa
tent.
like to see young ladies laugh and play at
religious meetings; it shows that they pos
sess fine feelings, and take an interest in Sc
rious matters.
like to have man to ask me the news,
and before have time to speak answer him.
self; it shows that he knows more than do.
OsE of the most bare. faced pieces Of ras-
cality that has ever been perpetrated upon
(, the farmers of the country, is what is termed
the e Hay Rake Sw;ndle.i In order that
the farmers of this vicinity may not be "ta.
ken in by this latest dodge, we lay before
them this morning the n,odus operdndi, which
we take from the Dubuque Times:
Some twenty men or more, generally &C
companied by women, enter n county in their
own conveyances, and dividing they troupe,
20 into each township. A swindler calls upon
L II -
for the sale of the right to use and sell pat.
ent hay rake-generally called Clarke s, made
somewhere in New York. May be the farms
er is suspicious of patents rights-this is
generally the case-and then the swindler
exhibits the rake, or the principles Of its
working il he has no rake, and convinces the
farmer that he can have no objection TO it as
farm implement. The farmer of course
says ne hasn't, for the rake seems to work
well enough. The swindler then proposes 70
make the farmer an agent for the sale of the
rake. The farmer objects. The swindler,
generally very affable, says:
go, there can be no venture in it ; YOU
cant lbs esnything. All you have to do is,
whvi ii made two hundred dollars to
send Us o.. {, ifei dollars, according to our
articles of agreement, You see we wish to
generally introduce the rake, and we think
the best way In 10 avoid implement men in
large cities, and &c direct to the farmers
ourselves, and give one Of their number half
the pro6tsi"
Ali this seems reasonable enough, and the
farmer consents-thinks be has good thing,
Theswindler then draws forth articles OF
agreement embodying the above plan, which
he reads TO the farmer and asks him TO sign
them, saying, sT.win keep one copy and vol
the other.h But, mark you, the ARTICLES
which the krmer signs are not those which
have been read to him. Another kind, fstr
simite Of this sheet, is put before him Cor his
signature. He thinks he hn heard it read,
and does not hesitate. He signs two papers,
keeps one and the swindler takes the other
Here b where the gsselle comes in The
one the swindler keeps is note for one hum
dred donars--may ~ more, hardly ever less
payable On one year OF less ane, with i'm
tsrest. This done, theswindler hurries away.
Mark you, these fellows visit only the most
wealthy and reliable farmers, 90 as to make
sure Of their game.
Having ''fnishedn one farmer, the swind-
Ter goes to another, and 50 a day after day,
until be has finished his territory.
The precious villains thea take these notes
20 nensysd parties, or owners Of stock, and
Offer them for-l00 cents on the dollar II they
eon ~ u or 80eepts, - eenss, e5 ceats on
- dolloes just r. thay can bargain. WHEN
tkyN4t eatAs .snsy they DO no. reisss
- 6uhefes q .. ive ssck WHICH tAsy
- RsSs5l = - note. -.
y - 81 60 =.
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