Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-12-19

the compliment In few days some
corn field niger who never saw SPELL
ing book is expected to demonstrate that
Andy johnson is an idiot The world
| moves.
mo Thoroughfare," and other
Christmas stories and Christmas books,
at Emmons 4 Sons, 10 Jefferson street,
Nick-Nax, and a dozen more comic
papers; the Westminster, Edinburg,
North American, Atlantic, Putnam's,
Godey's, Harper's S, and other magazines
the Bazaar of Fashion, Round Table, and
one hundred and twenty other weeklies
the New York, Cincinnati, St Louis,
Louisville and Chicago dailies; all
Dickens, Trollopes, Muhlbsch's, Reds
and other popular works of fiction, and
the celebrated Tauchnitz novels.
RURAL INNOCENCE AND HUMAN BIRDS
OF PREY.-One Of the missions Of the
daily press is to warn the unwary against
schemes laid by sharpers. Since the
advent of public journals they have
teemed with narratives of swindling out
RACES perpetrated upon uususpecting
countrymen who found their way into
cities with more money than discretion,
and proved easy plucking for the most
clumsy Operator" chance threw in
their way, Full grown Bucolic, who
wouldn't place confidence in his most
intimate friend at home, no sooner
breathes a city atmosphere than he is
irresistibly impressed with the desire to
advance money on bogus checks, brass
watches or CLASSY diamonds worth a
dollar a bushel, to the first smooth
tongued rascal who asks him to drink.
This disinterestedness speedily becomes
mania to be cured only by the final
consciousness of the possession of beau
tiful bits of waste paper embellshed
with some mythical individuals sig
nature; material for miniature
brass foundery in the shape of watch or
two; or few shiny pebbles palmed off as
diamonds-all which represent odd hun
dreds of dollars loaned to " such nice,
well-spoken gentleman" who turns out
to be simply human Bird of Prey. In
the majority of instances the men thus
taken in and done for are considered
marvels of shrewdness at home They
are looked up to as oracles, whose chief
delight is criticising the Stupid editors
who don't seem to be at all up to snuff
you know. Newspapers are too worth
less for them to consume valuable time
on. Their editors will probably learn
something by.and-by; but at present are
lamentably deicient-dont you see ?
Then Bucolic, arriving in the city
freighted with cash, is "roped in :. by
probably the clumsiest rascal days
travel can produce. New tricks are
not necessary. Bucolic bites at the old
est on record, which the ignorant news.
papers have exposed until the story
became threadbare. Why it is will never
be discovered; but just the bait which a
grain of common sense should teach one
not an imbecile to avoid, is always the
most eagerly snapped at At home
Bucolic would not think Of advancing
money on checks presented by unknown
men and bearing unknown signatures
"gold watches reeking with verdigris;
or diamonds" fresh from the glass fac.
tory. 1t is only when in the city, |
where he regards everybody as a
swindler on general principles, that
these brilliant operations are per-
formed. At home, any stranger thus
approaching him would be cursed, if not
kicked-perhaps both-but when in the
city" Accommodate you, .sir2 Only
too happy to have it in my power. Here's
the money; beg pardon for keeping you
waiting so long" Of goes the Bird of
Prey with his booty off goes Rural
Innocence with flea in his ear. Will
he profit by his experienced For few
hours he will be sharper than the popu-
lar idea of serpents tooth but is soon
ready for the next oily.tongued scamp
seeking a victim. Will other Areadians
profit by his experience No more than
will a wing singed insect avoid burning
taper.
TIE AVALANCHE CONTEMPT " CASE
Upon the opening Of Court this morn
ing Grandmother Hunter ruled that no
further publication Of the proceedings Of
the cause now pending should be made
uhtil the close Of the trial Another
ruling was then made excluding from I