The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-16
NEW YORKISMS.
F'ou Our Ocn COrremOndcM
NEW YORK. Jan. l6, 1869.


into two great GLASSES, one OF which resides 10
New York and likes to swindle, and the other Of
which resides out of New York and likes to be
swindled. One is an active party and the other
is passive; one a big swindleT, and the other,
Tor the most part, tribe OF small swtndlers.
The big swiu6lers are forever dartlng about
from place 10 place. changing their names like
signboards Va a pantomime, vanishing and turn
Ing up ct unsupported places, like the harlequin
pursued by the unsuccessful clown. The little
swindlcrs address plaintive notes 10 the super
intendent of Police, but never dare to lodge
formal cLmplaiRt or to institute suit.
The people who run these swndles are in
league with Que another. The medical swindle,
the gift swiDdle. the dollar store sWindie, the
partner. advertisement swindlc, the charitable
swiDdle, the grand concert swlndle, are all
copjoined. The physician whose sands of life
have nearly run out is Identical with the
celebrated herb doctTess; the retired clergy
man who Is anxious to benefit his race If q
stamped envelope be sent him is twin brother
TO the Indian the fame o! whose liniment has
extended to the ends OF the earth. But 1t Is the
men who advertise the great GUT swiudles who
find at once their willing dupas and partners to
their frauds on the inhabitants o. almost every
town aud city in the Union.
Tbese frst-cla ss swindlere impose per,onally
in many cases by the splendor OF their physique
and the uDeXceptiona0leDess OF their attire.
They impose, IN q business way By the extent
and magni6ceuce of the offices they engage, aud
the quantity of account books, ledgers crcu-
lars, check.bOoks, and basmess paraphernalia
which they display. They provide themselves
with directories to every town and city of the
Union which possesses one, and when they are
4kav nrt
office lists. They address thousands Of letters
TO individuals whose names are thus chosen
hap-hazard, informing each one that the ticket
he holds has drawn such or such
prize. The parties to whom such
letters are addressed never purchased
any ticket, and do not hold any. Each one,
however, surposes that q mistake is made that
a letter has reached him u.Cndcd for some
other person. and that in due time he will come
into possession of the prize corresponding with
the number of the ticket which he Is informed
he holds. Ali that he is requested to do is to
forward within ten days the sum of So the
percentage on the prize TO which he Is entitled
and which rs varIously represented rs II gold
watch, a Steinway or ChiCR erlng piano, or a
5000 diamead ring. BY for wnrding the $40 he
thus becomes a party to the fraud. He is
silently COZ utyiug at cheat, ani laying claim
to property which he believes come other person
Is entitled to. That be should do 80 gives us a
rather humilatlng idea OF human nature but
E perhaps people who have seen much OF the dark
side of life ale prepared 10 earertatn ideas OF
that nature. AT any rate, it is a fact that three
fourths OF the parties 10 whom such circulars
are addressed will forward the $40 named, and
quickly aoticipate the ARRIVAL 0f prize which
they cannot help believing is realty the property
of some otDcr person. This is tue reason why
gift swindics are sGCh gigantic success. There
are more than two dozen in tht, city, and OF all
kinds probably two thousand would Oe
a number nearer the mark. The circular
which informs the party 10 whom is is ad-
dressed that prize has been drawn, likewise
particularly requests him pelthor TO cali nor
send for it. and gives as y rea1on that the busi
ness OF the Office is so extensive that unless this
rule were adopted the CLERKS would be over.
run with callers and unable TO attend TO tbs
demands OF any. 1t requests the drawer to
expect the delivery of the prize within ten OF
twelve days; and 1t is needless 10 say that the
drawer goes Oh expecting, until expectation
ceases TO be virtue.
The dollar stores are less Befsrous brauch
of the same magnificent fraud. handsome
store and eligible site are selected, aud shelves
windows counters, and caseS are packed witt
everything calculated TO attract the eye. AOoys
all, zone bundred beautiful young laIes," WIZ
have at once rouged and w0e. .oegoue appear
ance, are engaged to iascinale male purchaser
into the jelusIye belief thRt : mach there car
be got for 81 as anywhere else Tor $40. o.
everything that Is sold az thess dollar store.
you may be sure that the proprietor maEes
handsome profit. All these giittenng pinch h0ccb
articles made tor tde occasion, and it is
only bunp pkins-be they cIty bumpkius ol
country pumpkins will purchase with
the expectation OF getting theY moneys worth
When the gitt enterprise is got Hp under pre-
tense of Il charitable puTpo'e, he willing vic
TINS to whom circulars are sent RAtter them
selves that by one little ac, OF dishonesty the,
are doug good to the poor and needy. The,
reverse the aOhOr SUI, ahdl0orI 1w the livery OF
the Devil to serve heaven IN,
An advertisement for a partner very IRE
& quent swindling dodge. young man is wanted
with few hundred dollars capital Ia engage II
smart fool. who has saved q fe s Aun0red dollar
out of his legitimate business, answers to th
advertisement, and is half initiated into th
u mysteries OF some gift sgiRdling concern, Tn
proprietoTs of which are the advertisers il
question. The immense numUoI OF lette03 con
tanning money are laid before his 8stonishe
eyes, and he Is induced to believe that by in
months realize several thousands fOr every hun
dIed 40 sunk. He invests. The firm suddenl
collapses, like the dream OF a dream, and eve