Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-10-18
One Of those 'EPersOnal' Advertise
menfs and What Came Of IL.

One of the editorial staff Of the
Star, inserted the following advertise
ment, on the 18th of July, in the
Herald:
"a young lady of good family de-
sires the acquaintance of ayoung gem
tleman Of good standing and some
personal attractions, with a view to
ultimate marriage. She has good
marrying portion in her own right.
| The jealousy of an ever -watehful
guardian is the cause for this step.
address NJ. F.. p. o. Box 159.n
The result showed the prepOnder-
ance of both fools and knaves in the
city, as there was an immediate re-
spOnse from about one hundred and
| seventy individuals, many of whom
were merchants, lawyers, doctors,
telegraphers, artists, &c. Some Of
them were people well known who
wrote in an undisguised hand, en-
closed their cards, and evidently meant
to go in for NJ. F. and-the marriage
portion. Thereading of the letters fur
nished great amusement to the at
taches and visitors to the Star office.
1t was suggested that the experiment
of answering forty or fifty Of them
and appointing a place of meeting,
would give greater jest to the joke.
Accordingly a note simulatinga lady's
handwriting was sent as a reply to
some of the effusions, couched in this
wise:
"Meet me on Saturday, the 22d, at
two O'Clock P. NJ, opposite the Regis
ter's office, City Hall Park"
The time and place ought to have
convinced the most unsophisticated
that there was some game about it.
The locality was in full view of the
Star Office, at whose windows were a
sea of laughing faces on Saturday
afternoon, eager TO ascertain whether
the 'fools were all dead" A few
only "sp1elt a mice,N but between
thirty and forty put in an appearance,
perfuming the air with choice toilet
essences and the aroma of buttOnhole
bouquets.
The first one appeared about five
minutes before the hour. He was a
cleanly-shaven, fine-looking man,
about thirty-five, attired in the high
est style of cit. There was nothing
in his appearance to devote softeniHg
of the brain, and the lOOkers-On at
the Star Office were doubtful at first
as to his identity. He hung around
so anxiously that 1t was resolved to
test the matter by sending out a small
boy duly instructed.
"Are you waiting for NJ. F., sir?n
asked the boy of the suspected indi-
vidual. yes" he answered with
alacrity, ''sent a message" 'She
can't come before half-past twO." said
the unscrupulous hoy. Perfectly sat
isfied, the dapper gentleman, all un-
conscious of ridieule, settled himself
in a seat near by and-waited.
By twos, by threes, and by half
dozens, the searchers for NJ. F. ap-
peared in front of the Star and Ledger
offices. The policemen began to
gather around and wonder what was
up" Again and again was the little
messenger dispatched to the seekers,
and in no case mistOOk his man.
Some of them were told to wait;
others that NJ. F. would address them
the next day in the Sunday Ledger.
Every young lady that passed before
the assembly was eyed most seriously.
Now and then they eyed each other
suspiciously, but none saw the game
until the small boy was sent into their
midst with plaeard bearing the fol-
lowing inscription:
IN. F. can't come to-day"
The way these sOft-hearted fellows
made tracks for parts unknown is
impossible to describe. The hoax
was self evident, and the humiliation
still greater the next day, when full
account of this ridiculous affair, with
a graphic drawing of the group. ap-
peared in the Sunday paper.-N. y.
Cor. New Bedford Mercury.