Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-05-18
BLACK.MA1EfNG.
How we are Levied upOn at Fairs
and at Weddings.

There is a very great deal of truth in
the following, which we find in the Gin
cinnati Times, and Chronicle, although
BY some it may BE- considered too out
spoken:
There exists in society system of ex-
tortion which, though countenanced by
custom, is nevertheless very injurious to
all who come in contact with it. This
may be called social blaclSmail, and
there are very few persons who have
not been the victims of oppression in
some shape or other. Custom regulates
and sanctions many absurdities, but
none so barefaced as this. 1t is levied
in such manner, and practiced so gen.
orally. that person is prevented from
,resenting the imposition, even If he
were so inclined. The majority Of peo-
pie tolerate these exactioAs without even.
giving the matter thought, other than
that they are so much out of pocket"
by means Of them Those who refuse to
pay homage to its dictations are laughed
at and called mean, selfish, miserly, by
the adherents to this custom An indi-
vidual cannot obtain recognition in what
is termed good society without yielding
to her demands. The same rule applies
TO the man who wishes to obtain politi-
cal fame he must answer all the various
calls made upon him, and if he refuses,
his chances of rising are very small He
must allow himself to be held by the
leaders, as well as the rank and file of
the party,
] This species of black-mail is more
prevalent in some classes of society than
in others, each class suffering from this
evil in some of the forms it assumes, but
the middle class, in the broadest sense
suffers most from the persecution which
this custom inAicts. The custom has
become so firmly established that the
combined efforts of all classes will be
necessary to accomplish its overthrow,
and the majority of people are not will
ling to enter into q contest against a
deep-rooted custom, however injurious
to them, unless there are some chances
of success. Fashion is one Of the pow
ers which upholds and protects the sys-
tenn, and the victims snffer without any
outward show of opposition because it is
considered fashionable and is praeticed
by all fashionable people.
The extortion is practiced on grand
scale at all the fairs which are held in
the city, and its workings can be seen
at any. time if the reader should choose
to visit one Of these expositions. 1t is
considered proper for the fair lady at
tendants OF these gatherings to squeeze
as much money as possible ont of the
pockets of the visitors. None are, ex-
empt from the exactions Of these perse-
cutors, for they attack every one, the
poor as we'll az the rich, men, women,
and even children who chance TO visit
the bazaar, and they coax and bother
the visitors until they aecede to their
demands in order to get rid Of their
tormentors. Upon entering a fair the
visitors are Immediately surrounded
bys bevy Of young ladies', who com
mence their attacks regardless Of
consequences or results. II an indi-
yidual be of the masculine gender, he
is button-holed at once by the young
lady who chances to see him first and
he is asked TO take a chance in this, to
buy ticket for that, TO purchase doll,
OF try hand at the grab-bag, to help
Mrs. Browns table or TO patronize the
undertaking Of Mrs. Jones, until he is so
completely bewildered that in order TO
escape his fair prosecutor he buys an
article from her which is Of no possible
use TO him. BE imagines that he has
passed the ordeal and is all right, but he
finds himself mistaken, for as soon as
the first lady leaves him another takes
her place and repeats the same requests.
This is repeated by so maEy. Of these
prosecutors that he is forced TO leave the
fair for want of funds, as it will take
wellflled poeket-book TO pass through
the hall with feeling Of charity. At
large far as many as twenty young
ladies have been seen waiting for their
turn to attack n gentleman who was re-
puted 70 be wealthy and free with his
money. Ladies are not pesfered TO such
a degree as the gentlemen because they
understand the mOdHs Operandi, and
will not part with their money so readily
as their male friends are apt TO do. The