, 1872-12-15

to be excellent. In numerous instances they
prevent professionals from revealing their
chronic wants; in others, they abash fellows who
had made up their minds to arrange for loan
and, in others again, they cripple the hopes
formed of 8 successful swind1e.
I have ueen told by persons who triod the e1-
pertinent, that these manifestoes have saYed
finite amount Of annoyance besides. Such cap
1tals certainly have 3 hno e1tinguishing effect
upon the flaming a1dor Of the social highway
men, so superabnndant in Gotham.
THE DIFFERENT DEMANDS.
The length Of time that g borrower (outside OF
buBiness) has been plying his vocation may be
determined by the amount he asks for Wheo
he is rather new to the trade, he Wlahes usually
to be accommodated with loan Of $500, and, Il
that sum be inconvenient, he thinks he can get
to accept thirty or forty cents on the dollar OF
his original proposition, and generally it is not
safe to offer him any sort OF compromise.
After year or two of genteel sW1ndllng, the
borrower fixes his demand at from $l0o to sou,
but can be induced to take S25 as sort Of in
stalment On the obligation which he fancieB the
community has, in some mysterious manner, in-
CURED.
Ten-do1lar swindlers have, for the most part,
seen much dishonorable service, and are among
the most numerous Of their nefarious guild.
They are to be found everywhere, in the street,
at the hotels, at the theatres at the races; even
ut private parties sometimes, where they make
the etereotyped excuse that they have left their
be profoundly obliged for trivial loan until the
day following.
The petty impostors, who solicit loans from
S5 to so cents, have usually met with so many
rebnffs that they make their approaches with
difhdence which usually undoes them. They
mention SIS with IN infrmity of voice, eyincing
that they hare no expectation Of obtain
ing. it, and drop down to $3, 80,
or. 81, with precipitancy revealing their fanih-
arity with disappointment. As 3 last test, they
half 3 dollar; and it 1s seldom they fail to get
it. through sheer commiseration, from the per-
son besought.
TRANSLUCENT INDEED.
One OF the most transparent andimpudent or
ders OF swindlers are those who tell you they are
in q certain straight, and could easily be helped
il they would apply to their father, brother, or
some other near relative. But they are too
proud-they take pains to inform you-to de-
mean themselves in that fashion, and, therefore,
have not tho slightest claim. This mode
Of borrowing-an insult to the lowest
intelligence-deserves to be answered with
the boot; and yet as it involves certain sort OF
hattery, it frequently meets with practical re-
sponse.
TIE ANNUAL 6WINDLEs.
It is estimated that, independent of all regu-
lar or mercantile transactions the denizens Of
this city lose from $5,000,000 to $4,000, 900 an
nually by ewindlers, claiming to be philanthro-
gentlemen, in temporary distress. These mis-
ce1laneous borrowers have prete1ts Of every
kind, all Of them appealing to the best part Of
our common nature, il they were only true.
The sole difference between professional bor-
roWers and beggars is, that the former always
promise to pay, and the latter never promise,
though one can DO as much depended upon for
settlement as the other.
SUCH RECURRING cALAauT1Es
IS visit these. unblushing negotiators OF 1oans
might have been gathered from tho multitu-
dinous woes Of the Greek tragedies OF the grand
operas. The borrowers are very seldom unpro-
vided with dead mother, or an unburied wife,
or starving children, or dishonest partner, or
stolen pocket-book, or deferred remittance. or
an absolutely necessary journey, or remarkable
mishap Of some sort. They infest the principal
hotels at the busy hours Of the day, and employ
their best energies in introducing themselves to
the pockets OF the boarders. Nearly every pub
lie house appears to have its special haunters,
and one ingenious story will serve their purpose
for month or more. Borrowing has long been
systematized here, and every season is marked
by new inventions and pathetic fctiona to de-
lude the generous and l1nWary.
TIE AUDACrTY
Of the professional borrower is grand and
exalted. He will stop your carriage in tho
Park, and invite you to 2 .pecuniary ombarrass-
ment; will make known his financial enbarrass-
present or future Mrs. on your arm seek
a private interview, with monetary purpose,
before you are up in tho morning.
If yon were to be hanged,-of which there is
no danger here, whatever crime you may COM
mi, he would steal up behind the sheriff as the
latter was drawing the black cap over your eyes,
and AJAX you if you couldn't spare s1o, now that
you were going to q country where National
Bank notes are not current.
MOST NEW ToRKERs
understand 80 thoroughly the trick Of courteous
cozeninS that, whenever any man they don't
know intimately seems anxious to see them,
they are convinced he is in quest of q loan; and
in nineteen cases out OF twenty their convictions
are just. Neither friendship, nor love, nor
detectives trace fellow to his lair, or scent
out his sanctuary, like borrower. He will
pursue his game round the world, and shame
sleuth-hound from the start.
Lost in the great city" is often sad truth;
but it may be converted into fiction if man in
need OF money have his attention called to the
pocket-book Of tho person supposed to be lost.
You cannot so bury yourself il this Babylon Of q
New World that tie borrower will not bring you
to Light. And, il you have had experience, when
= stranger fatters you, you will understand,
from the degree Of his compliment, the exact
amount Of the loan he expects to obtain.
J. a. B,