Connecticut western news., 1873-02-21
Fraudulent Substitution.

A typical case is one recorded in con- nection with the celebrated Jean Maria Farina, the inventor of the famous Eau de Cologne. The following character istic story is current. ALondon dealer in perfumes, it is said, betook himself to Cologne, with view of purchasing a plentiful stock of the genuine article. On arriving he found the old town swarming with Jean Marias, each and all of them pretending to be the genuine descendants of the original inventor, and of course the sole pzssessors of the important secret What should he de How was 1t possible for him to select the right man among so many? After long pondering the matter, he makes up his mind. He goes to one of the most respectable looking establish ments, introduces himself to the pro- prietor, and after little preliminary chat, enters on business. This portly: German assures him he has applied to the right man; but these assurances do not altogether allay the suspicious of the Englishman. The latter, notwith- standing, buys to moderately large amount, receives an invoice of the goods, and hands over check for the sum due. "Now," thinks he, "this plausible fel- low will be frank enough to tell me the truth, seeing that he has my money" and he puts the question to him "Are you really and truly the actual proprietor of this property-the lawful inheritor of the original Jean Maria or are you not? You see, we have done our business; you have the cash, and may tell me the truth" The other hem'd and coughed and stroked his moustache, bowed graciously, "washed his hands with invisible soap in imper- ceptible water" as Hood has it, and at length with kind of greasy smile, and a manifest seeming reluctance, ac- knowledged that there was-yes, he was obliged to confess that there was-one, only one, person in Cologne who had a | claim for priority over himself. You will give me his address ?'' said the Englishman. "Certainly, as you have i so iberally dealt with me-" He hand ed over the address. The Englishman bade him farewell, and, driving off to the place at once, there made large pur- chases to ten times the amount at least which he had paid to his informant, and then returned we'll pleased to his hotel, considering that, on the whole, he had transacted his business satisfac- torily. But while dining at his hotel, he fell into conversation with conti- mental traveller, who knew Cologne well, and all the ins and outs of tho traffic there carried on. The Londoner made a confdant of his new acquaintance and informed him somewhat boastfully of the shrewd transaction of the morning. "Oh!''' said the other, Git is really a pity to disabuse you; but you have been a little too fast-both the houses you have dealt with to-day 6eloeg to the some proprietor; he is very clever fellow, l assure you"
 In St. Louis last Sunday gentleman sitting in barber's chair, while being lathered, observed the knight of the razor every now and then throw some soap suds out of the mug upon the floor, and set his foot upon them. The barber explained to him that there were a lot of little snakes in the mug, and that they kept crawling up on the brush, but the gentleman thought he would go out and get paper before being shaved,