Smyrna times., 1874-05-27
Confidence Men,

All the teachings Of experience and all the
ually clamOr OF the press seems to be uRavai-
ing 10 convince certain class of visitors from
the interior that if they make sudden friend
ships in the city they will regret it. There is
hardly day in which the police are not made
the reclpentS of tale of woe founded upon
spontaneous intimacy and misplaced conf
uence. Sometimes gentle stranger accosts
the rural visitor as MIR. Higgins of Utica. He
fepHes' tt You are mistaken; my name is
Mugglns, and | live in Skaneateles." The
stranger apologies and disappears, and lust
around the corner a confederate comes up,
calls MIR. Muggins by his own name, and is
V0luole about matters. and things in Skanea.
teleS This is plan by which even municipal
ulgnltarIes from the interior are sometimes be-
gulled, 1t was practiced few days ago in
Boston, upon a New England Deacon, who
owns stOcking-mill in Massachusetts. He
came to the city, sold his wares, and met
man who accOsted him as an old acquaintance,
and IN the flush Of the renewed intimacy, got
all his money.
But commoner and coarser method of the
predatory class is to approach the victim with
frank and honest sincerity, saying " | don [
know you, but like your looks. This seems
universally effective. A day or two ago, a
Slngulary striking instance of the efficacy of
| this plan of plunder was seen in New York
An Indian trader from the Far West, one of
those men whose lives are a continual struggle
for existence by means Of the exercise of the
sharpest and strongest faculties of observation
and judgment, man who had gained for
tune by saRaciOus trade on the border, risked
his life and lost his property by means of this
idiotic confidence. A total stranger met him
on the cars and entered into conversation with
him. He opened his heart to him instantly,
and on arriving in this city they had already
become "pardners Instead of spending his
money at hotels he went to the house Of the
ostensible "Sister' of his new Pylades. As a
matter of course, he was found the next morn.
ing wandering half-nak in the streets, drug
ged almost to Inconsistencies His trunk and
his money are in the keeping of his friend and
his friend sister, wherever they may be.
Iti hard to be compelled to preach a ser
mon of cynicism. But unless every stranger
learns the lesson Of wholesome distrust, he
would do we'll to stay away from large cities
A man who forces himself upon your acquaint
ance with offers of friendship and service, in
tends to rob or swindle you. No one will fal
in love with you at first sight, and if he tell,
you so, he is after your pOcke: book But this
NAV be said and repeated to the end of time
without putting men and women on their guard
against swindlers Vanity is stronger thai
common sense or experience. No one is safe
from the confidence man. unless he Is convinced
of his own ugliness. To say to the average
mortal. ~ like your looks, in the phrase anC
manner suited to his degree of cultivation, i.
the surest way to convince him of your owl
taste and candor. There are few men living
who are not more pleased, in their heart o.
hearts, at a personal compliment than at any
eulogy upon their goodness or their righteou.
fame. The confidence mans whole stock il
trade is this reliance upon human vanity. Hi
only chance of livelihood is making people
believe that their progressing appearance has
attracted him. And every day shows how easy
a task it is. A man Of ordinary ignorance may
hold the severest views of a4ttery in the ab
stract, but he hears nothing but truth and dis
cretion in the voice of the concrete fatterer
There would seem to be No remedy for The
confidence game, except to adopt the Englist
religion which has been so much laughed at
and never grant your acquaintance excep
upon a proper introduction; and if any maj
or woman tells you he likes your looks, tn,
best way is to call the pOlice.-N T. Tribune