The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-06-17
Beware of Confidence Men,"

! The number Of men who are "victim-
| iZed' by and the amount of money gained
! by " confidence men" of one kind or an
other in cities are surprisingly large and
| do not seem to grow less, nOtwithstand
| ing the number of signs with the above
! inscription and the frequent warnings of
the press. We attach very little impor-
tance to giving details of this or that par
| ticular trick by which men are deceived
1t is much safer to rely on some general
| principles, for it is safe to say that the
cases are very rare in which man has lost
money through !" confidence men" of any
| kind, when the loss is not attributable TO
an excess of credulity, ignorance of busi-
/ ness customs, or desire to make money
| too easily or dishonesty.
Among the rules it is well to bear in
mind when travelling or in large cities, the
| following may be named: Ii is neither
| the best of taste, nor very safe to be max
| ing a show of large quantities of money.
| Ordinarily it is not best to carry large
sums of money on the person. If this
| seem advisable a sum sufficient for ordin-
| ary expenses should be kept separate and
| the rest need not be exhibited nor spoken
| of.
1t Is neither necessary nor advisable to
! tell strangers your name, business, desti-
nation, and general history. One need
not shut himself up like an oyster. The
! little courtesies and talk of civilized life
should be found among travellers. but
many man could trace his loss of money
to too free talk about himself.
While little cOurtesies and favors NAV
properly be exchanged between strangers,
the cases are extremely rare in which
stranger should propose or you should
offer favors which require the lOaning of
money or the purchase of property.
| When a stranger finds himself in
need of a little or much money
and asks you for it, proposing to give
as security. or sell at a great sacrifice, a
fine watch or valuable diamond, or to Sc
cure YOU by a check. draft or bonds, ETC.,
/ it is perfectly safe to express your regret
| that it is not convenient for you to accom-
mOdate him, as some hundreds of men
who have received brass watches, glass
/ pins or worthless checks can testify.
| Proper inquiries will almost invariably
be civil'y and correctly answered by rail-
road conductors, ticket agents, policemen,
hotel clerks, etc. As rule, they should
/ be addressed TO such men rather than to
| strangers, however friendly.
! Ii in a city you are addressed by some
"old friend who calls you by your own
or some other name, but of whom you
have no recollection, there is no objection
/ to being as polite as he is, but there are
very good reasons for not going out of
/ your way to Oblige him, or acting on his
/ advice, however plausible-as a good
many men who have stopped to I" take a
/ drink with such friend " or gone
with him " TO see the sights" or to look
up good chance TO make meney,"
| have found out TO their cost.
1t ought not to be necessary to caution
any one against accepting invitations to
pauonize lotteries, cheap auctions, ETC., or
against betting with mOnte-men, or gam
/ blers of any kind, but it is unfortunately
/ true that large numbers of men who ought
TO know better have been - swindled )" in
/ these ways. For such menit is not easy
| 20 get up much sympathy.
J To sum up, the man who quietly attends
10 his own business, neither seeking nor
! permitting too great familiarity on the
| part of strangers, who transacts his busi-
ness so far as possible with well estab-
lished and reputable firms. and who is not
led astray by apparent opportunities to
make money dishonesty, will rarely have
need TO complain of being swindled by
confidence men.-WesteT71 RllraL.