The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-07-15
Swindling In, New York.

This city of New York is almost an EN-.
bodied falsehood. In fact there is so
much deception that there are but two
times. If you 60 into Wall street to buy
get forged certificate, and If you buy a
brown stone house you will find it an out
side veneered on to a rough brick wall.
Such being the case with things of i'm.
portance, what must it be In minor mat.
tiers, where the lie is 20 much more facile.
Look at mis- confectionery establishment
and then inquire "What means these bar.
rels of terra alba" which you may notice
in the basements The reply l would
make Isl "They are used in manufactur-
ing candy" To work off white clay at
twenty-five cents pound pays better than
selling pure article, and the lie we'll
stuck to is as good as the truth" Look at
this coffee factory, and then inquire the
meaning of these bags of peas and these
hogsheads of chicory. The reply is:
"They make good coffee-at least for the
proprietor; and you will find his pure
ground ginger handsomely mixed with
corn meal, and his spices loaded with plas.
ter" He protests that the goods are pure,
and though he lies he acts on the principle
that a lie we'll stuck to is as good as the
truth" Then look at this strawberry
dealer. What good-sized basket for a
quart? But when you take hold Of one
you see how the rim projects an inch below
the bottom. 1t is only one of our ways of
lying.
One of the greatest jokes on accuracy in
the medical department is found in the
printing establishment, where all manner
of labels and certificates are initiated.
There are few popular medicines which
are not represented here, and the certifi-
Gates Of remedy, some of which are Of an
Gent date, are also on sale. This, it may
be observed, is one of the secrets of the
trade, and should not he divulged. I
therefore desire my readers to view the
statement as notwithstanding the ar
rangement is very convenient-and con-
sidering the advance in lying it is up to
the age. Another capital lie is the way
clothes and also boots are put together, az
though adhering by the mere power Of at
traction. But the principle is well-estab-
lished here "that lie we'll stuck to is as
good as the truth Some of the practical
lies carried on here are of an infamous
character, such as packing barrels of pork
one-third short, whereby ship crews may
be put on short allowances, and perhaps
starved; but all such things may be looked
for in a place so thoroughly false as New
York.
The professed swindlers now find green
horns" wonderfully scarce, and hence the
methods adopted to attract attention are
very original. Passing up Broadway
few days ago my attention was attracted
to crowd around store where the fol-
lowing sign was displayed: Wanted,
10000 men not to come in and see our alli-
gators Such a ign could not but create
rush and the motive could easily lie I'm.
derstod. Entering, discovered that the
object was to get crowd together for the
purpose of shaving them by what is called
the photograph game. Two men were be-
hind a rail persuading the crowd to buy
photographs, and these were all the alliga-
tors to be seen. Another scheme was
brought before me while turning down the
corner of Broadway and Dey street. A
pleasantlooking man addressed me on
the sidewalk and cordially invited me
inside to see the new style watches. l
accepted the invitation and perceived that
from my plain appearance and innocent
manners he took me for an easy victim.
He had case Of nice-looking silver
WdCHcS al tlSnt uOIldIS apiece, anu Sdlu
he wanted agents all over the Union, but
his conversation changed when another
man entered with some large envelopes,
into one of which large values had been
placed. A bet was proposed, which I de-
clined, as it is not in my line, and merely
mention the matter as an illustration Of
what is called the "envelope game.' I
have not time to describe details, and
merely mention this as word of caution.
Great numbers of the unsuspecting are
swindled by these games, which are of
very attractive character.-N. Y. Letter to
Utica Herald