, 1875-09-18

a correspondent nGkB for information in
regard to tho standing Of certain parties in
this city who have issued circulars inviting
tho recipient thereof to invest his or her
money in what aro ouphonious]y called "In-
sared Contracts for the purchase or sale Of
grain On tho Chicago Board of Iraao. Tho
writer's of these circulars offer their services
in tho negotiation Of these contracts, and
paint in glowing colors the brilliant prospects
which Lie before those who nro wige enough to
court Dame Fortune by their proxy. Accord
ing to these expounders Of tho secret of money!
getting, it Is only necessary to invest forty
dollars in IN insured contract to buy, and tho
same amonnt in another contract 10 sell, to
be sure Of making II big profit in any one
month. Tho authors triumphantly cite the
course Of the grain nnrkots during tho four
weeks preceding tho late of the circular to
ahow whnt big bonanzas might have been
anatched up, in very much the samo style as
the dealer Of tho three cards points to lis
own losses, or tho steerer shows how hs can
win prize in the lottery e1temporizcd for
the esprens advantage Of his victim.
With regard to tho personal standing Of
tho parties holding out these seductive in
auecnents wo can sny nothing, not having
tho honor Of their acquaintance. But TOR tho
scheme itself, wo can answer TINT it is at
once illegal and morally vicions. Tho In
st1red Contract" is but another nano for tho
option to bny or sell, which is prohibited by
tho laws of tho State OF Illinois, under sovero
penalty. It is fa1niliasIy known rs tho
"privilego, two classes Of transactions
embraced in it being called "puts" and
"calls."
There nrc so many men in the world who
caro- little for either Divine or human Inv If
they can only SEQ the way clear to q big
" strike" that We prefer to use the, to them,
moro cogont argument, TINT the thing does
not pny. Tho man who IL tempted to invest
his money on the turning up of tho Queen
i'll tho monte game, or on tho chance Of
representing" successfully at bunko, has
inst as good game in his hands RS he who
risks his cash on privileges or " insured con-
tracts" Of tho kind alluded to. The "put,"
tho " call" md tho straddlc," whether On
stocks in Wall street, or on grain In Chicago,
tho lottoty, the bunho game, faro, etc., are
but 60 many devices Of children Of the devil
to get money ont Of the pockets Of others
without earning it, aud these children of
Satan aforesaid never nay prize except
where it is thrown out us bait to catch a
larger fish. And, oven If these things wore
conducted honestly u such thing we're
possible), tho investor IL Buro to lose
in lie oad. The lottery manager docs
not pretend to pay in prizes moro
than half Of the money received from the
sale Of tickets; tho faro dealer admits TINT
tho game is per cent In hiu favor md the
agent for the purchase Of insured contracts
only pays $25 out Of each $40 invested, to
tho party who sells tho contract-lo would
charge Ms per cent for his services, oven il
he should honestly do as l,o agrees to do, and
give the Investor cla,lco to receive his
money back with interest.
"corrosponaent " may rest assured that II
is not best To risk his casll in any such inyeyt.
Inents. Tho safest way will 10 to keen his
money in his pocket, or give it to the poor,
He may accept this "a IN axiom that "No
good ever Gomez ont Of attempting to beat q
man ut his own ga1ne."