Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-05-26
"TO ADVANTAGE"
4 Newspaper Advertisement.

his avocation in Canterbury, was inn
posed upon by m adroit scoundrel, who
contrived to got suit OF clothes on
credit, and afterward decamped without
paving for them. The Quaker was too
poor to lose the debt; but like too many
others of his cloth, he had apparently no
other alternative. The account was
placed ON his books, and soon forgotten.
About five years afterward he was EXAM
lining his old records of debt and credit,
profit and loss, when his attention was
attracted to this account, and all the Cir
cumstances attending it came fresh to
his mind. Suddenly IN odd thought
suggested itself.
I'm try an experiment." said he to
himself; "perhaps l may succeed in
catching the rogue and getting my pay"
He Immediately prepared nh adver-
tisement, in substance MS follows, which
he inserted in the Kent Herald:
eff Mr.. Henry Weber, who was in
Canterbury about the month Of August,
in tho year 1868, will send his address
to the editor of this paper, he will hear
of something to advantage"
Having instructed the editor not to
disclose his name to the rogue If he
should call, but to request the latter to
leave his address, the Quaker patiently
awaited the result of his experiment. In
short time he was informed by note
from the editor that the individual al
luded to in the advertisement, having
arrived from London, might be found at
the "Rose Hotel"
The tailor lost no time in preparing
transcript of his account, not forgetting
to charge interest from the time the
debt was incurred. Taking bailiff
with him, who bore legal process suit
ed to the occasion, he soon arrived ut the
lodgings of the swindler The bailiff
was instructed to stand off at little dis
lance till signal should indicate the
time for him to approach.
The Quaker now entered the coffee
room and rang the bell, and when the
servant appeared, requested him to in-
form the gentleman of whom he was in
search, that friend wished to speak
with him. The waiter obeyed the sum-
mons, and soon both debtor and creditor
were looking each other in the face.
How dost thou do q kindly in
quired the Quaker, in bland tone.
" Perhaps thou dost not know nc p
81 believe have not had the pleas
IRE of your acquaintance, politely an
swered our hero, with forced smile.
Dost thou remember purchasing
suit of clothes several years ago of
poor tailor in this city, and forgetting to
pay for them ?" asked the Quaker.
"Oh, no |" said the gentleman,
blushing slightly; "you must be mis-
taken in the person. 1t cannot possibly
be me that you wish to find"
But the Quaker was not to be shaken
off by this denial of his debtors iden-
tity.
All, John ! know thee well. Thou
art the very man wished to see Thou
hast on at this moment the very waist
coat that made for thee. Thou must
acknowledge it was of good stuff and
well made, or it could not have lasted
thee so long"
"Oh, yes" said the gentleman, APP
pearing suddenly to recollect himself
1" do remember now the circumstances
to which you allude. Yes, yes-I had
intended to call and settle that little bill
before leaving Canterbury, and you may
depend on my doing SO. I have come
here to take possession OF large
amount OF property which has fallen to
me by will. "See here is the adver-
tisement which appraised me of my good
fortune"
Here he handed to the Quaker copy
of the paper containing the advertise
ment whose history we have given above.
The Quaker looked at it with imperturb-
able gravity, and continued
Yes, I see thou art in luck but as
my demand is n small one, I think l
must insist on payment before thou
contest in possession of thy large es-
tates."
A tap at the window here brought the
county court bailif into the presence of
the parties. The swindler was particu-
larly astonished at the appearance of
this functionary, who Immediately began
to execute his part of the drama.
"What! y exclaimed the rogue, in an
angry tone, "you surely haven't sued
me?"
eyes, I have" replied the Quaker
land thou shouldst be thankful that
nothing worse has happened to thee"
"Come in, then," said the debtor,
finding himself fairly caught; "come in,
and I will pay you if I must"
The three went into the house to-
gether, and the slippery gentleman
having ascertained the amount of the
bill, paid it in full. The tailor having
signed the receipt, placed it in the hands
OF his late creditor, with feelings such
as may be readily imagined. The swindler
took it, and for the first time glanced at
the various items of which it was COM
posed. He said nothing till he came to
the last charge, which was "for adver-
tising;;" when he broke forth:
"Hallo! what's this? For advertise
ing?' That's an odd charge in tailor's
bill. You're cheating me"
ooh, no." coolly replied the Quaker
." that is all right. / have charged thee
the cost of publishing the advertisement
which thou just showed me-"
Here the swindler savagely demanded:
"Do you mean to say that .you caused
the publication of that advertisement %
Truly I did," replied the Quaker,
with most provoking GOODNESS.
You told great falsehood in it -
quickly retorted the rogue.
Convince me of that" said the i'm