The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1879-06-12
. Small Swindling.

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Speaking of swindling, l., think that New
York can hold her own with any city on that
score. 1t seems as though there was nothing
too mean for men to resort to for the sake
of gaining q dishonest livelihood A lady
told me, the other day, how near she had
been to being swindled, and I will tell her
story for the sake of other unfortunates
This lady, by the way, is one to whom pow
erty IS something new, and she has not yet
learned how, to wrestle with it. Want stared
her in the face, and she eagerly scanned the
columns of d daily paper to see if there was
anything to be had by which she could earn
little money. Her eyes alighted upon this
advertisement: "Wanted-A lady to learn
to- color photographs. Lessons given and
immediate work guaranteed. Wages, $12
per week. Work may be done at home.''
Then the address of the advertiser was
given. What could be more delightful? She
Immediately set out to answer it in person.
In mean little room on Broadway she
found an unpleasant-lookingm man seated be
side a desk strewn with circulars and letters,
enclosing postage stamps. She stated her
Y,
and told her that she must first buy box
of paints from him, which he would
sell her for $3.50, much less than
she could buy them elsewhere She had
no money with her, SO he said that it would
40 another time, only he would keep the
paints until he received the bills. ''Who
will teach me to color the photographer she
said. '':1 know nothing about it.' s'Prac-
tice will teach you all that is necessary he
replied ."Just you buy the paints, take
them home, and so to work. The lady left
somewhat mystitied, and told Anthony Com
stock, the obscene literature fighter, who
was her friend, all abont it. i Don't you
pay that rascal a penny said Mr.. Comstock.
"Tell him that I will be responsible for the
$3.50. guess he knows who am'' Sure
enough the lady went back next day and
told the man that Anthony Comstock had
promised to be responsible for her. AT first
the man thought she was joking, but when
he found out that she was really in earnest,
and that Anthony Comstock had heard of
his tricks, he got rid of the lady az quickly
and politely as he could. So she saved her
$4.9O, which she could have ilI-afforded to
throw away. wonder, though, how many
less-fortunate women this fend has swindled
One Of the most successful swindlers in
New York is girl not more than twenty
three or twenty four years of age. She is
humpbacked, but has a very sweet ladylike
face, and works upon the sympathies of all
with whom she comes in contact. She
seems to be well educated and is certainly
clever. Her dress is always in good taste,
and she has not the appearance of o beggar.
The way she manages is to find out the name
of some one you know, and she makes q reg
ular call upon you, as any lady might do,
representing herself as the friend Of your
friend, who has requested her; to CALL 4 She
comes several times, and there is that about
her that interests you at once. After you
begin to know her quite well, she! asks for
money, but in the most delicate manner in
the world. She is raising funds for a mis-
sion school, or she has a check to be cashed,
and the banks are closed. Indeed, she is so
clever about it that you never suspect thing
until You find that her visits cease after the
money has been advanced. She completely
fooled DIR. Holland some time ago. The doc
tor is one of the most tender heart
ed of men, and he had the greatest
pity for the poor deformed r.. creature,
and gave her quite a little sum
of money. am sure be felt a great deal
worse at his disappointment in the girl than
in the loss of his money. He expostulated
with her, and begged her to give up her
swindling ways; but she positively refused.
He went to her house, and found that she
lived with her mother in very comfortable
style, and all by the money she made by such
nefarious means. During Nine. Modjeska' s
last visit to New York, this clever little ad-
ventures called upon her, aud said that she
had.just- received letter from some of
Madame's friends in Cincinnati, who re
quested her to CALL She came several times,
and Nine. Modjeska, like all the others, be-
came very much interested in her. One day
she asked the actress for $35, giving some
good reason-I forget now just what it was.
Madame did not have the amount in her
pocket-book just then, SO she told her to call
III the afternoon, and she should have it with
the greatest pleasure. happened to call on
Nine. Modjeska in the meantime, and she
told me about this poor child who was in
such difficulties. ''Is she humpbacked?" I
inquired. eyes, poor thing, she ISL replied
the kind hearted lady. ''Then beware,' .
said l, "for she is the biggest little fraud
in New York; and told Madame of
her tricks. ~ should rather have lost the
thirty-fve dollars, and been deceived" said
she, than to know that that young girl was
an adventures" Indeed, had great diff
Guilty in persuading Nine. Modjeska of her
unworthiness, and, even after she knew, she
wanted to let her have the money. I do not
suppose the girl was surprised when the
money was not forthcoming She probably
supposed that she had been discovered, and
started off for fresh fields.
You would be perfectly surprised to see
the begging letters that are received by
people before the pnblic who are supposed
to be rich. think that Miss Kellogg gets
some Of the funniest have ever seen. Not
long ago, some woman from the West sent
her the photograph of triplets she had
given birth to. The children were about
two years old, and sat in row, with their
arms and legs bare. The mother wanted
Miss Kellogg to adopt one, and sent her the
photographs that sue might take her choice.
Another letter was from man, also in the
West, enclosing the photograph of little
girl six years old. He had named her after
Miss Kellogg, and wanted to know if the
prima donna would not set aside $4,000
for her education in the English branches,
and ultimately for the cperatic STAGE Cor.
Sat. Zee. Gdz. "