The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-02-24
SNindling and the Swindled.

that OF the Roman I'm pre- D. ,. t3sL-S.
SNindling and the Swindled.
IT sometimes seems as though no
other trait of our many-side1 human
nature was quite so magnificent IN d.
mensions as its gu}libility. 1t rises
noun tain-like among human attributes:
it is all-emb acing as the sea. Reason
ine from general principles we should
say that every man or woman in the
present diffusion of knowled re would
know, for example, that any 0t'um
which was advertised as the infalliole
panacea for Il dozen diverse ailments
was humbug. But the serene assur
auce with which the ''discoverer'' of the
latest remedy announces it as the GER
tain cure of a hundred different dis
eases is as familiar as the appearance OF
a tramp at the kitchen door. The fact
that he spends his thousands in adver-
tising shows that he finds profit in the
fraud. Men and women who have wit
enough to make a living and keep a
little money in their pockets swallow
with child like confidence the yarns of
the "Indian Doctor" on the fair
grounds, and buy his rattlesnake
oil y in the full persuas, on that it viii
not only cure toothache and corns, but
any other ailment that may intrude into
the territory between toes and teeth.
They would believe him if he claimed
to select healthy snakes and try his oil
out of the rattles only!
There is some excuse, though, for the
weary procession of invalids which IS
forever traversing the long range of
rene eiies, in hopes OF hitting upon some
thing in which they may find health
hidden for them. No wonder they
clutch at every straw. They are not
the only people who would suffer if the
fool-killer should make his rounds, nor
the first ones. Somebody buys lots in
paper cities, stock in paper railways,
shares in paper mines, or SO many peo-
pie would not make living in pushing
that sort of property" upon the mar
ket. The marvel is that they so often
find their dupes, as their advertise
ments bear witness, among people who
read the papers and might be supposed
to know the ropes. But human nature
likes to take risks, to walk on the outer
edge of precipices, to dodge into range
of the sharpShooterS when it might Just
as well keep safely behind the breast
works. There is where the fool appe RS
and often a little OF the knave. For
the man who is so ready to send a dol
lar for five dollar pac lage of iewelry,
the woman who is SO quick to hug q
table cloth at half price of the peldIe1
who could not sell IL at half price, as
she knows, unless he smuggled it OF
stole it, would do better to % into drv
dock at once and give h or her moral
character a thorough overhaulinr. The
craft that has such shaky timber in its
keel is likely to founder in q heavy sea
OF course neither the jewery nor tie
table linen is what it pretends to bet
is an attempt to swindle you. But
would it be any better if it were an at,
tempt to make you partaker with g
thief? 1t is a very good rule to look
upon the offer of any property at hall
its market value as a euphemistic way
the man has of saving that he is ras
/ cal and suspects that there is something
of the rascal in you.
! The depredations of the "Ladies De
posit Company upon the women o.
! Boston illustrate the wonderful capaci
| ty of human nature for being imposed
upon. That an adventures without
credentials or acquaintance could OBJ
! tain hundreds of thousands of dollar:
under the crazy promise of paying
eight per cent. interest month on sucl
deposits is most amazing. And in Bos
ton of all pIacesi The wonder is tina
people so credulcus ever succeeded il
getting any funds together, or keepins
them long enough for this swindler l.
get ho.d of them. The audacitv OF tht
| NJ
grows upon us as we study it. 1t is quit
probable, as reported, that some mer
slipped in their investments under cove
of their wives petticoats, trusting tina
the stream of investors would keep u
long enough for them to get back thei
principal and something fat in the wa
of interest before the concern cola rsed
They knew that was knavish at tn
time. That it was foolish, too, they ca
see now.
But the most of these victims deserv
pity. Their experience strikingly en-
forces and emphasizes the preachmen
of Good Company a few months ag
about the Importance of teaching girl
more about the PRINCIPLES of financ
and the rules governing the judiciou
employment of funds. Any man at a.
versed in business methods would rec
ognize at the first g ance the radical in
possibility of paying eight per cent.
month on deposits, the inherent rascal
ity or insanity of any one who shoul
promise to do it. 1t is cold comfort t
these women now that they ought t
have known as much. Others lik
: them, though, ought to know as muc
hereafter; and will, if fathers an
schools do their duty.-Good Compam9