The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-03-27

VeTSallOn enough was learned 10 give
him an idea. He at once determined
to call upon him and learn the particu-
lars OF his strange calling. Mr.. M.
was found in rather dingy little STOP
on Walnut street, the entrance to which
was partly barred by bulletin boards
containing display copies of flash itera-
ture, while the show window was pack
ed with dime novels and light reading.
The frizzly-headed youth who stood
behind the counter when the reporter
inquired for Mr.. Markeson pointed
toward a gentleman in the rear of the
store who was busily engaged at desk
with notes piled up on every side.
what can | do for you?' he asked
politely, but still with the air of man
who don't want to be bothered.
II want you to write me note
''Have you copy?" he asked.
mo, but | will dictate to you"
'.All right, but proceed quickly, for 1
have lots of business on hand. What
do you want, business AandP"
Eyes, business hand Till do"
'sOn commercial note?"
YES
"Well, 60 ahead"
In very few minutes the letter was
| written, addressed to fictitious person,
and sealed. 1t was written in beauti-
full business hand, every letter being
almost perfectly formed.
How much?' asked the reporter.
twenty-five cents, please?"
The amount was paid, and the letter.
writer was asked when he would be at
liberty for few moments. Half an
hour later was appointed, and the
Meas Journalist returned.
ssNow | wish you would tell me how
you became a letter writer, and how
you worked up such business as. you
seem to have"
"Oh, that is very easy to explain.
Six years ago l was a common card
writer, and went to county fairs and
| wrote cards on the streets in Cincin-
natl, and great many people employ
ed me to write letters for them. 1t
struck me that it would be a good idea
to work up trade of that kind, AID I
got little ahead financially and bought
out this stand. 1t began little slow
at first, but people began to find me
| out, and there is not day that do
not write number of letters. Some
times have more than / can attend to,
as you saw to-day"
How did you manage to work it
up?''
.Women-that tells the story One
or two women get letter written, ard
then they tell others about it. Nearly
all the illiterate women of the city en-
ploy me to write their notes, and they
are the best-paying class, and then
there are numbers of educated women.
Some of them write really nice, legible
hands themselves, but for some reason
or other they prefer notes written in
some other F73nd. Poor servant-girls
have notes wH!tten and want them with
all the tlouTsshes that can be put into
writing by Il master. A great many
have me draw bird or deer's head to
make the letter look attractive and
pretty. Sometimes they come and tell
what they want themselves, but not
frequently. ] have written some of
the most sickening stuff you ever heard
of for love-sick girls, and have been
put in charge of innumerable secrets.
l have no regular charge, the lowest
price being a quarter and from that on
up to 81. The more ignorant woman
the louder sounding she wants the let
ter and the brighter colored she wants
the paper. Look here, for instance
Showing brilliant red-tinted sheet of
paper with gold-embossed edge and
stamped monogram at the top1, that
was written for colored woman, who
is a cook at 10-cent restaurant and
goes to dusky lover. charged her
only a quarter. A woman who had
more money to throw away would
have charged ST."
ITO whom are letters generally writ
temp
''Men of all classes. Actors come
in for the great share. During the
week Fanny Davenport showed here /
wrote thirty letters to one of the actors
in Fedora for different women, pro-
Tossing all sorts of admiration. A great
many are written to gamblers and fast
young men. A party who recently
figured in Nesos Journal sensation re-
ceived good many notes written by
me-"
''Do you write many letters for menu
Not nearly so many as for women.
The men are generally those who can't
write themselves or who want anony-
nous or threatening letters written so
that they can not be detected by their
chirography. J have had Ala iHklipg of
curious and startling facts that would
create sensation if known, but never
ask questions, and consider everything
as strictly confidential. l would, per-
haps, make an interesting and valuable
witness in many divorce cases it t'other
party only knew about me.
lis the business profitable?" queried
the reporter.
well, l will give you the figures. l
began little over five years ago with
a few hundred dollars. | now have
property which can convert into cash
on three days notice, and have lived
in good style, SO you can judge for
yourself. But don't you publish that,
for haTe q monopoly now, and it may
start competition"
On the desk were a pile of notes
waiting to be copied, SO the reporter
withdrew Cincinnati NeaCs Journal.