The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-29

One of the most successful forms of
swindling has for long time been
based upon d thoroughly cynical view
of human nature. The rogue has said
tohimself: IF | can persuade people
that they can get something for less
than its value, or at the expense of
somebody else, nine of ten will swallow
the bait, and can fleece them" Up
on this principle a whole class Of
'.moral agricultur ,sts,'' as. one of VIII
kie Collins's characters calls them, has
long fieurished Of these are the pre-
tended dealers in counterfeit money,
who lay traps for dishonesty inclined
pers ms of means, aud rely upon the
fears of their customers for immunity.
OF these are also the so-called 'sbunko
men, who appeal to the cupidity OF
their intended victims, and so often
with complete success. OF these also
are the mock-auction managers, and
concerning these latter a recent illustra
ton ccurred. A country merchant went
into a place where, apparently, cigars
were being sold by auction. One Of the
supposed audience remarked TO him
that the goods were going very cheap;
whereupon, q case containing a dozen
boxes being put up, the merchant bids
$2.5O for them, and the case Being
knocked down to him he finds that he
is expected to pay $3.50 a box, or thirty
dollars for the case In this instance it
is rather difficult to apportion the blame
fairly. for it is plain that no man of
sense could have expected to buy a
dozen boxes of cigars for $3.50, while no
man who knew good cigar from bad
one could have expected to buy the
former for $3.50 box. The man
who expects to get six or twelve hun
bred cigars for $3.50 must either be
very simple, or must think that the
goods he is purchasing cost the seller
nothing; in other words, were stolen,
And this is another ruse of the dark
fraternity. They know that there are
many people who will buy stolen goods
if they can get them cheap, and so they
cause it to be believed that their wares
have been obtained in that way.
Those who yield to such tempta.
tons must have dark streak in their
own composition. For be it observed
that however green the victim may be
in the majority of these cases, it is not
his yerdure, but it is his tendency to
knavery, that eventually brings him in
to trouble. He thinks he is smart. .
He thinks, that is to say, that he car
cheat his neighbor; and he is quite will
ing to do it if the opportunity occurs.
The professional swindler takes advan.
tage Of this dishonest propensity. He
excites two strong passions, aVarice
and vanity Theyictim longs to obtain
money without earning it. and is sim,
pie enough to confide in his own sagac
ity. And so it is that the pigeons SC
often turn rocks themselves in the end
The professional swindler is one in
whom the dishonest tendency has al
ways been stronger than any social re-
straints. The class from which the pro.
fessional swindler's victims are usually
drawn consists largely of people who
are dishonest within limitations. They
will not subject themselves to legal
pains and penalties, but they viii gel
the better OF their neighbors whenever
| it can be done safely. 1t is because
there is 80 considerable an admixture Of
knayery in the conduct of many of the
victims of these professional swindlers
that the latter are enabled to ply then
vocation so boldly and with such i'm.
munity. Sometimes they make mis-
takes, as in the Adams case, but much
more frequently their victims choose tt
| pocket their losses rather than confess
to weaknesses which they can not hell
perceiving to be something more thar
indications of mere simplicity.-N Y
| IiTibaf1e.