Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-01-27
The Long" " FIRM.
BIZ L: P, HARRIS.

valuable works in marble, bronz
aud ivory at Fine Art Exhibi
ton in Manchester. The term 0
the exhibition whs drawing 10
close without any Of these object
being sold. when Mr.. Laying re
ceivsd q note from . Liverpoo
gentleman, !, requesting to kno,
the lowest price that would be ac
cspted for the whole collection
The. writer being disposed to pur
chase IL to- adoYn his mansion
Tbs. letter CONTAINED some intelli
gent and appreciative remark
on many of the works particu
larizing their merits. limiting al
defects--and appeared to 1. b,
written by q cultivated connois
seur. 1t was dated from an aris
tocsAtid. sounding square, anc
Mr.. Laying having little doub'
that he was entering on q CORES
pondence with o wealthy mer-
chsnt-prinoe, replied, naming his
terms. The customer returned
answer. that although he could
not consider the price named ex-
tfavagsnt tor such 4 collection,
itnetetthsIsss exceeded his pres :
snt rnesns; bat be offered to / ur.
Shase several Of the articles sspa.
.rately e. g particularly mentioning
An iyssy plaq no. Of : q Minerva,
which he directed to be forward.
ed at once. promising to send his
price, twenty-five guineas, On re.
ceipt. The plaque was duly
sent. Not receiving the money
nor . reply from his patron, Mr..
Laying took journey to Liver
pool from the South Of England.
and there hunted up the square
with the aristocratic name Iron
which the letter was dated. The
square was : court. Knocking
at the door of q a'-hoyel, !. he il,
quired ! il Mr.. CArruthefs, lived
thsoe A poorly dressed woman
paid: 80. Is = 'ss 800 Z. ss..a.,,.: {: ,'ss's
"Yes4but be was away: would
not return for some days. 4
VERY good; you're his wife, Of
course. I'm Mr.. Laying from
Surrey. I see how it isl have
been swindled; but I'give you
half an hour in which to return
my ivory carving, and pay my ex.
pensss to Liverpool. II you
don't do il. l shall call the po-
lice,. give you ir custody. and
break ypur windows" " And he
took . seat. ~ ap, tra,s.s .aa = ar
The womsp Al frat Protested
that her husband had "a wned the
ivory. carving; but alter . deal Of
trouble she produced Il from a
bundle of. rags in the corner of
the room. e Z" a.. ~. ~. : ~
Having recovered his Minerva.
Mr.. Laying CONSENTED to dis
pense with the police. - :.
"Now," said he. "pay me my
thirty-sesen shlllin9s travelling
eapsnses, or I. break your vim
do1s. 9 + - ..'sl' ~ i.'''.ssi Is. 8
"Well. sir" replied the wo-
man, II will be csndid with you.
II is no good asking usfof money /,
for We haven't sixpepcs-in the
houss. We have been very un-
fortunate lately, and business
dull. It Is quite ttue that we be-
long to the Long firm, but we
ere not the principals in business
my has band il merely employ
ed 4 . salafy pf thirty lhillings
3 week, end dn aao0mmission on
what be brings II. Asfo the po-
lice, they know us very we'll; and
il you like to eall ihsln, you are
welcome" Many people are We *
enough to think We can hs given
in charge for. this sort OF thing,
but they find, out their mistake.
Their only course is. to sue us for
debt; and as we never have any
thing TO- seize, il is never worth
while. Some people waste q derl
Of nonsy in finding this o6t. Al
for yos, l am sure you can't CON
plain, for you've got yous goods
back, asl - -. .s..'s.s.ts
Mr.. Laying being determin.
cd character. broke the windows
and left. .nrc ~.
= My friend Royston. nursery
man and horticultufist in Hamp
shire, was actually twice
swindled by the same '.Long.
One summer afternoon q geatIe-
man siiahts from his dog. cart a,
Mr.. Royston's extensive grounds
and gives in his card. "Mr. Wal.
ter Long, Loagsight. .Manches,
tor He has cofne tc-took ouI
Z some .shEnbs, trees and Aoricultu.
raj tafities for his s.placs.." HI
sviuces considerable knowledge
Of the specimens shown him. bu,
defsrs to Mr.. RoyIton's judg
ment in the selection. Abou,
fifty pounds worth ire chosen
and promised to be sent of Mr.,
Long explained that be never rar
bills. always preferred 10 pay
cash; but having been at greal
expense about his ''pkce, . auf
having allowed him sell to .bs per
suaded to exceed the AMOUNT b,
Intended expanding ia shrubs, b,
supposed his acceptance n; tst
months would be-. Satisfactory
The candor of bis manner dis
arlDing suspicion. Mr.. Il ,ystor
was prevailed upon to p,rt witt
his goods on those teihe. Ii
kwo snOukhS fima he dtcnvara,