The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-01
inventors a Confiding and Ambitious
Class OF Men.

A Blocker street crook was eyeing
the dirty street from the top step in front
Of high-stoop house not far from Null.
berry street yesterday, when he saw an
acquaintance passing on the opposite
,ide of the street Motioning the ac-
luaintance to perch on the stoop, he
said:
ut was constant source OF anxiety
With my father that | should receive
proper education. My father was man
If rare literary attachments, and it was
ais ambition that should achieve dis
inction by like attainments. He sent
ne to the best schools and he bought for
ne the best books Though | often
neglected the great advantages by which
was surrounded Gan acknowledgement
which make with grief and shame),
,an yet boast that in his widest moments
If hope and pride in his youthful scion,
ae never dreamed of what | was des-
lined to accomplish"
"Been in luck latelyp' was asked.
mo, sir There is no such thing as
luck. Success comes only as the result
Of persistent, intelligent endeayor. To
such success have l lately attained, and
having pretty thoroughly garnered the
harvest, will relate to you the details,
Of all classes of honest, Woodworking
men in this country none have done
more to build up the Nation than the in
Ventors. None, may add, possess at
once so much suspicion of the crafty
men of the world and such childlike
simplicity in business matters. In com
| mon with all mankind this class has
love of riches and honor, and especially
| riches. Some years ago | devised q
scheme for teaching these men practi-
:al lesson in business affairs, and at the
same time gaining for myself fame and
wealth. My first step was to prepare
some beautifully Autographed letter
paper, with the cut of large factory on
one side and the usual heading of cor
poration beside it. Then | wrote the
men who had patented any sort of small
! machinery letter like this:
OFFICE OF ATLANTIC MANUFACT'G Co, 4
| No. BLEEKER STREET, NEW YORK. !
| DEAR SIR: My attention has been called to
| he fact that you have received letters patent
On new device for cleaning broom corn.
| the manutactllre OF Sucn machines Is Il Spe-
| ,ialty with u.s. and we desire to add to our
/ present list OF machines all the improvements
! that may be devised whenever it is demon
strated to us that real improvement exists OF
| very brief description of your machane con
tanned in the Patent Office reports we are in,
| elfned to think that yon have something that
| we want. l am authorized by the directors
| Of the company to say thats il your ma
| chime does all you claim for it, and II your
patent is as strong and as broad In its claim
| the exclusive right to make and sell them il
The State of New York and all other States
east of the Hudson River. We will, in add
| ton, allow you a reasonable royalty on al
| machines sold, rendering accounts quarterly
| or otherwise, as may be agreed. The $l0,0N
viii be paid you as soon as the papers are
| ready for signature.
| We shall expect you to share the expense
Of the examination into the merits of you
machine and the validity of the patent. Oul
| Washington attorney charges $50 for this ser
Cice. On RECEIPT of SIS from you, we will have
the investigation made at once. II will re
auire ten days to complete the examination
1t the end of which time we shall be ready u
prepare the papers. We shall then be happy
to invite you to visit the city as our guest, sc
that everything can be arranged satisfactory
y, viva voce. Very respectfully yours
r. BERNARD PELHAM, Secretary.
n. B.-Please send money in postal order
OF registered letter
1T should be distinctly understood
that | wrote out each letter, putting il
The names of the different machines al
occasion demanded. autographed auto
graphic letters will not do. / mailed my
letters all so that the replies were likely
to be scattered along over a couple o
weeks time, and thus avoided awaken
ng suspicion at the pOst-of1Ce
Whether my little romance was q sue
| II e
records of the money order and regis
tered letter departments of the post
office will determine. 1 did not amas
fortune, but the number of gentleme1
4 who wished to fee my Washington at
f iorney would astonish you. The humble
a Of really ingenious models of feed cut
: ;ers, washing machines, churns, hrooI
e corn cleaners, sausage suffers, and so o
q stored in my room there is imposing.
must not forget to say that l rente
desk room in a reputable building use
for various purposes for the reception {
nv mail
''How did you manage to get the &C
dresses of the inventors?"
Very easily. There are numbers {
= what are called trade papers in tn
II country, ueFOLeu 10 Speclal Hanulactul
, ing interests. These papers publis
!, E from week to week lists Of patents take
9 out for machines of special interest
n their readers. A very prominent papt
in this city publishes weekly list of tt
patents taken out by the patent alto
neys, who are its proprietors. VIII
more could / ask. The game worl
beautifully for few weeks, and then
must be dropped for year or so. The
new geese will have grown up, and Il
ii plucking goes on merrily as before"
How many feathers line your nest (
the result of your latest literary efortP
II got in all ninety eight letters an
packages that contained the cash. ~