The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-04-26
Cincinnati NsDs Journal.

him an idea. He at once determined
to call upon him and learned the par
ticulars of his strange calling. Mr.. M.
was found in rather a dingy shop on
Walnut street, the entrance of which
was partly barred by bulletin-boards
containing display copies of flash liter
ature, while the show window was pack
ed with dime novels and light reading.
The frizzly-head youth who stood be-
hind the counter when the reporter in
quired for Mr.. Markeson pointed to
gentleman in the rear of the store who
was buslly engaged at a desk with notes
piled upon every side.
"What can l do for your" he asked
politely, but still with the air of man
who don't want to be bothered.
81 want you to write me note"
s'Have you a copy? ?" he asked.
'sNo, but will dictate to you"
"All right, but proceed quickly, for
l have lots of business on hand. What
do you want, a business hand2"
eyes, business hand will do.
"On commercial note?"
eyes"
"Well, go ahead"
In a very few minutes the letter was
written, addressed to fictitious person,
and sealed. 1t was written in beauti-
full business hand, every letter being al
most perfectly formed.
CHOW 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. Halt an
hour later was appointed, and the
Meas Journalist returned.
CHOW wish you would tell me how
you became letterwriter, and how
you worked up such business as you
seem to have"
ooh, that is very easy to explain.
Gu ,enrc nao was a common card
writer, and went to county fairs and
exhibitions writing cards. For while
I wrote cards on the streets of Cincin-
natl, and great many people employ
ed me to write letters for them. II
struck me it would be a good idea to
work up trade of that kind, and 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 l do not
write a number of letters. Sometimes
have more than I can attend to, as you
saw to-day"
elbow did you manage to workitupF'
'Women-that tells the story. One
or two women getSa letter written, and
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 there are
| a number 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 hand. Poor servant-girlS have
notes written and want them with all
the fourishes that can be put into writ
ing by a master. A great many have
me draw a bird or deer'S head to
make the letter look attractive and pref
ty. Sometimes they come and tell
what they want themselves, but not
frequently. l 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.
have no regular charge, the lowest price
being a quarter and from that on up to
81. The more Ignorant a woman the
louder sounding she wants the letter
and the brighter colored she wants the
paper. Look here, for instance show
ing brilliant red-tinted sheet of paper
with gold -embossed edge and stamp
ed monogram at the top], that was
written for a colored woman, who is
| cook at a Io-cent restaurant, and goes
to dusky lover. 1 charged her only a
quarter. Awoman who has more money
| to throw away would have charged 81. !"
"To whom are letters generally
written?"
"Men of all classes. Actors come in
for the great share. During the week
Fanny Davenport showed here l wrote
thirty letters to one of the actors In
Fedora for different women, profess
ing all sorts of admiration. A great
many are written to gamblers and fas
young men. A party who recently
figured in Nez0S Journal sensation re
ceived good many notes written by
me-"
''Do you write many letters for men!'
s'Not nearly so many as for women
The men are generally those who cam
write themselves or who want anony
nous or threatening letters written sc
that they can not be detected by theil
chirography. 1 have had an inkling Of
curious and startling facts that would
create a sensation if known, but never
ask questions, and consider everything
as strictly confidential. I would per
haps, make an interesting and valuable
witness in many divorce cases if t'othel
party only knew about me"
s'Is the business proftable2" quer
led the reporter.
"Well, 1 will give you the figures.
began little over five years ago will
a few hundred dollars. l now hav
property which l can convert into casl
on three days notice, and have lived il
good style, so you can Judge for your
self. But don't you publish that, 70
l have a monopoly now, and it ma
start competition.
On the desk were a pile of note
waiting to he coDied. so the reporte