The Hazlehurst signal., 1885-11-19
WOULD-BE DETECTIVES.
Boys, Young Mon and Ladies', All
Ambitious.

"Yes, We get lots of applications
from people who want to BE- detectives"
said detective TO reporter.
"What manner OF persons are thcy?"
was asked.
"All sorts. Farmers. mechanics.
clerks and loafcrs, and sometimes n
lady wants to engage In the business
and applies to us for an opportunity to
learn it You sce, the calling of de-
tectivc Is envelopcd with halo of ro-
nance by those who don't know any,
thing about it. and in truth suppose
there is some reason for it. a good dc.
tcctivc must be u bright, active fellow.
strong of limb, fearless and able to cope
with dangerous men. Above all, he
must be smart, ob,ervant and full Of
devices, able TO remember faces y-ramcs
and dates. and the better his education
the more advantages ho has over the
people he undertakes 10 master-for a
detective has To be smarter than the
men he undertakes to bring 10 justice.
He must be their master in whatever
they do. lie must always bc able to 80
them one bcttor. lie must, to be sue
cessful. know all the crooks. thoir
hauuts and habits, and must be able to
keep his affairs 10 himself. concealing
his intentions so that there can bc some
excuse for the romance with which out
siders have surrounded the profession
"And how abou, the reality?'
"Just like everything else. The sue
cessful detective has got to work hard,
expose himself to all sort of dangers,
aud has few Of the pleasures which
others enjoy. 1t is n fine thing to hunt
out great bank robbcr or run down u
gang of countcr'citcrs and all that. but
il must be taken into consideration that
these people will cut mans throat in
an instant and without any hesitation
to save themselves, and even after they
are caught the reward is not so i'm
mersc. The business is like all others.
1t seems very nice when you are not in
it. but when you do get in it you find
it has its hardships together with its
pleasures.
"Will YOU now tell me about some of
the people that try to obtain positions
with You? l believe you can give me
material for IN interesting article about
that.
Come up in the Office and will
show you some Of the letters we get"
was the answer.
The reporter very willingly followed.
and on reaching his Office the detective
searched out bundle of letters that
lay in a pigeon hole bound together
with piece Of tape. 1--WE usually
throw them away" he said, ''but kept
these rs curiositics. don't show them
to every one and must ask you not to
publish any names"
The newsmar reluctantly promised
not TO do so.
Here is one from Newark. o." said
the detective "Read it."
The cpistlc was written in delicate.
feminine hand. and run thusly:
III am desirous OF becoming detective and
would like to Join your agency at n small sal
airy until could become sufficiently proficient
for active work. am young man of eight
cen years. and In regard to my character or
educational abilities for becoming such can
refer YOU tn several In this city. II you will
accept me please reply Immediately and state
salary you can pay
That letter." he said. ''was doubt
less the outcome Of many weeks and
perhaps months of study. The boy be-
came tired with an ambition to be a
Captain Collier or old Slcuth, but did
not know how to 90 about il. He didn't
want to start out and run down n gang
Of thieves on his own hook, because he
might get into trouble. There We're bad
men right around him doubtless. but he
didn't want to begin on them. i can
imagine him thinking the matter over
for long time. and finally deciding to
send n fceler down to us and see how
We would take it. It's no wonder
these humbug agencies thrive on the
credulity OF the people.
Here is another letter from a boy.
This one is younger than the first He
says:
"I write you to say..that would like a great
deal to be n detective. ] am only fifteen years
old. but there are plenty OF boys who have
hunted down rascals at my age, ind know
could do the same IL given n chance. have
been studying bow TO be detective and fit-
ting myself for the business know the
meaning OF thieves slang, and Tread al the
robberies and murders In tho newspapers,
and know Ill the men OF that character In
the country by rcputatf-, and name. have