The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-05-22
Postal Pirates.
Clever schemers Who Works Through Ihs
Mails.
philadelphia Call.)

N~N~--NN~@e ~e~s%(
The artful schemes carried on through the
United States mails in such manner as to
be beyond the reach of the postal officials
have become so extensive during the last
year that 1t is highly probable that the at
tention of Congress will be called to the
matter during the next session. Thousands
of people, especially young girls and poor
women, anxious to turn an honest penny,
but ignorant of the tricks of the world, are
deprived of their pittances every week, and
ingenious men grow rich off their savings.
Under the existing laws much Of the nefar-
ious business cannot be reached, so well do
the seamps cover up their tracks with legal
technicalities. The mode of their operations
is to insert highly colored advertise ments In
daily and weekly journals describing how
ladies with few hours spare time each
day can, by the advertisers new scheme,
earn from IS to $40 week in doing nice,
clean, agreeable work of art. mo money
required al first. Send for an explanatory
circular" the advertisements frequently
say.
Several days ago guileless school girl in
this city, anxious to do fancy work, send for
circular to Boston post Office box 10 re-
ply to ali advertisement of this kind. BY
return mail she got the circular setting forth
III BlOWAlS ilOW AIOAu ~ W plO q Week
could be earned "after few DAYS practice"
The document was from Boston "6rm."
"Should you wish to engage with u.s." 1t
said, 1--WE will send you complete instructions
with a stamped pattern on silk, plush or
velvet, together with colOred sample for
trial, with the same pattern as is stamped on
the silk, plush or velvet, for the sum of 81.
This sum we always require TO defray ex-
penses OF publishing and correspondence,
and sending the material, aud also as a
guarantee of honest intentions on your
part"
The unsuspecting school girl sent her dol
lar for "an outfit" In several days she re-
ceived by mail piece of the commonest
quality of cotton velvet, about four inches
square, with miserably designed figure
stamped upon it. This valuable piece OF
material was between the leaves of an eight
page pamphlet, which was printed on the
meanest of paper, and it did not cost more
than few cents. Upon the cover of the
pamphlet were the words: sInstructions in
the Art of Kensington Fancy Work. Price,
One Dollar" The book contained ''instruct-
ions" how to paint different varieties Of
flowers. "Do not send us your sample" the
pamphlet added, "0nless it is nicely done,
and in order for you to know whether 1t Is
well done or not, compare it closely with
your colored sample. As it greatly depends
upon your sample whether you receive 8
quantity of work from US TO paint or not, 1t
would be great assistance to you If you
had completely finished design, as it would
give you better idea of how the work ap-
pears when finished. Some persons no
doubt, would say, know my sample is
not perfect, but J thought would send
it so you may look at it. This
will be only extra expense and trouble for
you to do so, for we want only perfect work
as we have them to sell again for the benefit
of those who are doing our work, and to
push it more promptly we will send you by
mail a completely finished design" The
instructions concluded by explaining that
'a complete set of paints, pens and brushes"
would be sent for the work upon the receipt
of 81. The young miss did not, however,
send The 81.
''This is one of the meanest kind OF swim
dles," said post Office official when shown
the articles to-day, ''but you see how they
have covered up their tracks to prevent
conviction. BY examining the words Of
their circular you will see that you've bought
the book for 81, and accordign to the ruling
of Judge Butter in the case of a similar in
stitution. conviction cannot be had as long
as something was sent for the money, no
matter if the thing sent is worth in mouey
only half cent. Thousands Of young girls
all over the country send them their savings
and set up nights painting the trifles only to
receive word that the work has been reject
ed on account of imperfeclions. You don't
suppose for moment that there is any mar
ket for sale of thousands and thousands of
little scraps of dry goods with common fig
ures painted upon them at the price they
propose to pay-from % cents to So piecee
Then they really do buy some few for the
twofold purpose of getting them for samples
to send out and to prove that they really are
doing business"
A reporter of the Evening Call sent in the
name of a young lady to Boston post Office
box for circular, and received a document
inviting the writer to send a dollar for
book OF instructions and a sample. Among
other promising statements the pamphlet
said: "We have large orders for our paint
ings on all styles and sizes of plaques, tiles,
panels, etc., and we must have large num-
Der of ladies warking for US, that we may be
able to fill these orders promptly"