The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-03-07
Northern Views Of Southern
Scenes-Notes No. q.
Hot SPRINGS, Ark, Feb. I.

Hot SPRINGS, Ark, Feb. I.
To the Tslegrabh-Conrser:
The co-conspirators and the visit
ing victims.-It is we'll known fact
to most of the visitors of these
springs that there is an organized
band of conspirators to victimize the
visitors. This is made manifest by
the regular appearance of different
set of solicitors who board every in
coming train to the springs. They
come in groups of ten or adozen and
board every Iron Mountain train
about ten miles northeast of Little
Rock. They pass through the cars
from front to rear and take an in
ventory of their victims. When all
have passed they hold consultation
and determine how many each man
is entitled to. They then return in
pairs through the cars and each will
approach the number that he is enti-
tied to and in very tender manner
will inquire of the visitor concerning
his health, and if he intends to visit
the springs for relief. The victim
mods an affirmative He will inquire
if he has engaged rooms at any par
ticular house or hotel. The visitor
wags negative. He will then pro-
duce his credentials in the shape of
a Autograph likeness of beautiful
hotel, with the name of the same and
the proprietor thereof in gold en-
bossed letters. The visitor, if old,
will place his eyeglasses over his
nose and gaze intently at the thing
Of beauty, and will conclude that
such a house will give tone aud char
acter to a guest. He will venture to
inquire what are the terms of the
proprietor per week, day or month.
The solicitor will enter into a full
some eulogy of the house, declaring
it to be the most perfect in its ap-
pointments and service of any house
in America, and is patronlzed by la
dies and gentlemen of the highest
character. He will then exhibit to
the visitors diagram of the internal
parts of the house, with rates for
rooms per month in each story,
lighted and warmed. The bald
headed visitor will adjust his glasses
again and stare at the diagram, and
will naturally conclude that he can
afford to pay little for style and
good company, as we'll as board and
baths, He will then select a first
class room on second floor at eighty
dollars per month. The solicitor
will then write the name of the vic
tim and the number selected on the
adverse side of the card and hand it
to the visitor and make a note of the
same in his memorandum. He will
then smile and congratulate the Wis
itor and depart in quest of Victim
No. 2. No. I will not be molested
again to the end of his journey, Oh,
no! the solicitors do not compete
with each other. If a solicitor Sc
cures six victims in one day he con
siders himself fortunate. The rest
of the solicitors ply their art in the
same way and until all the victims
are secured. They travel on, solicit
ors and victims, seventy miles to the
end of their journey. They arrive at
Hot town (doubly SO for the victims).
The visitors surrender their checks
to their respective solicitors, who hire
baggage wagons and hacks to con.
vey their respective victims to their
respective houses or hotels. The
victims are introduced by name to
the clerk, who bows and says, 81 am
pleased to see you, sir, and will be
glad to serve you to the extent of
my ability" The solicitor is Or
dered by the clerk to exhibit to the
visitors certain number of vacant
rooms, which he proceeds to do The
visitors make their final selections,
and the solicitor records their names
and respective numbers and returns
with the visitors to the clerks office.
The clerk proceeds to make out re-
ceipts for eighty dollars apiece for