Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-25

New York. You can't make anything on
the curb. It takes little money. You,Ve
got to make a show. You must have nice
place to take customers, and when you get
them there you must be surrounded by EVIL
oences of business"
"It was suggested that o sheet-iron safe,
well painted, was highly ornamental to an
office of that character, but could hardly De
put down as an evidence of business. 1T
would do Just as WELL" said he "You can
do legitimate business with an empty
sheet-iron safe, just the same as with
$1,000 one. It is no sign bank has money
because it has vaults and safes and a lot Of
loose bills scattered about. Why. there are
hundreds of men doing business in New
York on appearance. You must have ap-
pearances."
HOW ONE FELLOW WAS WORKED.
And there are unquestionably thousands
of business men here doing business on ap-
pearances. While in Chicago recently met
man who had invested $1,000 in the stock
OF New York corporation with the agree
ment that he was to have the Chicago
agency at a certain salary. The Chicago
man went on to New York and visited the
main Office. Everything seemed to be all
as handsome Office rooms pretty typewr1t-
ers, clerks, Office boy and other appurtess
nances were concerned, of big business.
The money was paid in and stock issued.
The man returned to Chicago with instruc-
tions to spare no expense in fit
ting up the local Office and send in the bill.
He followed the instructions. He also sent
in bill for some $3.50. He also paid the
bill himself, finally, the New York "Com-
pany" having vanished in the meantime
with his S., 900. Inquiry ELECTED the fact
that it had never mad any business and had
tnever even paid tor the furnishings in
he New York Office. The promoter" did
the business.
The metropolitan newspapers fairly TEEN
with the advertisements of these specula-
tors. The very extravaganza of the prom
ises they contain should be sufficient to de-
ter any investor from even answering
them.
The theatrical swindler has a permanent
lodgment in New York. He preys upon
stage-struck young women and poor actors
out of a job, principally, though everybody
who has money is fish for him. 1t was only
yesterday New York paper ran one Of
these verniin to earth. His scheme was to
advertise for actresses and actors for certain
plays to be put on the road, offering to pay
travelling expenses and for wardrobe and a
comfortable salary.
WHERE THE MONEY CAME IN.
The preliminary stage OF the game was to
send the manuscript part to be played, the
charge for the copy of the play being $5, G.
o. D. This was the end of the game, so far
as the aspirant for histrionic fame was con-
cerned. But this is a single case. There
are alleged legitimate theatrical agencies
here doing thousand times more damage.
The loss of S5 to theatrical swindler is
small matter, and the result is doubtless
beneficial to both parties. The agents who
bring young women to New York and work
them for every dollar they have for so-called
instruction, and then, having ruined them
financially, turn them loose to shift for
themselves, are the worse criminals. There
are dozen agencies of this kind.
Last summer a bright young lady came to
nv office with an actress, and asked my ad-
vice as to q certain man in this line of busi-
ness. She had lived in Indiana and had
come to New York to study for the stage. An
advertisement brought her to the theatrical
agent. He took the easiest way to get rid Of
her-turned her over to a broken-down act
ress for instruction at so much per week. It
was a good deal from her slender means, but
sue was III cuIuusldsL, Suu udU resolved 10
win herself place. She had been promised
part from one of his friends in company
to 60 on the road, but had been put off from
time to time until she had grown suspicious.
u took the pains to look into the matter, and
found that the broken-down actress was
living with the agent, and the latter turned
in these feminine flats as payment
OTHER FORMS OF FRAUD.
The bunko steerers and green goods men
have been so often described that it would
seem to be superfuouS anywhere to mention
them, and yet scarcely week goes by but
the papers contain glowing accounts Of their
successful operations. A new crop of fools
spring up daily. The clairvoyant thrives in
this city. You can see this by the daily
standing advertisements. Sometimes there
is hall column of them in a single paper.
And they reach out far and find victims all
over the country. This class of
sLarps has been exposed time and time
again, but ridicule and abuse, imprisonment
and finest, have no appreciable effect on the
profession. The fats who patronize them
are the silly and ignorant, who never read
newspapers, and if they ever learned by ac-
cident the character OF the fraud, have not
the strength of mind to profit by the sad
experience OF others.
This is but brief outline of the list of
harpies who prey upon weak humanity.
Of the man who lives by his wits without
violating the moral code, will write here
after. The grouping of the sharps and flats
here given illustrates with extended signif-
canoe the adage. 1.-The fool and his money
is soon parted. CHARLES 7. MURRAY.