Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-24
THE MAGIC OF ADVERTISING.
The Curious Experience Of One Man Who
Patronizad the . Los" Column.


Patronizad the 4" Los" Column.
Everybody WHO has advertised in The STAR
has had demon trated tho value of that paper
as medium through which to communicate
with the entirecommunity. Advertisements in
The STAR ALWAYS produce astonishing results.
But Mr.. H. Conquest Clark, the correspondent
of the New York star, has had an experience
quite out of the common. If there is any col
umn of paper in which people advertise with
little expecta ion of returns it is in the column
of things lost, as there is always the chance
that the finder may not be honest enough to re-
turn the property. 1t il with this column that
Mr.. Clark has had his remarkable experience.
Many people have had the experience of hav-
ing their ad ertisements in The STAR answered
satisfactorily within an hour after the paper
has appeared on the street. Housekecpers by
the score have advertised for servants and had
their door bells set ringing by applicants be-
fore the carrier has delivered their paper. But
the peculiarly of Mr.. Clark $ experience is that
his advertisements are answered before the pa
per goes to press.
First, a valuable dog which had been shipped
to him from New Orleans. was lost within two
days after its arrival. 1t was away for three
days and they had almost given up hope of its
recovery. On the morning Of the fourth day
Mr.. Clark went to TIE STAR Office and put
notice in tn, Lost column. When he got home
the dog was sitting very penitent. He gave
himself up. Mr.. Clark says, as soon as he found
he was advertised for.
On anoth occasion Mr.. Clark lost q scarf
ring. which, Decides possessing considerable in
trindic vnlue. had an added value to
him. being present. He was greatly dis
turbed b! the loss and at once put
notice in TAE STAR and went Immediately home.
On reaching his house the ring was restored to
him. This was his second experience with the
Lost column. The third was when he pri-
vate secretary to Mr.. Sanford CT Florida. who
was ut one time Belgium minister and who
was instrumental in the Congo free states
gotiations. Mrs. Sandford had a very hand
some diamond brooch. which had been pre-
sented to her by the King of Belgium
a compliment to her husband. While out in
the evening she lost it. Mr.. Clark asked
if he would have an advertisement put in The
STAR, as he going by the Office in the
morning Before complying with the request
he related his past experiences and expressed
the hope that he would bring them as good
luck through the medium of The STAR. He did
not see any of the family until late that even
ing. but when he called Mr.. Sanford met him
at the door and told him that the trinket had
been returned by a servant in the house where
Mrs Sanford had been visiting 1t was some
time before Mr.. Clark again had occasion to
advertise loss in THE STAR. but the next time
he had similar luck. He was then private sec
retarv to Perry Belmont. Mr.. Belmont never
wears a watch chain or fob of any sort, and one
day he lost handsome little gold watch. for
which Mr.. Clark was called upon to advertise.
Before the paper went to press the watch was
found.
The other day Mr.. Clark was met coming
from The STAR office. He said he had Just put
Lost" notice in The STAR. Mrs. Clark had
lost her pocket book containing $50. The book
had no name on it and there no card in it
to indicate the ownership. Thirty dollars and
one car I'll ket was all there was in it. 1t looked
like case that might be regarded as perma-
nent loss. Mr.. Clark related to STAR reporter
his experiences above. and expressed an in
terest in the future developments, though he
had no h,pe that the pocket book Would be re-
stored. Yesterday he met the reporter again and
announced that the book and the money had
been restored.
So" lie said, Il have five times advertised
in The STAR for things lost. and each time re-
covered the property if by magic"
>--
passenger train on the Western New York
and Pennsylvania railroad jumped the track at
jacksonville, sixteen miles north of Bradford.
Pa. yesterday and twenty-one of the thirty
eight passengers on board were more or less
injured. The wreck was caused by spreading
of rails. two passenger cars and q baggage ear
topping over eight-foot trestle. Following
is list of the injured: Mrs. James Blake Of
Sheffield, Pa, cut on forehead and nose lips
lacerated and upper teeth broken off. besides
other injuries. Conducto- El Johns ripht ann