Evening journal., 1897-10-21


Opportunities, but Usually intro
duce UnsuspectinE Women TO Un-
scrupuIous Neutrality-suspicious.
graphs of Handsome SsvRfns and
Beauteous Mnfdens Are the Usual
Bnits. but the Originals Are Sell
dom I'm Evidence-Wbnt Can BE
Done TO Abolish the EviIf
Special.
NEW YORK, oct. l4.--One would Inn
agine that It was hardly necessary
now-a- days to warn the public against
professional marriage -mongers. When
ever the veil that covers the operations
of these gentlemen has been lifted II
has been made clear to the dullest COM
prehension that bunkum Is the basis
of the business and that really serious
swindles are it's common accessories.
But exposures and warnings have not
stopped the supply OF dupes, and these
mischief agencies are still
pocketing the savings Of servant girls
and the spare cash OF hard-working
young men who ought to know better.
The recent prosecutions for missing
word" frauds and other bogus compe-
titions show that 10000. or, perhaps, 3d.
600. fools are always standing ready 70
part with their money. They appear
20 rely upon such theories as that
man who is not publicly branded as an
imposter must be honest that man
who advertises extensively must bo
wealthy. that whatever appears In
print must be true, that an enthusias-
tic testimonial must be genuine and
unsolicited
None Of these stupid notions will hold
water for a moment II is no easy task
70 reveal a rogue's character and ca
recr to the general public. The law Of
libel Is so severe that a newspaper Is
generally unable to publish n sentence
until It has in it's possession a long
chain of well-corroborated evidence. In
the vast majority Of cases the victims
O a slkillful trickster take no steps to
protect others thinking that they will
thus avoid adding TO the unpleasant
ness of publicity. They say to them
selves. 1--WE have been fooled. but why
should we let the world know what
fools we are?'
victims Don't Complain.
When the victimization is the OUT
come OF their matrimonial schemes,
they are more Mortified than ever at the
idea OF attracting public comment TO
their ambitious aspirations. The dry
goods clerk who wanted 70 find lady
with $4,000 a year and the dressmaker
who thought that the photograph Of
her pretty face had beguiled the fancy
of a iWall street broker are naturally
not inclined to amuse their friends with
recital Of their disappointing expert
ences. The agents of the marriage
market know all this beforehand, and
thus It happens that a course Of de-
ceit and blatant humbug may be car
ried on for months and years without
the interference of press or police
To place confidence in the simple dis
play of wealth Is equally senseless
Matrimonial agencies, like bogus loan
oflices. have often proved gold mines tc
their unscrupulous promoters. The fees
of the foolish soon suffice for splendid
offices. the costly upholstery OF which
dealing with people in the front rank
of the business world. A staff of frock.
coated clerks are there TO show the ten.
derest sympathy Cor the husband-seek-
ing shop girl or governess Lifelong
happiness is on sale for a small fee
Who can wonder II they are dazzled by
the inviting prospect and part witt
their hard-won earnings I'm response I,
the hoAey-toned suggestions of the cum
ming rascals?
Cheap Game 10 Run.
At this game big show can be made
with little expenditure. Most of thl
advertisements are evolved I'm the mar
riage agents office from the marriag,
agents fertile brain. When a genuine
advertisement does come IN, IL is proba
bly, from some forlorn maiden who hal
been waiting for years for a mate. Th'
result-if there is any .result-of he
subscriptions TO the agency viii be al
introduction TO some worthless adven
turer who will borrow whatever none,
she may be possessed Of and then Il.
away after a fresh quarry.
At these offices part Of the stock-in
trade is a collection OF highly orna
mental tographs-handsome fellow
with curly black hair and droopinl
mustaches. doli-faced beauties Will
those charms of face and form whicl
the photographer has touched up witt
such consummate skill. II the custo
mer thinks that choice IS offere,
from these specimens It will prove
delusion. for the best of them are no
on the books Of the firm at all. Tn
others are probably dissolute persons
with whom marriage would be a dire
ful catastrophe.
Diamond Cut Diamond.
Perhaps the most amusing elemen
in such negotiations is the frequent in
PRODUCTION OF one adventurer TO an
other. Each Is overjoyed at the oppor
tunity of acquiring the fortune attrib
uted TO the other II they wed the
cannot be long In discovering how alb
sdrdly they have worked at cross pur
poses. Mutual hatred follows. and mis-
ara hla renroo chac-ana npnrorria "a Z