The sun., 1897-02-07
The Pursuits OF a Degenerate.

There Is IN interesting specimen In Wash
ington who aspires to be called the LON
BRoso Of America. His name IL ARTHUR
MACDONALD, and he is probably from thirty
five to forty years old. His credentials show
certain scattering courses Of study which he
has taken here and in Europe, in law, the
ology. psycho-physics, metaphysics. insan-
ity, hypnotism, and criminology." He Is
styled Doctor and Professor, but whether
Doctor of Laws and Professor of Criminol-
ogy, or Professor OF Insanity and Doctor Of
Psycho-physics, is not quite clear to those
who know as little about him personally as
we do. His avowed speciality Is the investi-
cation Of the morbid anatomy Of Love, and
he and his methods furnish material for a
study Of q somewhat different character
from that which he himself pretends to have
undertaken In the interests OF science.
The favorite method of this alleged ser
want OF science Is to insert In the news
papers personal advertisements inviting
correspondence with members of the other
sex, and carefully so worded as to bring him
replies from silly, or curious, or indelicate
women and girls. Those who are indiscreet
enough to" answer his trap advertise
ments hear promptly from DR." ARTHUR
MACDONALD. He leads his victims on TO
write confidentially about themselves,
their sentiments and passions. and "in-
ner lives" and whenever possible In
duces them to disclose their real names
and addresses and to make an appoint
ment for an interview with him. In many
cases tho personal interview occurs after
the second or third exchange OF letters.
Sometimes the doctor" meets his corre-
spondent In shop, or at n railway station.
Sometimes he goes to the home, or boarding
house, or apartment OF the foolish girl or
matron who has responded to his advances.
From his published record we infer that a
single interview with him is usually SUIT
ficient to end the correspondence and the ac-
quaintance. There are indications that the
personal appearance and manners OF the in
vestgator are likely to provoke, in the most
sentimentally inclined female. mirth rather
than any more dangerous emotion,
But when the correspondence continues
without an interview. as in cases of dis.
tance or Of timidity, or OF a brother or hus.
band with healthy developed muscular en-,
ergies, the " Doctor" pushes his advantage as
far as he dares by writing. Apparently he
writes as much to the young woman about
himself as she writes to him about herself
He mails to her newspaper clippings con
cerning his career" piques her curiosity
II he can about his identity and "in,
ner life," and favors her sometimes with
copies Of his scientific" pamphlets. He
sends his picture. He opens the discussion
of questions of sex. Sometimes the CORE
spondence takes romantic turn, and the
poor female fool is led on to address the
doctor " in terms of endearment. And hav
ing thus, by great epistolary industry
and the expenditure of considerable
sum for postage stamps, accumulated q
large number OF letters from large
number of girls and women, som,
frivolous, some mercenary, some senti
mental, some innocent, some sophisticated
and some worse, the doctor" publishes
collection OF them in book which no call
Girls WhoeAnswer Personals," and I'D