Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-08
MATRIMONIAL AGENCIES.
A Detective on the Methods Employed
by Them,

IF people only knew the game that is
worked by matrimonial agencies and al
ieeed matrimonial newspapers they would
not be in such hurry to part with their
dimes and dollars to come into correspond
ence with some beautiful heiress on the one
hand. or millionaire looking for a wife on
the other remarked a detective this morn
ing.
"The periodicals which contain the adver-
tisements Of these agencies largely circu-
late in rural communities and small towns,
though In some Of the larger cities their ad-
Vertisements find their way into print. All
kinds of matrimonial offers are inserted to
catch all classes and ages. and both sexes.
for 1t Is not by any means the callow youth
ana the sentimental maiden who cOnsti-
tute the exclusive clientele Of these con-
Germs.
''The main point with al matrimonial
agencies and papers is to get the would-be
married into correspondence with them, and
single Illustration will serve to show how
warning to those who seek their affinity
by this means.
"A young man in an eastern city reads a
matrimonial notice something like this:
"A young lady, aged twenty, with indie
pendent income; pretty, light hair and blue
eyes, would like to correspond with an hon
est young man who would appreciate good
Wife Address Helen care. etc
The address of this attractive young
damsel is always given. Of course. in care
OF the agency. and as there are thousands
OF honest young men who are looking for
wives with independent incomes, and who
VIII continue to }oekg ifor that matter. the
answered. A repk Is 1T It once sent in ef r
feet that his letter.. will be forwarded to
the young lady iD1IueatiOn upon receipt Of
tWo-cent stamp andbten cents. The dime
ana stamp are forthcoming, and the young
man an. writes his first, letter to Helen
This letter, like all subsequent ones,
stops in the Office of.the agency. where it
Is opened by one, of the employees. usually
girls employed oAfa salary. and is answer
cd correspondencese nsues which costs
enc eh y fai man ts9 esAts and stamp for
times this correSbondence will be main
tanned for montiiS with dozens. and even
hundreds, OF young ns6n who have answer
ca the same notfck. and 1t Is the receipt OF
thousands Of similar letters. all with the
same Enclosure. that rgives the agency its
running expenses and profits.
Nv hen photograph Of Helen Is desired
as II usually il right away, as the honest
young man Is DESTROYS to gaze upon the
features of the girl who is SO willing to
the sending of twenty-five cents and the in
evitabie stamp. Amy photograph OF girl
Will answer. and the agencies have them by
the thousand. It costs the young man an
other twenty-five cents and stamp to have
his own features on cardboard forwarded
TO Helen. the agency making on both
sides OF this transaction
II the young man finally becomes seized
with determination to look with his own
eyes upon 'Helen's' own face. and avows an
intention of taking a. train to Chicago.
where most OF the agencies have their
HEADQUARTERS. the correspondence Is broken
on by Helen. who regretfuliy states that
she Is Obliged to 60 away and visit Soma