Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-09-08
MANY" TROPHIES"
THAT ARE FAKES
Cups and Medals Purchased
and Worn by Holders
Themselves.
BOGUS "PROFESSORS ="
jewelers. Say Their Best Customers Are
Professional Athletes Who Givs
Public Exhibitions, Lion
Tanners and Baiioonists.
From the New York Press

The treasurer of the university ath-
setic association went into a jewelers.
store in Fifth avenue tn ther day 10
inspect Scme prize cups and rophles
His inquiries were met with hesltancy
until he presented his card. Then the
attitude OF the salesman changed alto
gether. He became franz n COM
m~unicatiye. He remarked casually
that the number of prizes that were
purchased and inscribed that We're
never even contested for were a blot
on the jewelers. trade.
At a meeting of the athletic club
that evening the treasurer reported
what he had been old by the jeweler,
and as this particular university was
engaged at the m in up
it's athletic games a committee was
appointed to look into the subject.
1t frequently happens that men en-
gagged in contests of skill and strength
lail TO secure prizes in a legitimate
way, and, wishing to have some
menento of the affair, cause to be en-
graved medals which e their names
and the date of the event n its char
acter. This has been done by college
men, and notably by boat crews that
have not been placed in races. A
Harlem river four, which rowed second
in q holly contested race some years
ago, carried this spirit to the limit
When they purchased a trophy cup,
which they had inscribed with their
names, and displayed 1t at their boat
house. The club objected to this form
OF doing honor to it's oarsmen, but
finally compromised by sending the cup
10 the silversmith, who added the line
IN the inscription: Race won by the
II. and w. Boat club" the winning
club. In this form the cup was per-
mitted to occupy a place in the silver
ware cabinet in the club room.
Only one case of a college athelete
providing his own medals was dis
covered. The young NAL was a sprint
er, and became a professional bicycle
rider. After he entered the profes-
sional ranks he invested In an array or
medals that must have cost several
hundred dollars.
Outside of college circles the COM
mittee learned Of many fake medalists.
One man who was an unsuccessful
pigeon shot, although an ambitious
one, had a set ff cups engraved and
dated over a pertod or years, not one OF
which was a bona fide prize. The in
scriptions carried false records OF
shooting and indicated hat he had won
at all distances, in all countries and
under all conditions. He a these
locked up In a glass case alongside his
armorv Of guns. He told the story of
his success so often that he really be-
litRSu IL IlIIlScll.
Another incident is furnished by the
medal displayed by a summer resident
at Manhattan beach. 1t purports to
rave been given to the holder by the
Unitd States Humane association for
saving three persons from drowning.
There is no such society and the owner
never saved any lives whatever. In his
convivial moments he produces the
medal, which is of gold, and cost 500,
and passes it carefully about for in
spection.
The most curious case the committee
learned Of was that of a life-saver in
Harlem, who has, indeed, received some
honors in this way, for he has saved
several lives. But he has such o of
medals that he has provided himself
with an additional supply of cheap
ones, which he wears alongside the
honestly acquired ones that testify to
his bravery.
jewelers. say their best customers ara
professional athletes who give public
exhibitions, lion tanners and b%allonists,
for example. These men do not regard
themselves properly dressed for a per-
Torrance unless they are bespangled
with medals. Some of these trophies
are presented to them by friends, but
most are purchased bv the wearers.