Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-10

the United States and the estate Is all tied
up because there Is no one to nay the feee
If the person addressed will send over
money to pay her steamship fare and buy
her few necessities for travelling the child
Will sail Immediately for the United States:
and, as soon as the probate fees are paid,
the American addressed Will be allowed TO
take possession OF the property. Nobody
would believe the number OF fools who
have been caught in that trap. and have
sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to
Spain, in order to secure control OF an es-
tate they never heard OF before and the
possession of q child that Is of no relation
to them and In whom they can have no
other interest except that inspired by their
cupidity.
The French swindlers appeal to the van
ity of their victims and hatter them until
their folly pays the penalty. For many
years similar gangs have operated in the
United States and have plucked thousands
of geese in Europe by offering them honor.
airy degrees, from imaginary universities.
They would take the register OF the Church
of England. for example, and send circu-
lars to all of the clergymen whose names
appear IN that directory, informing them
that their fame has reached the United
States and that some imaginary university
with high-sounding name has conferred
upon them titles of doctor Of divinity. Ger
tificates thereof inscribed upon parchment
are awaiting their orders and will be for
warded upon the receipt OF the usual fee
VI a VI MY uobdTs, dCCOrulfR TO
circumstances. Similar circulars were sent
to men whose names appear in the lists OF
lawyers and doctors and the other learned
professions. many of whom promptly swal-
low the bait, forward the money and re-
ceive diplomas which authorize them TO
wear titles and add strings OF letters after !,
their names. This species of swindling has
been pretty we'll crushed out by the strenu-
Gus efforts of American educational ASSOC
cations. although occasionally we hear of
new case In Boston or Philadelphia
chicago, which have been the favorito
neids OF operation
Bait for Inventors. o.,
The Paris swindle is conducted In a SINH,
lar manner. Its headquarters are at No. II
Boulevard st. Martin, where the managers
take the lists Of patents granted by thu %
United States as published In the Patent
Office Gazette every week and address
circular to each inventor whose name Ia
given. advising him that his fame has
reached the ears OF the governing board
Of The Academy" who have elected him
a member Of that body and because OF
the value and importance of his invention
nave conferred upon him 1.-THE Great. Gold :
Medal and The Award of the First-clas,
Diploma" and The Title of Member of the
Academy"
This honorable tito win be of no ex.
pense to you" continues the circular. but
II you are DESTROYS to receive the medal
and diploma you would have to send us a
post money order of $40. or two pounds
steriing. to cover admission taxes freight
ETC.. etc, and we shall send both well mack.
ed and free of charge to your address.
trusting that our invitation will be favor
ably received. we are at your disposition
Ior all further information. and remain. sir.
your obedfent servant,
III. z. BoETTCHER. Director"
Mr.. Boettcher also offers to send gilded
duplicates of the medal for SO each and
engraved printers blocks for its repro
duction for So pair. Large gilded wooden
models to BIO used on signbOards are fur
nfshed for so a pair and the cross or
insignia for members, suspended upon a
tri-colored silk ribbon to be worn around
the neck, for s..
Many Americans Caught.
No one knows how many innocent Amer
leans have been caught in this trap, but
the number Is legion. The swindlers in
close with their circulars copies Of letters
received from Englshmen and Americans
in different parts of the United States
who acknowledge the receipt of the medals
and diplomas and express their apprecia-
ton of the honor 1t would not be fair to
publish their names. Sometimes how
ever. they get different kind of a letter.
Occasionally some American, who is too
smart to be caught and sees the humor
in the scheme, declines the honor like a
gentleman up at Ottumwa, Iowa, Mr.. Ira
ID. Smelzer, who has invented and pat
Sheco OH dppdidluS u spray cattle
hogs with chemicals to heal sores and kill
insects Finding his name among the list
of patentees, the director sent him the
usual notification of his election as a menu
Der Of The Academy and of the award
of gold medal and diploma. You can
imagine the surprise of Monsieur lRoettcher
when he received the following reply:
Dear Sir-Our language contains no
words adequate to express my great an
probation of the distinguished honor con-
TERED upon me by your world-renowned
academy. But. being only a humble citi-
zen, without ambition, ancestry or wealth,
l do not feel equal to living up to so great
our country who could support the dig
nifty. Withdraw in favor of either one of
them leaving 1t entirely to the eminent
members OF your academy to make the
choice. The name of one of them is Theo-
dore Roosevelt, inventor of The Big Stick
The other Is William Jennings Bryan. IN
ventor OF the free silver remedy for all
industrial and commercial complaints, and
a new patent medicine known as Govern
mept Ownership which will cure all the
troubles caused by the trusts. l suggest
however, that instead Of a gold medal you
send him a silver medal. size 10 to L.
There Is no way to punish these swindlers
because they do as they agree and send
the medals and diplomas described In their
correspondence. which are worth exactly
as much as they would be II they were con-
ferred by the humblest justice Of the peace
in the humblest village in America.
COUPONS AND OTHER FORMS,