The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1906-01-12

library, and Mrs. Johnston was in til,
sitting-room, partially closed the slid
ing door between us, and said: lie
him canvass you, while listen, and sc,
what kind of worker he is
He made & proposition to send tn,
magazine for a yeas at ten cents week
SO cents of which aust be paid to him
cash in advance
After making q rapid canvass on thu
magazine, he produced Haviland china
plate, and said; CAS- a special induce
ment to get subscribers, we send as q
premium, within three days from the
time you subscribe, an 88-piece set OF
this limoges
How can sour firm afford to send a
$50 set of dishes with $3.50 subscrip.
tion?"
He explained that the publishers had
received 100000 worth of ADVERTISING
contracts, and had indiscreetly given a
sworn statement to the advertisers that
the paper had paid-up circulation of
over 100000 copies per week, whereas,
in reality, it only had a paid circulation
of about 100000, and in order to increase
it's circulation and avoid exposure, was
making this wonderful offer.
But" said Mrs. Johnson, "what
security have for my money? What
evidence have that the dishes, or even
the magazine will ever be delivered to
me?"
why" said he, II will give you a
receipt for your so cents"
Signed by whom?" asked Mrs. Johns
ton.
by me-" he replied.
But, how do know you are RESPONSE
ble?" was the next query. LET me see
your blank form of receipt
On looking it over carefully, she said:
How does it happen that the name of
your publishing house doesn't appear
on this receipt? 1t seems very strange
that you should be out collecting money
for large concern, and giving your per-
sonal receipt for moneys paid in. How
does this happen, and how would know
who to address in case the dishes failed
to arrive? Not ever your home address
is given here"
But" said he, EVERY one knows this
firm"
mo, not everyone" said Mrs. Johns
ton. Il am a constant reader of maya
zines and newspapers, yet never heard
of such firm, and dare say there are
many others who are ignorant of it's ex-
istence."
AT this juncture pushed open the IL
brary door and appeared on the scene.
Lets see, what is your name?" I
said.
''Mr. -" he replied.
"And where is your home, Mr.. ~"
"Pittsburg," he answered.
'Well, now, Mr.. -" said I. tsyou
evidently have pretty smooth little
graft here, and guess it's all your own,
too, isn't it?'
1T depends" he coolly replied, what
you call graft, SIR
what call a graft" I answered, lis
where man resorts to trick
cry to inveigle people into pauronizing
him, and then gives them nothing for
their money" ;.
How can this be graft, if we sent
them the magazine and the dishes?"
If, put in; "but you don't, and you
know it; you have already admitted
that the publishers Of your magazine
are perjurers; that they swore to a false
hood, and therefore committed a peni-
tertiary offense, in an effort to swindle
At this he began to "hedge'' little,
and after clearing his throat moment
said:
We'll, I didn't mean that they had
sworn to it. Imeant that they had mere
ly made false statements"
Young man." said. make a clean
breast of this, or shall instantly phone
for the police patrol, and have you
locked up
He became tlurried at once, and be-
gan talking at random.
How long have you been in this
business?" l interrupted, "and what
were you previously engaged in?"
This is my first week in this work."
you mean this graft put in.
well, yes, graft he continued.
and it has been paying so we'll that I
nave stuck to it, although I am in con-
slant fear of getting into trouble.''
He had confined his canvassing to
both the middle and better class of citi-
zens, and had experienced no trouble
n finding plenty of victims among
them. He had been in college for some
time, and being anxious to go through,
and possessing no funds, had hit upon
his scheme to make money rapidly.
He said it didn't matter what maya
zine he introduced. that the Suckers
always bit on the china proposition, and
that Mrs. Johnston was the first person
in the city to critically Investigate his
I let him go, with a warn
ing on his promise that he would at
once seek honest employment,