The Washington herald., 1909-04-18

lseS than many OF thelr successors. An
other game worked extensively was by
means OF a cleverIy worded advertise
ment announcing q special sale OF sam
pie silks. twelve different pieces being
sent for - cents. II was expressly
stated that only ore order would be 1lled
Tor any person. and that the time IN
which these beautiful samples could be
secured FOR such an unheard-of price was
limited. as was the supply. Responses /
came from everywhere. and the jingle
Of Scent pieces drowned eten the joy
Gus chuckling Of the artful promoters Of
the scheme. When those who had sent
In their money received the twelve beau
tifuI samples OF silk they proved 20 be
bits OF floss about q foot in length and :
absolutely valueless even for use IN fancy
work.
There's a sucker born every minute.
was the axiom coined long ago by a far
seeing mortal. That was good in Its day.
very good. indeed. But IL was much i'm
proved when some time later an observer
Of mankind-and some w0men-added.
and some are twins
little Chance for "Skin Games"
Strictly speaking. the offers mentioned
were lived UP 70. In every case the
agreement was fulfilled. and that was
supposed 20 end the matter. The govern
ment thought otherwise. however. and
proceeded 10 put those thoughts into
execution. While every promise was lit
orally carried out by those who had
sep lrated gullibles from their money, the
advertisements were so wOrded as 10 be
misleading. Taking cognizance OF this.
the post-ofice authorities inaugurated a
campaign that has been productive OF
results. From a skin game" OF the most
fragrant type the Hlail-Order business.
which stu thrives 80 an astonishing ex-
tent. has been reduced 10 a legitimate
basis. and only those concerns whose
propositions are Wen within the rigidly
drawn lines laid down by the depart
ment are supposed TO exist
There was no limit 20 which these mall
order grafters would not go in the old
days They are not extinct. by any
means, although those still az II are care
ful 20 keep under cover.
TW0-Mail Order Grafters
Not long ago a Detroit woman saw an
advertisement in a magazine OF a beau
tiful parasol sent prepaid upon receipt
OF 81 Selecting the color she preferred,
she mailed a dollar bHl and in a few
days received a small box. Opening this
she was chagrined 20 find that the para
sol was a diminutive japanese affair. the
frame covered with paper, and which
could have been duplicated in a dozen
local stores for 70 cents. She carefully
hid the box where other members OF the
family would not see what had happened.
but in an unguarded moment conhded 20
a friend IN the strictest secrecy how she
had been caught. OF course. the friend
had another friend. and IN the end the
bargain seeker had 20 undergo a lot OF
good-natured chatting
Nc less brazen are the advertisements
that occasionally creep through Offering
a thoroughly reliable timepIece" for
s. 20. or whatever price may be charged
When Il arrives the recipient discovers
that he IS the possessor Of a sundial put
up In a cheap case 10 resemble a watch
actual value 20 cents.
Crooked Schemes Can't Last.
There are scores of other schemes
sprung. but they seldom get farther than
that. Almost before they appear the
columns OF the mali order magazines are
scanned by post-ofice inspectors, and
| every offer that looks the least BIT sus-
picious 10 the trained eyes OF these men
IS investigated forthwith L found 10 be
irregular. the individual or concern IS
put out Of business at once.
| For a stated figure you can each month
| receive from firms which make a spe-
cialty OF this class OF work lists Of those
| engaged IN the mail order business all
over the country. Comparing the current
! list with the one OF the previous month
you would find that possibly 70 per cent
| Of those mentioned were newcomers.
I II all these were to be answered IN the
return mail you would in the course OF
few days get back at least 10 per cent
Of the letters sent out, with the word
Fraudulent" stamped across the face
Of the envelope. That is as Ear as most
Of these concerns get. the pOst-office au-
thOrities closing them cut before the re-
( turns on their first advertisement begin
10 come in. Even If they get by safely
the first month. the second advertisement
does not appear. and they are listed
among the undesirables.
The Straight Business.
With the elimination Of the grafters. the
mail-order business has settled down to a
conservative basis. in reality representing
the highest type of craftsmanship. 1t Is
devoid OF personal contact with the pur-
chaser, that mOSt important element. and
sales made under such conditions can
truthfully be regarded as achievements.
For the most part the firms advertising
sell high-grade goods at good prices. often
on the instailment plan.
/ This change has come as result OF the
activities Of post-ofice inspectors. who
are constantly on the alert and unrelent-
ing In their pursuit once they strike a
Head The daily papers. the magazines.