The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-03-22


in any county of any state in the Union Mr. Smith
has nine hundred dollars in the savings bank
where it is drawing interest to four cent in
cases, although often it is only two a
half three. One day Mr. Smith has the misfortune
to have his placed what is known both lay
and professional the sucker list" The word
is not eegant but it is the only term by which
Mr.. Smith and others like Mr.. Smith are known
From the day that Mr.. Smiths goes that
list becomes only question of time until his nine
hundred dollars out of the savings bank and into
of the get-rich-quick schemer. Unless, of
course, and this does not usually happen, Mr. Smith is
gentleman of than the caution who takes
time and money to investigate the whole affair thor
oughly before investing his carefully saved earnings.
In nine hundred and ninety-nine out of
thousand Mr.. Smith has not the time and have
supposed he has not the money because the nine
hundred dollars in the bank represents the savings of
life time
But he has time to read the prospectuses and if
not he takes time to read them, for being a purely
human person their urd colors and the prominence
given the dollar mark catches his eye holds
attention until he has read them through through
Probably afterwards he laughs at himself for having
read the thing and, if the truth told, feels
trfe ashamed, because he vaguely remembers having
somewhere that the promises of the
are impossible of fulfllment and that the who
write them being sent to prison every day.
Undoubtedly he would not want Neighbor Jones
to find him poring the little booklet Mr.. Smith
is have said, only human and he would be
afraid that his neighbor might laugh him. he
goes his work in the field in the store and sew
era times during the day he catches himself won
derng if there might not be something in the scheme
after all. That night he home from work. The
books in the house have been read and again
The booklet, however, is attractive
Mr.. Smith gets to thinking. He thinks that the
savings bank rate of interest is pretty low and that his
money really ought to be doing little bit better than
three per cent to say the least He thinks of the
enormous wealth of the money kings of to-day. How
does his paltry nine hundred dollars compare with
those colossal fortunes? There is comparison.
And then Mr. Smith remembers that all the mil
onaires he has read about in the papers began with
few hundred dollars even less Why cannot he
do the same? Isn't he clever other man?
Certainly he is. Isn't his money just good 9TH
er peoples money? Of Cannot his money
double and treble itself if he'll only five it chance?
Unquestonably.
Meanwhile the chance is right before him; op-
portuny iaunts itself in his very face he'd be fool
not grasp it, What is the chance? Where is the
opportunity? Why is he a fool? The prospectus is
only too glad to show him. Out it from the
inside coat pocket with the dollar marks dancing up
and down the page and the clever insidous, psyche
logical questions taunting him with his present pov
erty when such great exclusive and unfaiing profits
are realized if he'll only have the sense
and decision INVEST NOW BEFORE 1T IS TOO
LATE ,1
Mr. Smith becomes dissatisfied. He get
more money and get it quickly. The scheme before
him, whether mining stock real estate, bananas,
manufacturing companies promises him anywhere from
to 5000 the money invested 5000 nine
hundred dollars is $1,000. He thinks of the money he
has worked hard What if he should lose it?
But pshaw there is such word fail, says the
prospectus Mr.. Smith cannot lose. There the
figures right the first page which prove it to him
Just look the letter from Neighbor Black telling
how he doubled his money through investing with the
company behind this prospectus. Neighbor Black has
been paid well for that letter. but Mr. Smith does not
know that. He wants to get money and get it now!
So he takes his nine hundred dollars from its
safe resting place in the saving bank and the letter in
which he mails the check money order almost loses
itself in the of just such letters which have
the main Office of the promoting company for their
destination. Perhaps Mr.. Smith only sent $3.50 the
first time not wishing to risk his whole accumulation
Undoubtedly then he will receive at the end of the
month the promised amount of interest with another
glowing prospectus and more literature of the same
golden promising kind. Then Mr.. Smith knows he
cannot lose Hasn't he got the money right there in
his hands? What better proof does he need? Seeing
is believing but alas for Mr. Smith, he does not know
that the interest which he has received is of HIS
OWN MONEY RETURNED TO HIM. to lure him fur
ther into the net and is not the dividend paid of
the legitimate earnings of the wonderful company.
No longer does any doubt exist in Mr. Smiths
mind however. He is his way to fortune and soon
he will be able to astonish his neighbors.
Out comes the rest of that nine hundred dollars.
He borrows more money he mortgages his house and
sends the proceeds to the company.
Mr.. Smith has said goodbye to his money forever
and ever. 1t NEVER COMES BACK
The get-rich-quck scheme Is the meanest, most
despcable form of robbery which is pracced to-day.
Read this letter received from young which the
Metropolitan magazine prints in its last ISSUE eve
absolutely without resources Our home will be
sold heads and my mother is old and ailing"
His mother widow who had Invested" every