davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14

Within a week of so another step in the campaign will be taken. Cards will te distributed among several hundred offices in the city bearing the follow ing notice:
 Notice to Solicitors: No subscrip- ton, donation, advertisement in souve- mir programme or other constribution will be made by this company until we have referred to the chamber of com meree bureau of investigation and re- ceived a report relative to your proposl- ton. Application must be made on blanks to be obtained at this office.
 The application blanks referred to are in the form of an affidavit and re- quire the signature of the solicitor, the name of the organization, represented and it's purpose, the names of the or names of at least six persons who have tion, whether merchandise, cash. adver- tisement or the sale of tickets of nlaga- zines. There is also provision for q witness.
 There is much ignorance on the part of the public concerning the prevalence of the evil perpetrated in the name of charity and of the slick" schemes by which many are fleeced. Acute busi- ness men as well as others are liable to be victimized, and it is distinctly within the sphere of the chamber ot commerce, their own organization, 10 gather and circulate such facts as shall restrain them from supporting frauds and enable them to direct their benevo- lence toward worthy objects.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14

margarine to be a shabbily clad emaci- lated clerk In cheap shoe store on a dingy street in Jersey City. When asked what experience he had had as pub fisher, he replied that 1t did not require much experience to get out the kind Of paper he got out
 In connection with the publication of souvenir programmes, etc, il appears 10 be quite a common practice for organi- zations to sell outright to professional solicitors the right to sell space in the book and to publish 1t. Frequently mat ters are misrepresented in such cases and persons buy space in book that will not circulate outside of the adver- Users or perhaps never be printed. To show the extent to which fraudulent solicitors will go in carrying on their deception, a Boston manufacturer re- ceived a letter purporting to come from a company engaged in the publication of a directory of manufacturers, statin E of your advertisement In the last issue Of our directory. 1t asked that the proof of your advertisement in the last issue of our directory. It asked that the proof be corrected, if necessary, and returned accompanied by a check for s15. The supposed proof proved on close scrutiny to be an advertise ment cut from a directory published by a reputable house. Several organiza- tions which have sold their proposition to professional solicitors have reported to issue another publication they would do the soliciting for advertising matter themselves, for they had found that while they received probably $500 the solicitor who purchased often made as much as three times that amount,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14
The Method of Investigation

With regard to charity organizations
 the first question is DO they eXist?"
 Next. '1s the solicitor authorzed?"
 Credentials may be counterfeit, as has
 been frequently shown. It is a com
 paratively easy and simple matter for
 determined men or women to obtain
 stationery belonging to legitimate land worthy organization and to forge
 signatures and other requisites. Are
 they worthy?" To determine worthi-
 ness the bureau first ascertains if there
 is necessity of such an organization as may he represented. This disposed of,
 the next step is to inquire whether 1t is
 properly organized has disclosed that
 some such are one-person affairs. A recent illustration was that of n day nursery in Roxbury. young lady was soliciting in the interests of a ten cent ma gazine. the proceeds of which were supposed to go toward the support of the nursery" Inquiry showed that lrent, heat and light were paid for hy the sales of the magazine. but the young lady admitted that no children had ever been cared for at the place. It also appeared that her sister lived with her and carried on a flourishing ioressmaking establishment on th a premises, for which no accounting ap- reared to be made in the monthly state
 ment of finances, which consisted of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14
The Individual Beggar

Nor does the chambers Investigating bureau neglect to give attention to in dividuals who plead for the "bereaved
 widow with large family" the cripple or even the dear friend who meets us on the street and asks us to contribute towards the price of a ticket to his
 home town. The other day a rather ''seedy" individual insinuated himself into a merchants office and told story to the effect that he came from his the business man's--native town. Evi Gently he knew a good deal about the
 man he was touching for s5 to get
 home, for he convinced him that he was talking pretty straight However, the merchant decided to consult the bureau. He related the mans story over the phone to MT Hayes. The latter recom- mended that the applicant be- directed to MT. Warren secretary of the Joint Department for Helping Homeless Men,r
 at the associated charities The seedy enc apparently sensed the situation be- fore the merchant finished talking,
 when he beard the latter repeat Mir Warren's name and address. He didn't wait 10 hear any more. but with Q scowl on his face, left the office hur- riedly. Evidently he knew MT. Warren
 and knew that Mr. Warren knew Him. So far, results of the chambers cam paign have been quite gratifying Many "ho have made use of the bureau have
 testified that the evil of the solicitor
 has been greatly lessened. Those who at the beginning inquired frequently arc
 rarely heard from now or not at all. They report that they have had no oc- easion to use the bureau, either because
 others have been fewer solicitors or be- cause the solicitors have left the offices | in disgust when the chamber of com
 merce was mentioned. Furthermore, several solicitors have complained that 1 business has fallcn off. They blame
 the chamber. Bad business has caused
 some of the frauds to leave the city.
 Criminal prosecution is made whenever
 possible.
 The campaign will be continued viz oropsly with the prospect of making E Boston poor field for the frauds and | the unworthy. II Is quite probable that
 in time it's benefits will extend beyond
 members of the chamber, of whom there are several thousand. As matter of fact, quite number outside the or lganization have already proflted great
 Iv in excess of the amount required for membership. The chamber asks it's
 members to withhold contributions 10
 solicitors until the bureau has been con Isultcd and investiga has been made. The facts are then reported back to lthe inquirer and he may then decide whether to contribute. In this the
 chamber Is actuated as much by desire to help worthy causes as to protect the iphilanthropic from the swindler. The
 money that might so to the fraud Is thus conserved and when the deservns , solicitor appears the contributor need have no qualnis regarding whether he is being film -flammed through the med-
 ium of sympathy aroused by falsehooc
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14

two lines and almost az many words |amount received and amount expended
 Further to determine the worthiness of charities, the bureau inquires as to whether the work is done in approved manner and whether accounts are kept properly In a number of cases 1t was found that the organization was not eli that it should be or that business meth eds were so slack as to create sus- ricion. Several organizations learned that the chamber of commerce had an unfavorable opinion of them, although no particular fault was found with their aims and the result was that the directors got things shipshape and won approval and an open way to funds.
 A case that is occupying the attention of the chamber at present is that of an institution that Is doing a commenda ble work, but whose business methods do rot appear to be quite satisfactory. One fault is that the institution is guided by only one woman. there being no ether officers, although there were for merly It is claimed by the chamber that revenues collected by the institu- tion are quite ample. but that nevertho- less there are numerous creditors to whom amounts are long due.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14
Home Treatment for
 Sallow, Wrinkled Skin

A. c. F. asks: What should l do for my sallow complexion, and how can | get rid of my wrinklesY
 Sallowness is best removed by re- moving the skin itself. This is eff fectually accomplished bs the use of ordinary mereolized wax, which causes the offensive outer skin gradually to peel off, in fine particles scarcely. no ticeable to the naked eye. Within a week or so you will have an enviab ble complexion, the new skin exhibiting a healthful, youthful tint incon parable with artificial coloring. Get an ounce If this wax at your drug store. apply at night like cold cream, only don't rub ii in. Wash it off in the morning with war,n water.
 For your wrinkles try solution of saxolite. one ounce dissolve in q half pint witch hazel Bathe your face in this every morning for awhile. The result will surprise you.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14
BOSTON ALSO LOOKS INTO CHARITY WORK What Chamber Commerce
 Is Doing There GOES AFTER TAKERS Business Men Are Saved Thousands of Dollars and Worthy Charities
 Profit by the Elimina-
 tion of Fakes

In view of the interest now being taken by the Birmingham Chamber of Com merce in charity work here, 1t will be worth while to hear what the Bostor chamber of commerce is doing along the same line. Daniel J.. Carroll writes in the Boston Transcript as follows:
 In an effort to check fraudulent so- licitors from fleecing the public .he Boston chamber of commerce, a little more than year ago, organized a ou- reau of investigation. During the past P months this bureau, of which Lloyd B. Hayes Is chief, investigated 1Ss organizations, charitable and otherwise, for which men or women were soliciting subscriptions. Only 45 of those investigat- ed were found by the bureau to be worthy of public support. Of the remaining f43, A were found to be fraudulent or partly so. The others, after careful inquiry. were deemed unworthy for any of vari- ous reasons. Solicitors for the fraudulent and unworthy" causes were very ener- getic, as compared with those represents ing worthy organizations. Nearly 70 inquiries received at the bureau concerned what turned out to be unworthy" or ganizations, 103 inquiries learned that they were asked to contribute to wholly or semi--fraudulent propositions, and in only 61 instances did it appear that the so- licitors represented organizations Of causes considered worthy by the cham Der. About half of the affairs investi- gated were, or purported to be, chari- ties; the other half included labor organi- zations, individuals and advertising prop OSitiOns.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14
Mystery Explained

From the New York Evening Sun.
 Cousin Matilda came down from the country to visit the Jones girls.
 Did you have a tiresome trip down O. Inquired the first Jones girl.
 Indeed. mo-" replied Cousin Matilda. My mind is always active. l am never dull, although l never read on a train. Looking from q car window one can al- ways find something of beauty with which to refresh the soul"
 "Oh,'' said the first Jones girl.
 Have you and Bob decided when VOL are to be married?" asked the second Jones girl.
 No,' said Matilda. q am not sure that we are to be married. Not that We have quarreed. I never quarrel. A quar- rel, even small one, is like a nail or tack. you know; you can pull it out, but the wound is always there"
 "Oh," said the second Jones girl
 But I am not certain that my nature is the complement of Roberts or his of mine," continued Cousin Matilda "A woman without love is like a rose without a perfume. No woman is truly charming until she is truly domestic l shall marry some day, of course"
 "Oh," said the first Jones girl.
 But whether I marry for love, or foi intellectual companonship. or for an, other reason. I must first make sure that am not deceiving myself in the man. A woman deceived is a blighted being. Rob ert may not intentionally deceive me- but Is his nature an open book for me to read?'
 Oh said the second Jones girl
 By marrying him will l be fulfilling the highest that is in me? How can be sure of my own heart? I am a woman who has never loved before. May this not be propinquity rather than elective love?"
 Dinner is gettin' cold as a stone an the cook is roarin mad' said Tmogene the maid, sticking her head in the door,
 That evening after dinner Matilda was talking to Uncle John.
 What have you been reading. Matil- da?" inquired Uncle John.
 Tn one month"; replied Matilda, T have read 20 volumes of the latest light fiction . Oh said both the Jones girls together
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14
4 TynicaI Case

Recently solicitor was making the rounds seeking advertisements for a year book asserted to be published in the in- terests of an association of automobile workers. The bureau of investigation was consulted and inquiry disclosed that checks in payment for the ads" were re ceived by bartender, at place where ne dispensed liquors. He admitted that he was formerly treasurer of the association but would not say more. Apparently. the proposition was msrepresented to those who were approached to purchase space in the book, since they were induced to be- lieve that they were helping a worthy organization, whereas on the face of it it seems that they simply were supporting the bartender and the solicitor.
 A similar case concerned a practically (efunct organization which appeared 10 have a membership of about thirty-fiva and employed a dozen solicitors to obtain advertisements for a publica tion These solicitors operated through New England and as far west as Detroit. The president was recently arrested. charged with fraul- uient use of the malls, The government $ case against him failed, however, be- cause of techncalities. Tn the same class goes the Take directory" so called by Mir. Hayes. He says in his report: "One Of the most prevalent frauds Is the fake d. rectory, known by various names The operation begins in the shape of compli- mentary book order which the unsuspect- ing merchant signs, thinking he is gofne to get q copy of a directory free. The top of the order is shaved off and adddi- tional lines are so cleverly inserted be- tween the remaining lines that a contract for advertising is the result, capable oi detection only by those who have been initiated. This contract is presented to the maker for payment and. although he does not recollect signing it. he recog- nizes his signature, and thinking that he must have signed it at a very busy moment, pays. He Is then asked to sign a voucher indicating that the amount n question has been paid to the collector and again he is stuck on another con tract in the same way as the first, thus forming an endless chain which is operat- ed once year, Last spring a quartet oi sharks operated in Boston successfully for about two weeks and disappeared sure to return. however"
 One of the ilk referred to above nearly chokcd on contract which he tried tC swallow when cornered in an auto dealers office by the police who had been placed on hiS trail by the bureau He was ar rested. charged with uttering a forged contract but the case against him was dismissed on the technical point that .hf had not actually proffered the contraei on the day of his arrest
 Again. "A handsome young lady tried to induce members of the chamber oi commerce to subscribe s1 each for tn, publication of a paper which she said was distributed free among poor children il Cambridge Whom the investigator found Miss Solicitor shc was In a somewh1t in toxicated condition in the cafe of a hcte
 in Boston. Tn the course of conversation sine informed him that she had done Fal River that day and expected to 'wor's Pswtucket on the next day. Further in vestigation found the publisher of he
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14

extend a roof of these boughs out over the front of the cabin of two slender poles for supports Under this extension the
 women and children squat, lounging prin- cipally, but now and then bringing out the loom and working on blankets or gar
 ments. Much of the produce of the looms
 the women wear themselves. either In
 form of skirt or else of blanket, wound round their heads and shoulders, despite
 the torrid climate.
 Almost as coveted as the Yuma textiles
 are the famous Chilxat blankets of Alas ka. Around ChillSoot Inlet the Indians making these reside. and with them, too, the blanket is still form of garment for occasions of state. The external robe IS very fine, large garment that reaches
 from the neck down to the heels, made of wool from the mountain goat It is neatly variegated with several colors. edged and otherwise decorated with little tufts or woolen yarn dyed in various colors. Where worn by some Indian chief IL takes on added beauty in contrast. often' to a headdress of wood resembling crown and adorned with bright copper and brass plates, whence a number or tails or streamers of wool and fur worked l together, dyed in various colors and each terminating in whole ermine skin, are hung.
 | One who knows the country best tells us that the ChilllSats and Chilkoots are | the great Indians of Alaska. The indians 1 are skilful in various lSindssof work, but their name will eventually endure Tn l the exquisite dance blankets. known as the Chilkat blankets. These are woven l from the woos of the mountain goat
 whose winter coat is strong and coarse. | At shedding time in the spring, as the | goat leaps from place to place. the WOOL clings to trees rocks and bushes in thick | festoons These clumps the indolent ln- | dians gather for the weaving of their blankets, rather than take the trouble of l killing the goats. This delicate and beautiful work Is, like the Chilkat bas- ket, in simple twined weaving. The warp hangs loose from the rude loom, and the
 wool is woven upward, as in Attu and Haidah basketry.
 l The owner of one of the old Chilkar blankets possesses a treasure beyond l price, The demand has cheapened the 1 quality of those of the present day. but | those of the earlier time were marvels
 of skill and coloring. Black, white, yellow and peculiar blue are the colors most l frequently observed in these blankets and
 deep rich red is becoming more common | than formerly. A wide black or dark
 band usually surrounds them, borderwise, and a fringe as wide as the blankets falls
 magnificently from the bottom, while a
 narrow one drops from the sides. The old and rare blankets were from yard ana
 half to two yards long. The modern ones
 are much smaller, and may be obtained
 for as low as s75. The designs greatly re-
 semble those of the Haidah hats and pa s- ketry. The full face, with fiaring nostriis' l small eyes and ferocious display or teeti | is the bear: the eye. which appears III
 all places and in all sizes. Is that or @ .ile
 thunder bird or the sacred raven, inese
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14
The Saving Already

Thousands of dollars have already been saved merchants and business men throughout the city, through the activity of the bureau. Scores of letters received by Mir. Hayes attest the fact. One firm estimated that by consulting the bureau whenever approached by a solicitor of any kind it conserved at least 5000 which otherwise might have been expended use lessly Others estimated that they were saved from being fleeced out of sums ranging from $l0O to $500. That these esti- mates are not too large is quite plain when it is considered that one firm alone applied 2 times for information concern ing organizations whose solicitors sought contributions. Others applied from one to 20 times
 It should be borne in mind that these estimated savings concern money which might have been contributed to apparently commendable causes, but which on evil dence secured by the bureau turned out 10 be frauds, or nearly so. As d matter of fact, it has happened that business men have supplemented contributions to worthy charity by sums which otherwise might have gone to the upderserving phus it is clear that worthy causes do not suffer- but rather benefit for funds are practically directed their way.
 There are several phases to the evil, all obnoxious, according to the view of the chamber of commerce. Souvenir pro- grammes and books. for instance, put out by trade or other organizations real or fictitious, for tie profit derived from ad- vertisements. is considered an important one. While the legitimacy of all such publications is not questioned, nor is 1t always the case that the chamber frowns upon publication of such books and pro- grammes, the practice has paved the way for many fraudulent schemes, and it Is at these latter particularly. that the chamber aims it's wrath. And for that matter such labor leaders as Samuel Gompers, John Tobin, president of the Boot and Shoe Workers union; Henry Abrahams and others, and organizations like the American Federation of Labor, Boston Central Labor Union and the Mas sachusetts State branch of the American Federation of Labor, have condemned the practice of obtaining funds by using such publications or have stated in letters to the bureau that such is contrary to their by-laws.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14
INDIAN BLANK EFT IN DEMAND
Navajo Weave Most Renowned, But
 Others Absorb Attention

From Fibre and Fabric.
 1atterly Europe, as well as the United States is awakening to the craze for real Indian blankets, and. in consequence. the dusky workers of the great American southwest have been hard put to it. with their primitive little looms, to keep up the supply While. of course. the Navajo blanket has been most renowned, time out of mind there are others which are not the less interesting, if perhaps not so beautiful. Whats more rumor has it that the genuine Navajo blankets are not woven by real Navajoes-but In factory erected by enterprising promoters for this purpose, whereas your real Indian rug or other textile should have been worked by the nimble squaw In the open next her typee or lodge.
 Possibly as primitive as any of these olden style weavers are the women of the Tumas The Yuinan reservation hugs the Colorado river on the border between Call fornia and Arizona, not so very far from the Mexican line. The Indians live here in almost primitive state. building wick iups or cabins of a waiting of boughs and branches about four feet square. They
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14

hettor have now used the medicines ahont three weeks, and I can lay in my he'd and hear a clock tick in the adjoining room something that have been unable to beer for vsars 1 consider your med icines fine, Mir Andes. and you are at lib- ertv 10 tell the public of the great good
 vour medicines have done for me,
 Andes Great Oil and Prescription re- stores the hearing. stops those ringing and roaring, buzzing head noises, and if ensy to contract cold, or during damp. cloudy weather the hearing is worse. 1t comes from catarrh. Order and start the use of Andes Medicines at once in few days it will convince anyone that 1t is the medicine they have needed for years.
 Andes Great oil for the cure of rheun'a- l tisin in any part of the body. stiff 1Q1