Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-02-28
GRAFT A SOCIAL SIN

actually deceiving them is uncthical.
/ will gladly mention your beautiful
houses gratis to any one whom hear
inquirlng about a suburban home
told this man. All, but that would not
be so effective he replied. What |
want you to do is to use your influence.
You know thousands of club women
and can get me into some OF the teas
as a social friend, just as we'll as not.
This man was a total stranger TO me.
Il have no doubt whatever that such
propositions have been made to nearly
every club president or influential
woman in the city
When YOU first come to the big
town il seems as though every one
tries to unload a nice little gold brick
on you. After a while you do not no
tice it so much, as you have become
either wise or else got used to it.
AS a stranger you are introduced to
a charming old lady with gray curls.
who is most cordial to you. All you
reflect. what was that | used to hear
about New York's being cold? Non
sense: people are lovely to me. Just
then your new friend opens her bag
and springs a little printed slip on you,
which turns out TO be book notice.
! and urges you to buy her publication.
| Everywhere you go people slip tickets
into your Enthusiastically worth 81
apiece-to concerts, lectures, enter
tainments. card parties, balls-and
make you extremely uncomfortable II
YOU refuse to purchase them. These
also come to you almost daily in your
mail. 1t is a common thing for hVe
tickets, representing SO. TO drop out
of an envelope, accompanied by note
! requesting you to send check LOT
them. or, if you cannot use them, to
sell them to your friends. II Is bad
enough when these are from some
philanthropy or organization. but when
they are sent you by an acquaintance
for her own financial benefit the mat
ter is most embarrassing. 1t is per
haps not Objectionable for printed no
tice or tickets to be mailed to list
of peoDIe. advertising a concert or
lecture by Mrs. Smith-provided that
the recipient is absolutely free to pa
tronize the affair or not as he pleases
But by what right does lecturer OF
musician turn you into ticket seller
and ask you to graft on your own
friends. begging them to send you
money as a personal favor, in order
that you may turn 1t over to the per
former for his own pocket.
There are professional president:
of dinner clubs who charge severa
dollars a plate to hundreds or people
for banuuets and pay only 81 per plate
TO the hotel management. This is re
garded by some citizens as a graft OF
the mart of the manipulators of the
clubs. but when the price of the mea
4, is perfectly we'll known. and the presi
dent gives a large amount OF time IL
securing an elaborate program OF en-
, tertainels. it may be contended tina
the difference in price is paid for tn
| entertainment.
II am told that some society mel
| and women are suspected by thel
friends of acting as runners for res
;aurants. That is. they tell Of re
markable place with excellent food a
reasonable prices, but you cannot Sc
anything to recommend the caf
| above others. They bring friends VIII
| dine ... .-.j.. ga me- continual
| boost and urge frequent rounds c
! drinks, until at last the bill ha
! mounted up to considerable sun
! Those who have seen this systeI
many times feel morally certain tha
| the people who worked up the Ell
| thusiasm get a regular rake off {
| the firms earnings on that meal"