The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-03
4 Romantic Stsdeut of Fraud and
Crime

Since there lie in every man. variously
developed according 10 individual temp
tation. opportunity or idiosyncrasy IN
respect OF courage against the tyranny
OF convention. rascal more or less
snugly invested In the garments of po-
lite etiquette, there Is something like
universal appeal In shch a title as
TicHE HOPKINS. English amateur In
penology. has Invented for his book
The Romance Of Fraud tDutton). II
Is a specious appeal. fraudulent ro-
nance. albeit not a fraud worth thun-
dering at. Where by wide investigation
and Judicious selection IA book with real
character and value might have been
evolved. the author has been content
TO throw together a collection of hetero-
geneous. book based papers on various
uncoordinated phases of crimnalty
police procedure, criminal colonies. pi-
racy. superstitions of criminals and
recreations OF prisoners. Libby Prison
and the Man IN the Iron Mask Mr.
Hopkins has not even gone into what
bookmen call the "curiositiee" of litera-
ture his topics are rather common
place and dimly Illuminated. The title
implies something almost like "A glorf-
cation OF the rascal, at least a fair
amount OF sympathy. even though 1t
be only pleasantly pretended sympathy,
with the point OF view from which the
artist In fraud regards society: that. In
stead Of the penologlst's social protec-
tive view. which is anything but roman
tic. However, as Mr. Hopkins makes no
pretensions To recognition as a contrib
utor TO the literature of picturesque be-
yond the implication of his books title,
til II
purpose or plan. 1t is hardly fair to ap-
/ proaCh his book In the critical spirit.
Caveat emptor is the motto and
charter of fraud, and fits well the
commerce in the sham antique. AS Mr..
Barnum knew. the pubic aches to be
| humbugGed. but the great Snowman
gave his patrons n better moneys
worth han do the takers of antiquity,
sordid but lucriferous trade. The tourist
in Egypt must have curios TO convince
J the folks back home that he has really
been In the land of the PharS obs There
are bits of the true Egyptian past"
TO be secured; but not enough to sup
ply the acquisitive horde. Hence the
evolution of "A profitable line" Mr.
Hopkinss sense of humor. exercised on
the trade in its native Egyptian airs
and lalrs. ceases to run when the bust
ness is taken up by European dealers
trading on the innocence of ignorant
compatrots.
With regard to the commerce OF
the fraudulent antique" the author Ii
philosophical rather than informative
II Is a form of roguery practically en-
empt from punishment and so In Bel
gium Bohemia and elsewhere media
val" glassware Is prohtably produced
by modern processes; forgeries In fur
nlture pay excellent dividends on in
vestment Of capital and skill. Chronol-
ogy, employed In detective capacity by
the wise. is beyond the bourgeois null
titude that makes collections: Wen
gel Hanka. who would periodically en-
dow his country with thesaurus OF
old Slav poems. forgets I'm the ardoI
OF fabrication" that Pruss.an blue, dis
covered In the eighteenth century. does
not look well upon original manu-
scripts Of the thirteenth century. How
skllful.y the intelligent faker matches
In day or week the ravages of the
canker time. duplicates the trail OF thu
invading worm and lines as with ar,
the, glaze OF china. Science arms the
expert. but the vulgar will he fooled
Hence the fddles with pasted lahe!s
the jewelry. and the bronzes; and. oI
Michael Kaufman Of Rheinzab'rn
the Emperor Antonnus' in iiessiar
boots and full bottomed wig. All these
are frauds. indeed; but not movingl,
"romantb"
f'ernaps nero Is romance, certainly