Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-03-05
BOOSTERS OF BEAUTY
DOPE BACKED UP
Uncle Sam Puts $4,000 Crooks Out
Of Business in -Four
Years.
HUGE GOLD MINES PLUGGED

health, happiness ana wealth IN inc
world
In the archives Of the Postofflce de-
psrtment IN Washington there are thou
sands Of these recipes which are said TO
produce any OF the much-to-be- desired re
suits in an astonishing short time. and
the toll charged IL all the way from a
postage stamp to thousands Of dollars.
However strange as Il may seem. the for
tunate thing IL that after they reach the
department. In nine cases out OF ten they
never reach the public again. but are
carefully filed away for future reference.
During the last four years these over
night beauty producers. instantaneous
health helpers. get-rich-quickers and hap
piness promoters have swindled the pub
Tic out OF over 100000. or AZ the rate
Of about 100000 a year. and this in
spite Of the fact that Judge William II.
Lamar. solicitor for the Postoffice de-
partment, together with his assistants
gets up early and works over time trying
20 keep gullible people not only from be-
ing imposed upon by quacks and fraudu-
lent schemes OF every description. but
from endangering their lives and PROPERTY
by investing in the thousands OF such
schemes advertised all over the country
The promoters Of the schemes do not
hack victims. for this is proved BY the
figures presented BY the Postoffice de
rartment showing that in four wears the
department has dealt with over 1900
cases involving fraudulent use OF the
malls for such schemes. and has received
and answered something over 10000 com
munications relating 70 the frauds. Last
year alone the investigations were under
taken in over 4co0 such cases. and more
than 1000 complaints and inquiries were
received.
Kicking Brings Results.
The 5000 complaints and inquiries re-
ceived by the department last year repre-
sent only n small percentage OF the PEG
pie who have been defrauded. as there
are hundreds OF men and women who
have been taken in. but who do not like
70 confess.
However. now and then n woman. for
example. whose complexion has been
lrretrieyahly ruined by prescription from
some quack beauty doctor will become 80
Infatuated that she win cry out In her
rage and disappointment for help and
revenge Then the wheels OF the Post
office department will be set going and
inspectors and agents Of the government
will rush CALAMITY TO the rescue Of thou
sands Of her sisters 10 save them from a
like fate.
Thousands OF people have invested a
dollar in lucky stones" which cost ~
70 Is cents. in order 20 make the pro-
moters OF this stone $4,000 annually. or
100000 within a few years. This stone
was said 20 be endowed with the mystic
rious power by which lost jewelry IL re-
stored. true and false friends pointed out.
the sick healed. the poor come into pos
session Of great wealth, the unemployed
set work. hard luck IL hanished. and hum
dreds OF secrets which have long puzzled
the greatest scholars OF all time are ro-
veaied. There were evidently some pur-
chasers who were bitterly disappointed by
the stones failure to produce the wonder
fnl results advertised. 30 Uncle Sam was
notified. the concern was shut out OF the
mails and the business discontinued.
Lake mushrooms. these fraudulent
schemes spring eup over night. and the
man who was disappointed in the lucky
stone doubtless took turn at one Of the
prescriptions which Uncle Sam now
guards 20 carefully and which sold for
3 an ounce n the first effer was ac-
cepted. or 81 or g n the first price quoted
was thought too high by the prospective
buyer. This prescription was announced
10 cure, by means OF dropping Il into the
eye. consumption. paralysis. Brirhte dis
ease, bow legs. Nat foot. the morphine
habit. epilepsy and many other ills that
flesh IL heir TO-
The government chemists and other AK
perts have found that the formula for
this remarkable prescription called for
ten ounces Of salt and ten ounces OF
sugar dissolved In one gallqr OF hydrant
water. ana that the actual cost or the
solution YVES 6 cents per gallon. As absurd
es this scheme was. when Judge Lamar
Issued a fraud order against Il shutting
Il. the books OF the concern showed an
annual income Of $4,000 ~
Hair~Dyes aud Fataess.
u Is the peFversity Of human nature
TO want blond hair II one is tho poasessor
Of black, or 10 have desire to preserve
the charms OF too fast fleetinE youth by
dyeing the silvered locks a beautiful chest.
nut brown; nor when avoirdupoiE IL In
creasing az a race-horse rapidly IL Il un-
natural for one 10 be taken IN by a glow
ing advertisement to the effect that the
anguish felt when the manly or rlr,ish
figure begins 20 take on the burden OF
flesh may al be set right BY a small dose
Of lavender or blue pills.
gigantic scheme OF the latter ae.,
which robbed the public OF 81. 10000 IN .
comparatively short time and spent in
one year $1,000 on postage stamps alone
represented its promoters as being able &c
teach any one the secret OF magnetic
poger by which he could hypnotise sub
ieets at distance Of 1000 miles. and TIM,
make himself supreme master OF an,
situation. The methods employed wer,
claimed 10 be instantaneous and enall,
effective whether the patient we're sleep
ing or waking, whether Il was used b,
telephone OF telegraph, ana the consent
Of the subject was not necessary. Tn,
amount charged fer INSTRUCTIONS in thi,
ara was IS, but n the applicant eouls
not afford that much. In some cases 1
was reduced 20 g. The postoffice lnspee
tors found that the promoters OF tht
school were ignorant men OF hypnotism
A modern Moses offered 10 lead IN,
sex and helpless from suffering TO IN
brilliant light OF health. wealth an
happiness for the sum OF 50 cents-fo
the first treatment His circular was
deep. black-bordered card. on which wa
printed ''Remembcr my address IN tn
hour Of approaching DEATH The cures
we're 10 be made by means Of a diet. N
same prescribed for an. regardless Of IN