New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-08
Bv SAMUEL HOPKINS ADAMS

cay He organizes himself into the Sep League by
the simple process of invenng the With this as his STOCK
in trade puts forth through the CLASSIFIED advertising columns
of various Ioca newspapers and magazines this entns ad
vertsement - \, =,
Wanted: Ladies to work Home No canvasng Moth
ing to sell Sew few day. SIS week guaranteed Bend
stamp for full information SeElep League P o. Box d. Blk
Vile, Okla.
Thereafter all he has to do sit and wait tor victims
spder-~ise.
Somewhere in Ohio Mrs Melinda Jones reads the advertise
ent the SefHelp League Mrs Jones widow She old
she poor she fragile health and in rather low spirits Tor she
fears that she will ouve her small fund and become charge "
the public which hny yelled euphemm tor the ashouse
No work which she capable doing has offered Therefore the
promise of SIS week for home sewing seems to come straight
from Heaven-an inversion of the actual facts The very name
"SeEIIep League inspiration. 80 she writes TO bKV'e
Okla and receives reply form letter beginning Dear Friend
Practically all bunco letters form letters beginning Lear
Friend ~ From this appears to the dazzled eyes OF the
Widow Jones that sample Of dress shield will be sent he1 10
ethe with and full Instructions for making shields which,
when finished be returned to the League and paid TOR at
liberal rates up the standard of the pattern here IA so
of aterhought the part of the Leagues general manager N
Smith, necessary and nconsderable charge tor material and
instruction $500 Don't delay take advantage OF such an
opportunity urges General Manager Smith, but remit by money
order at .
What after all is 81 co. as compared with the golden
,,rosnect Of work at SIS week enough to assure a
sadly uncertain The Widow Jones cmps and spares and
sends the money In the natural of events tour things VIII
second she will carefully make the shields according to directions
and return them to Seep League; third Mr. Smith will re-
greuy inform her that they not to the sample TINS also
by form letter. and therefore useless to the League and fourth
Mr. Smith will keep her $500 and the Widow Jones Will go with
ont milk and sugar in month make 1t up and
m he ann1ec;abv nearer the mshoue That the ogi
cav and inevitably happens when the Widow Jones tempted
into the of Mr. Scep Smith through the columns OF such
newspapers don't what kind of they get so long as
they get it, all provided outside ntcrfercs bO -
in Was d ca very
where being the large and unsighy building OF the T. > Post
Office Deparment-thee the office of the Solicitor to the De
pa1ment filled with OF busy who arc professionally IN
erested Mr. Sylvester Smith institution and in Mrs Melinda
tones as type Geography the contrary Notwithstanding this
office all that stands between Nh Smith Oklahoma and Mrs
tones in Ohio Let us that the Widow oness two
dollar money order eghted with simple hopes already in
the mails and way Mr. Smith But the Solicitors office OF
the Posoce Department which the bureau having charge OF all
has already heard of the Seep League from
other Widow oneses and has heard nothing the League credit
Somewhat advance of the Ohio widows two dollars there arrives
ct the nconspicuous office Of the Se1ep League bilkvle
Okla Of quiet and unasumng who does not res
cmbe even remotely the detective Of fiction know several post
Office inspectors personality of them suggests scientific
search worker would be taken for bgg hunter or
woodman of sort and the rest look like everyday business
men, The produces the Sefep Leagues advertise
ents foowup letters and the subsequent proceedings
somewhat as follows;
The Inspector-HIow your list are making SIS a
week?
Mr. Smith (uneasily)- dunno. Several
The Inspector-Civc m their
Mr. Smith (stil uncasiy)- haven't got en- handy
right
The Inspector-Do you pay for the work sent n3
Mr. Smith Frightening up)-Sure, do The books il
The nspector-Wha proportion of the work do
pay for2
MIR Smith Closing his spirits agan)l dunno
The nspector-Tcn per cent?
Mr. Smih-Mebbc
The nspector-Five per
Mr. Smith-l-l guess
The nspector-Wil you you hundred?
Mr. Smith (de6anly I'VE dom have accept the work if
ain up the sample.
The Inspecor-And it's up sample with you as
judge il
Mr. Smith earnestly live got letters right here from
women that's worked for satisfied since been business
Here's
The Inspector glanng at it)-Yes know. I've seen that
before It's a stall Now well so the books.