The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-12
The Spectator, in the Chicago Herald
Examiner.


 Examiner.
 1N LINGO is a modern term, an IHN Americanism, for all l know ~ for the swindler.
 The crop of swindlers springs eter- nal in the human garden since the days when the serpent played his lit- tie game on Eve and landed her and her progeny out of nice, comfortable Eden into the cold. cold world, where they have had to work hard ever since.
 But there is, one safeguard The swindler rarely swindles anybody that is not willing to try to get something for nothing. Anybody who makes it an invariable rule to pay for what he gets, and never wants tc take anything he has not paid for, Is not likely to be gulled.
 Perhaps, therefore, the bunco man has his place in the order of things, as microbes, worms, carrion crows and scavenger beetles have their place, which Is to remove from earth all decayed organisms that have ceased to function wholesomely
 The international crook is one of the cleverest kind. And the sort that preys upon travelling Americans IS usually an American himself. He knows his countrymen, and their weakness.
 Men voyaging abroad are apt to leave the Ten Commandments in their home town, for safe keeping. Hence, when not foreigner, nor one or those slick Frenchmen or Italians, but a genuine broad-hatted, nasal whanged fellow w-countryman. from Waco. Tex, or Steubenville, Ohio, invites him down to his cabin to set in' to little game of draw poker he thinks he Is among friends ana its all right, until the next morning finds him with a fat headache ana a lean pocketbook.
 A vef9 wise but not very rich American blew into London the other day. In twenty-fo hours he had lost inc money he brought with him in private flat poker game in the West End--playing in a party organized by a new found friend who described himself as an ex-Indian army officer.
 with a few pounds left in his pocket. he was dining in one or the London restaurants that correspond to the Childs' establishments when a well -dressed American sat down op- posite him. oyer the soup they dls- cussed the London weather, over their ebitter" and Cheddar cheese they became fast friends.
 A few drinks in Piccadilly bar, and then the we'll dFessed one of fered a tempting proposition to the new arrival
 He said he represented rich Eng lishman, who wanted to die poor, and was giving his estate to charity be- fore his death. The millionaire was anxious to distribute some of his wealth in America.
 Unfortunately. he didn't know how to do it-didn't know the usual or ganizations for distributing such funds If the bright young American the "come on''-would agree to dis tribute 1,ooo. pounds of this money when he returned to the States. the agent would guarantee him royalty of 100 pounds. It would be necessary, however that he first deposit a small sum- say s2o0, with the agent before he couid be entrusted with the 1000 pounds. Believe 1t or not. The come on cabled America the next day Tor funds and presented the agent With the required s20o. He is still wait Ing the agents return to the rendeS- vous they named.
 Another story relates an incident that took place in Paris. A good-looking young American. walking along the boulevards, was delighted to see charming French woman wave at him from a private Limousine. The car halted a few yards along the curb. and the blonde beauty waved again.
 The young man joined her, She