Year: 1871

A Newspaper Advertisement.


Some years ago, a Quaker Knight of
the shears and thimblc. who exercised his
avocation in Canterbury, was imposed
upon by an adroit scoundrel, who con-
trived to get a suit of clothes on credit,
and afterwards decamped without paying
for them. The Quaker was too poor to
lose the debit but like many others of
his cloth, he had apparently no other al
tentative. The account was placed upon
his books. and soon forgotten About
five years afterwards he was examining
his old records of debt and credit, profit
and loss, when his attention was at
tracted to this account. and all the cir
cumstances attending it came fresh to
mind. Suddenly an odd thought suggest
ed itself


IN try an experiment. said he. per
haps may succeed i'll catching the rogue
and getting my pay


He Immediately prepared an advertise
ment, in substance as follows. which he
inserted in the Kent Herald:


IF Mr.. Henry Weber who WAS in Canter
bury about the month of August in the year
1913, will send his address to the editor of this
paper, he will hear of something to advantage


Having instructed the editor not to dis
close his name to the rogue if he should
call, but to request the latter to leave his
address, the Quaker patiently awaited the
result of his experiment In a short time
he was informed by u note from the editor
that the individual alluded to in the adj
vertisement, having arrived from London,
might be found at the Rose Hotel


The tailor lost no time in preparing a
transcript of the account, not forgetting
to charge interest from the time the debt
was incurred. Taking bailiff with him,
who bore Il legal process suited to the oc-
cason. he soon arrived at the lodgings Of
the swindlcr. The bailitf was instructed
to stand off at a little distance till a signal
should indicate the time for him to APP
proach.


The Quaker now entered the coffee
room and rang the bell; and when the
servant appeared. requested him to in
form the gentleman of whom he was in
search. that a friend wished to speak with
him. The waiter obeyed the summons,
and soon the debtor and creditor were
looking each other in the face
How dost thou do q kindly inquired the
Quaker, in his bland tone. Perhaps thou
dost not know me?'


i believe | have not had the pleasure
OF your acquaintance, politely answered
the swindler, with a forced smile


'Dost thou remember purchasing suit
of clothes several years ago of poor
tailor in this clty and forgetting to pay
for them ?" asked the Quaker


% nor said the man, blushing slightly,
YOU must be mistaken in the person. 1t
cannot possibly be me that you wished to
find


But the Quaker was not to be shaken
off by this denial of his debtors identity.
'Ah! Henry, know thee well. Thou
art the very man wished to see. Thou
hast on at this moment the very waistcoat
that l made for thee. Thou must ac-
knowledge it was of good stuff and well
made, or it could not have lasted thee so
long


% yes said the gentleman, appearing
suddenly to recollect himself, Il do re-
member now the circumstance to which
you alludc. Yes, yes-I had intended to
call and settle that little bill before leav
ing Canterbury, and you may depend on
my doing so. l have come here to take
possession of a large amount of property
which has fallen to me by will. See,
here is the advertisement which apprises
me of my good fortune
Here he handed to the Quaker q copy
of the paper containing the advertisement
whose history we have given above The
Quaker looked at it with imperturbable
gravity, and continued: Yes, see thou
art in luck; but as my demand is very
small one, think | must insist on pay
ment before thou contest into possession
of thy great estates


A tap at the window here brought the
county court bailiff into the presence of
the parties. The swindler was particu-
larly astonshed at the appearance of this
functionary, who Immediately began to
execute his part of the drama.
What y exclaimed the rogue in an an
CRY tone, you surely haven't sued e?'


Yes, | have replied the Quaker. and
thou shouldst be thankful that nothing
worse has happened to thee
Come in, then,' said the debtor, finding
himself fairly caught, come in, and l will
pay you if must


The three went into his room together,
and the slippery gentleman, having ascer-
tanned the amount of his bill, paid it in
full The tailor having signed the re-
ceipt, placed it in the hands of his late
debtor, with such feelings as may be
readily imagined. The swindler took it,
and for the first time glanced at the va
rious items of which it was composed
He said nothing till he came to the last
charge, which was for advertisng,' when
he broke forth:


Halo what's this For advertising''?
That's an odd charge in a tailor's bill
You're cheating me! :!


% no., cooly replied the Quaker, that
is all right have charged thee the cost
of publishing the advertisement thou just
showed me-


Here the swindler savagely demanded:
DO you mean to say that you caused
the publication of that advertisement?


'Truly, 1 did, replied the Quaker, with
| the most provoking GOODNESS.
| You told great falsehood in it = re-
torted the rogue


Convince me of that said the imper-
turbable Quaker, and thou wilt find me
| ready to confess the fault
You said in your advertisement that
should hear of something to my advan-
tage, if | would come here


Thou art mistaken Immediately re-
| spondcd the Quaker, 1 only promised
that thou shouldst hear of something to
advantage,' and is it not to the advantage
of poor tailor to collect an old debt?'


If can catch you in the street, said
the swindler, in the deepest rage, rll
give you such u thrashing as will not
leave the breath in your body!'


Nonsense, now,' said the Quaker, if
thou really intendest to do anything of
that sort, we had better step out into the
back yard, and finish the business at
once


| The rnoue WAS completely abashed hv