What the Humbugs are Doing.
SOME of these swindlers are so guarded in their operations, that it is proper for us to only allude to their plans in a general way, and leave our readers to draw their own inferences. For example, within a stone's throw of our office is an establishment (we hardly know its present name, it changes so often) which has had a half a dozen branches, more or less, carried on under different names—the post office address is the same for a part, while other branches are located in different streets. We know that one man pays all the printing bills for each of the concerns, while those receiving their circulars, would naturally conclude that they are distinct parties. This enables the same man to humbug the same individual under a variety of names, and with different schemes. Under the name of one firm, he offers one or more journals, with "splendid prizes" of various kinds. Under another name he proposes to furnish books of sundry kinds with numerous "gifts" to each purchaser. Under another name magnificent engravings are offered dog-cheap, with one or more gifts, and a chance at prizes of four or five hundred times the value of the small amount of money you are asked for. Valuable agencies are proposed to all who become his customers. Under one name a catalogue of books was sent out through the mails so plausibly worded that a multitude of persons were led to send in their money. Numerous complaints have come to us, that nothing could be heard of money so sent. We forthwith applied to the establishment for redress, and were coolly informed there was such a man there a few weeks since, who merely rented a desk, but "he left a week or two ago for Philadelphia, and we can tell nothing of his whereabouts." Go into this establishment on any day, and you will see a number of persons industriously at work mailing private circulars by the tens of thousands to all parts of the country. It is certain that patronage is received, or the business would not be continued. Such parties will continue their operations in some form as long as they can find dupes. The main root of the matter lies just here; many persons believe that a dollar's worth of goods can be obtained for a dime. Sharpers play upon this belief. They promise great gains for little pains—a fortune for a dollar invested in a lottery scheme, a farm for a trifle, a gold watch for a song, and so on to the end of the chapter. They skillfully arrange their plans to meet the desires and raise the expectations of their intended dupes. They will continue the game in some form, until all learn the simple truism that no man can make a living by doing a losing business.—American Agriculturist.