Indiana daily times. [volume], December 29, 1920, Last Home Edition, Page 3, Image 3

About Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922

Image provided by: Indiana State Library

                
CHILD PRODIGY
IS OFTENTIMES
ARTFUL DODGER
Each Year Produces Marvels
*• of Infant Genius Along
Varied Lines.
SOME ARE BORN FRAUDS
BY FREDEBIC J. BASKIN'.
NEW TORK CITY—The child prodigy
1* now a familiar figure among n*.
Nearly every week the pictorial supple
ments of the newspapers contain the pho
tograph of at least one child genius who
la early blossoming Into fame. Last
year, one of the greateat sensations of
the season was a chl.d pianist of 11,
and this year It is a 9-yr-old chess
champion. Columbia University has Just
matriculated a 14-year-old boy, who is
said to acquire bis high marks without
studious effort, and Harvard, of course,
has had a child mathematical genius for
two or three years.
But the development of child prodigies
has not been ecnfin'Ml to the arts and
sciences. They are also springing up in
amazing numbers in criminal circles.
New York is witnessing a rush season of
artful dodger* who are surpris
ingly skilled In relieving people of their
watches and pockethooks under the very
noses of rotund cops. Still others are
evidencing amazing ability in the usually
mature business of fraud.
There is Sniffski, for instance, aged 0,
a product of Greenwich Village, who is a
master mind In his own line. Sniffskl
was not horn with a silver spoon in his
mouth, but with a great talent for ac
quiring something of the kind for him
self. He is one of a large family of ill
clad children who look very much alike,
with the exception that Sniffski has an
unusual pair of large, expressive, som
ber eyes, which he has learned to use to
good advantage.
Just when Sniffski began to recognize
their value is not known, but beginning
with this fall the people living in Sntlf
skl's neighborhood wore touched by their
apreai. A young woman artist was one
of the first victims of their magic power.
She was entering the corner drug store
to buy a sundae when she hehe.d a small
boy with a toweled heed and ragged
clothes staring iu the window. The
whole little figure soerned to express a
tremendous longing, and she thought
vaguely that the child would make a
good sketch, but forgot about him in
ordering her sundae. As she took the
firat bite, however, she happened to turn
to the window .and encountered the eyes
—lerge brown eyes, swimming, the artist
told a friend later, “in a perfect sea of
wistfulnesn." Well, the immediate result
was that Sniffski was brought into the
drug store and treated to a sundae.
SYSTEM USED BY
ONE BRILLIANT ARTIST.
jl few nights later, the game young
entering the corner drag store,
found Sniffski seated on a stool beside
in old lady, drinking an ice cream soda,
ind the night after that he was doing
the same thing in company with a genial
bid man. But on the next night the
climax came. As the young woman ap
proached tiie drug store, she saw Sniff
ski In the clutches of the neighborhood
cop.
•'Now just you run home as fast as
I you can, if you can run at all. after
drinking r.ll that muck," the cop was
admonishing the boy in a stern voice,
which became less stern ss be encount-
Itbe dark, somber eyes. "The little
’s had five sodas tonight.” he ex
sd to the interested onlookers, "and
ifrald to let him have another,
■g a limit to his stomlck. hut there
any limit to the number of people
ire willing to buy drink* for him."
s put an end to Sniffski s ice cream
game for a while, but he soon
rered another equally ns good. It
lot work so quickly, but it pro
a fair amount of small change,
■as the other had secured merely
He began to study the people of
eighborhood and to pick out those
kindly, good-natured faces. Work
ne street at a time he would wait
:hese Individual* in the morning
:urn upon them the full power of
ark. wistful eyes, and tiny smile,
kindly eouls, entirely unsuspicious
plot, wera greatly flattered by this
Lion from a child. They were just
i right frame of m'.nd for Sniffskl's
stroke of genius, w hich usually came
the third morning. This time the
bor was rapidly approched by
lief, his large eyes shining, and
>d with, “Say, mister, today's my
lay!”
iriably the neighbor Inquired con
jg Sniffskl's age, and invariably
ki promptly answered “ten.'’ And
s the same result was one more
in Sniffski'* small po’ket.
another section of New York an
ly clever child prodigy has been
ng an even more complicated
le, for separating trustful persons
small portions of their cash. This
irising lad, who Ua a cherubic
•nance, rings the bell of a house
there is no telephone. Many sn c b
s still exist in New York, espe
sinee the telephone company has
le so indifferent to increasing Its
>sa.
E PHONE TALL
E POPULAR.
careful inquiries the hoy has al
lied that furnished rooms are rented
s particular house, and has secured
ames of thq lodgers,
on a Sunday morning. Mr. Hibhs.
ivee In the third floor front, is in
ti by his landlady that he is wanted
s nearest drug store telephone. The
store has sejit a little boy. to tell
the landlady explains, breathless
running up three flights of stairs
Mr. Hlbbs dashes hurriedly Into
othes he wonders who on earth I‘.,
ie who has called him up In such |
klon. Is It the red-haired flapper j
* the other evening, who asked him j
n a hiking club, and who Inquired
latently ns to how she could reach
in the 'phone? No: It conldn't me.
sure, that he didn't tell her about
rug store. Too bad he hadn't. Ah,
he knows who it is—it is Brown,
jrse, who has come to towa, focna ;
here he is and called him up. Only
n would think of calling him from
earest drug store. It will be groat j
> Brown again—always was nn en- j
ning chap.
blng enthusiastically down the j
, he is about to clear the front step j
one leap when he is stopped by a
boy with a cherubic face, who says ;
rmall but determined voice:
■ “I brought the message, Mister.”
I “Oh, you did,” laughs Mr. Hlbbs, "and .
I yon want a nickel, I suppose—well, here
I It Is.”
I Mr. Hlbbs continues to dash down the
(street and in the drug store, where he j
r rushes to the telephone booth, explaining ]
that a call is waiting for him.
"A call,” repeats the druggist pitying- ;
ly. “There is no call for you. Hasn't .
I been e call from outside here this morn- j
tog- Who told you there was—a little ;
I aoy? I see. Gave him a nickel, of
I ‘onrso. didn't you? Well, that's just their ;
I rame. You aren't the first one that's
Keen stung. It's a regular business
Bringing people to the phone and getting
K nickel from them when there isn’t any
K'OI'RTfcEX-YEAR-OLD
■LBSCOMDS WITH $4,300.
W Perha’Js the most notable of all child
KrodlgieJ In aflairs of this ktnd Is Elliott
Bflcbcncw, the 14-year-old office boy, who
Ikecenth/walked out of the Baldwin Loco-
Pfcotlve Vl'orks li Philadelphia with $4,303
[ itolongiag to ths company in hla pocket.
Writes New Book
gftxscvfr n.' Js&ji
I
KATHERINE MAYO.
Miss Katherine Mayo, one of the best
known women in the world of letters,
has come into public notice again through
one of her works recently published. It
is a critical account of the work of the
y. M. C. A. with the A. E. F. in France,
and is said to be her most notable work.
Miss Mayo was born in Pennsylvania
and educated in Boston and Cambridge.
One of the first things which brought
her fame was “Justice to All," a history
of the Pennsylvania State police force.
The late Colonel Roosevelt wrote the in
troduction and presented a copy of the
work to each member of the New York
State Legislature in 1917, the year the
New York State police force was created.
Miss Mayo was active in the campaign
for the passage of the hiii which created
that force.
"The Standard Bearers” is another of
her books and she has lone been a con
tributor to the Atlantic Monthly, Scrib
ner's, the Saturday Evening Post and
other publications.
and who was arrested here iu New York
only after a long search.
Elliott 1* also blessed with a cherubic
countenance, which attracted every moth
erly woman to him on his travels, gud
helped him to remain above suspicion
for a long period, Elliott decided to take
the money as soon as it was handed to
him. As told the police later, “Sure 1
took It. Who wouldn’t? I was getting
$8 a week as an office boy and they
sanded me $4,300—1 had to count it, you
know—and told me to take it to the pay
master. It was more money than I had
ever laid eyes on before. It looked awful
big. and It felt awful big—l blew."
With cool determination. Elliott start
ed for the Camden ferry as soon as h->
left the Baldwin plant. He remained
in Camden Just long enough to buy an
overcoat and three suits of clothes, each
with long trousers—his firs! and then
took a train to New York. From New
York he went to Chicago, from which
city he expected to go to San Francisco
But here he rend an account of his theft
In the newspapers, which said that be
woud probably go to Spokane, where his
father was. So Elliott decided not to
go West at all, but to take the first
train back to New York. From here he
returned to Philadelphia and stayed at
the Believue-Stratford for several days,
after which he moved to the Hotel Lor
raine, which is only n short distance
from the Baldwin work:*.
Finally, he became restless anil again
went to New York, where he at Inst
bought a ticket for San Francisco. It
was this act that betrayed him. The
ticket office agent became suspicious at
a small boy paying $134.30 for a ticket,
and called in one of the ra!lr.u<l detec
tives. Photographs of missing hoys were
produced, and Elliott was recognized as
the most conspicuously missing of thorn
all.
•'That’s who I am,” said Elliott, when
confronted with the photograph. "I
don't care. lui tired of spending money
anyhow.”
1,147 BOOKS ARE ( IREFLATED.
The West Indianapolis Branch Libra
ry had the biggest week in its history
lost week, when it circulated 1.147 books.
Os this total 52 per cent was by adult*.
The demand of the men, which outnum
bered that of the womeD, was corre
spondingly heavy for works by George
Ade, John Bungs, Stephen Leacock and
Mark Twain.
Aspirin
Take only as Told
In each package of genuine “Bayer Tablets of
Aspirin” are directions and dosage worked
out by physicians during 21 years, and
proved safe by millions.
Take no chances. If you see the “Bayer
Cross” on tablets, take them without fear.
Handy tin boxes of 12 tablets cost but a few cents — Larger packages.
Aspirin i* the trade mark of Eayer Manufacture of Monoaceticacidestcr of Balicyiicacid
PERFECT HEARING FOR THE
— DEAF —|
The Little Gem Ear Phone
awarded the GOLD MEDAL, highest award for Ear Phones in competi
tion with all hearing instruments at Panama Pacific Exposition.
Look at it and you SEE the simplest and smallest device in the world;
use it and you FEEL that you have the most wonderful piece or
mechanism yet devised for suffering mankind. Let us prove what we
say.
FREE DEMONSTRATION
At Our Store from 9 a. m. to 5:30 p. m
Commencing Tuesday, Dec. 28, and Balance of Week
THE LITTLE GEM EAK PHONE, the latest patented perfect hearing de
vice. With it you can hear under all conditions lu the church, theatre and
general conversation. Tho AUTO EAR MASSAGE stops head noises and
makes the cure of deafness possible.
Remember, we would not allow such a demonstration in our store unless
we had investigated the Instrument thoroughly.
An expert from New York flly will be with us on the above days. We
most earnestly request you to cal!, make a test privately and receive expert
advice without charge. Every instrument guaranteed. Ask for booklet. Tell
your deaf friends.
Wm. H. ARMSTRONG CO.
34 West Ohio Street
Arty Way You Figure
This Thing of Jobs
the Other's Better
Druggist Uncovers Few of
Psychic Reasons for Crime
and Red Table Manners.
“Talk about psychological reaction of
people toward kindness.” grunted the
druggist after he had supplied a Mary
Garden sundae to the youthful customer.
“A woman came in here the other day
and asked me to keep her two kids while
she went downtown, and when she got
back she gave each one of them a piece
of candy she bought some place else and
took them on home with her without even
thanking me. The next day she called
up and told me that her daughter hnd
torn her skirt on a nail while over here
and requested me to see that the damage
was made good.
“The things that make you sore,” he
continued, "are when you have to get up
in the middle of the night on a special
call and then find that your customer
wants you to change a dime so he can
use the telephone. One night last week
I answered the emergency bell to find
that a man wanted to pay a cabman who
couldn't change a ten. What I said that
time I' would hate to tell you."
The lecture on the impositions of the
innocent public upon the poor middle
man continued with the information that
his store does a rushing business in
wrapping up for mailing free of charge
packages purchased at other stores with
the additional remark that some pack
ages are returned to be rewrapped by
the careful owner.
“Talk about gratitude,” he sniffed.
“Last year a woman called up and asked
me to send out a *lO money order. When
the clerk got over there she gave him
the $lO and told him to charge the 10
cents charges since her pocketbook was
upstairs and it was too much trouble
to go up and get it. And she never did
pay it, either,” he concluded.
Just then his attention was attracted
hv an insistent ringing at the telephone.
He shook his head dolefully when he re
turned to his audience.
“That "ns 11 fond parent," he confided,
at whose polite entreaty we delivered
two pieces of peppermint stick candy to
her promising offspring. Just now she
called up ’to tell me that our boy was
out there with it, but her son has
changtd his mind and wants lemon now,
so she is sending the peppermint back,
and she wants the lemon sent out at
once.
"And speaking of some of the things
peofde will ask you to do," be continued.
“The other day a man rame in here all
dressed up to look like a million dollars
and bought postage stamps for twenty
or thirty letters. He informed me that
be was afraid to lick them himself for
fear he might get sick and would 1
please do it for him. If It had been a
woman who was afraid of losing some
of the paint I would not have thought
so much about it, but a man."
Then the monologue was diverted to
the subject of articles asked for which
belong to a department store.
“if we carried all the Junk some folks
want we would he running a combina
tion of all the department stores and
10-eeut stores in town," he said. "The
other day a mini came in her and asked
if we carried ribbon. His little girl
had lost her hair ribbon and he wanted
to get* her anew one. Safety pins, hair
pins and needles seem to he the most
desired objects of the consumer."
Just about tl at stage of the affair
one of the sjKWt.ltors decided to cm >ark
out the front door minus his umbrella.
I'pou having the same restored to the
possession of its owner business was re
sumed, the druggist informing his nudt
ence that he had so many umbrellas
left that he was seriously considering
taking up the business of second hand
rain protectors.
“Why, I haven't had Ip, .bW an um
brella for tlic last twenty-live 'yearn,' and
what's more I don't expect to have to
for the next fifty," he stated "Ith
finality.
“There Isn't any business that can beat
that of returning thing*." ac declared,
“and the best of it U transacted In maga
zines. We've g**t u hunch of people
around this neighborhood who will take
a magazine horn? one evening and brim:
jt back the next day aud swear up and
down that someone else in the family
bought one Just like it and they didn't
know it. Usually the magazine show*
signs of having seen service slnca it left
the rack."
The conversation was Interrupted by
the neighbor's young man bound on an
errand.
“1 want n hi ttle of quitter for the.
baby,” he ar nonneed. The audlenc
grinned approval and the druggist
scratched hi* hend.-
“I rc koi) he means quieter,” suggested
one hopefully.
"Oh, yes," murmured the druggist, "he
INDIANA DAILY TIMES, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29,1920.
wants that new pacifier we stocked up
in last weak."
“Charge it,” commanded son, making
a short cut to the door.
“Charge it is the most popular expres
sion in the English language." declared
the druggist, making an entry upon his
book. “Y'ou can charge anything from
a 1-eent stamp to n concrete road roller,
not omitting the war tax on ice cream
sund ies."
“Pay, mister, can you tell me how
many steps there are on the monument;’’
naked one of the audience in the Inter
mission.
The druggist groaned.
“This is a drug store, not nn informa
tion establishment,” he declared with
dignity.
Two Killed When
Train Hits Auto
Special to The Times.
RICHMOND, Ind., Dec. 21*.—Mrs. Alice
Culbeartson and daughter, Vera, of this
city, were killed instantly Tuesday aft
ernoon when a Big Four train hit the
automobile in which they were riding
at a crossing three miles west of Union
City. Otto M. Culbertson, husband oi
the dead woman, was driving the car and
was probably fatally Injured. Tie is
in a hospital at Union City. The auto
mobile wus completely demolished ami
the two victims were carried some dis
tance down the track and crushed In
the wreckage.
The family was on its way to Union
City and approached the railroad track,
from the went. The train came from he
hind at an angle, going east.
The Truth About Indianapolis
TELEPHONES
~r HE number of telephones in
/(fY use in Indianapolis exceeds the
total of Greece, Portugal, Rou
mania and Spain combined, or, for an
other comparison, more than the total
found in Brussels, Liverpool, Madrid
and Rome.
Over 350,000 miles of wire, enough to
girdle the earth fourteen times; more
than 2,000 employes, and an invest
ment exceeding $14,000,000 testify to
the magnitude of the Hoosier Capital’s
telephone business.
The telephone plays an important part
in this hank’s service to individuals
and business institutions.
\
Fletcher American National Bank
of
INDIANAPOLIS
p l° I e f .°. n l J.
| |jjpgg; |
J To Buy or Sell a Business
If you have a business to sell —a store, a
factory, whatever it may be, you cannot depend
on the old word-of-mouth method. The modem
way is the Want Ad way. Describe your business
in detail in a Want Ad in this newspaper where
thousands will see it.
Or, if you wish to purchase a business read
the Business Chances Want Ads in this paper
regularly. Many splendid offerings are made
there. If you don’t find just what you want try
a Want Ad of you own.
Big Deals Have Resulted from
Want Ads Like These
(JIIOCEItY FOR SALK Stock
SI2JJUO. Fixtures SISOO. Delivery
eotilpment about SIBOO. liusiiiuns
established 12 jeers Koine $120,000
year. Owner must retire. 11l
health. Great opportunity for ener
getic men. Fine location. AD
DRESS:
Our want Ad columns are a wonderful Busi
ness Clearing House for transactions of every
description.
Read and Use the Want Ads in
fndiana Daily Times _
SHOPLIFTER GETS
SESSION ON FARM
| Xmas Cards, Perfume and
’Kerchiefs Found on Man.
| “I don’t think the State needs more
j/wltnesses after I have heard the defend
ant’s own story,” said Walter
Pritchard yesterday in city court, as he
sentenced Ben Maxwell, a negro, to serve
thirty days on the Indiana State Farm
and fined him $1 and cozts. The sen
tence was for petit larceny.
Evidence showed that a city fireman
saw Maxwell steal Christmas cards in a
five and ten-eent store and pointed him
out to Lieutenant Houston, who arrested
him. The officer then found a bottle of
perfume and more than a dozen handker
chiefs on Maxwell, who claimed to have
purchased them in a department store,
but when he was taken to the store the
clerk denied she had sold him the hand
kerchiefs.
In court Maxwell stated he bought the
handkerchiefs from "Henry,” hut he d.U
not know "Henry's” last name.
Anglo-Canadian Deal
in Russia Reported
COPENHAGEN, Dee. 29.—Arrival of the
representative of an Anglo-Canadian firm
in Moscow to negotiate with the soviet
government for large forest concessions
In northern Russia wus reported here
today.
The representative, Meßugow, was said
to desire rights to land not Included In
the grant to American capitalists ar
ranged through Washington 1). lan
ilerllp.
HARD WAKE STORE WANTED—
Experienced hardware man with
SSOOO caib wished to buy established
business. Must be located In lire
town. Reply by letter statin* an
imal! sales, inventory, class of trade,
principlo lines handled, price and
terms of payment. ADDRESS:
MEN’S
39c
PARIS
GARTERS
39c Men’s
Paris Gar
ters ; all col
ors, special—
I9c
THE FAIR
TRAUGOYT BROTHERS
311-321 West Washington Street
o*.
$4 r Children’s COATS $ A °g"
■■ Beautiful broadcloth ami velour. Spe- Jjf|| mj
VALLES vial Thursday while they last H m
Our Greatest After-Xmas Sales!
Women’s S2O and $25 Dresses
Handsome embroidered, beaded, braided, jj ggpifr
pirated, tunic and .straight line models of all- Jh ll ‘||ll g| gfS jjjf liS
woi l si'rg"?, velours arid satins, in navy blue 1 g MH H W
and black—a good assortment of the brighter - r j
colors, too! When you see these wonderful || Ihl S
dresses we know that you will want three or I M VMt n!§§Bp
sou come when the store opens tomor
row in order to avoid possible disappointment. All sizes for women and misses.
After-Christmas Clean-Up ol Skirts
•7.50
VALUES
Thursday Specials
for Men
ill
$1.50 MEN S SKIRTS AND DRAWERS—
Fleece lined and ribbed.
Sizes ;10 to 40. Special
Why you need
Resinol Ointment
The same soothing, healing, antisep
tic properties that make Kesinol Oint
ment so effective for skin eruptions,
also make it the ideal household
remedy for
Ulcers
Felons
Pimplea
Cold-soree
Chafing*
Stings
Piles
Irritations
Burn*
Scalds
Cuts
Scratches
Wound*
Bruises
Sores
Boils
And a score of other troubles which
constantly arise in every home, espe
cially where there ore children. Tnat
is why Kesinol Ointment should bo on
your medicine shelf, ready for imme
diate use.
•sanvnlix Your druggist sell*
jampie rree. It , but {or generou*
aanipU and a miniature rake of Resinol
Soap, write to Dept. 18N, Resinol Chemical
Cos., Baltimore, Md.
No Soap Better
—"- For Your Skin
Than Cuticura
ffampfo*ch (Soup, Ofntment.Tftlmun) free of Qatl-
V Luberatorm, Dpt. X. Mal<Ua, Moafl.
TIMES WANT ADS BRING RESULTS.
Our Greateat After-Christmas
Sale of Women s
$25 and S3O COATS
Gorgeous fur trim- JH |jpp|
med and tailored saLTai ppjl pjjgis&sEEral
styles, many hand- rM| |s|| g$ M ||!
sornely lined with |aig |p||4®j!X
beautiful Bilks. £lf| BB wyP IMaf
There are silver- ||l Jj|||
toneL velours, silk plushes, £jj§o| -- yHf SSBWS*BHHSMS
broaodcloths and suedines,
etc., in all the desirable |||g
colors, in all sizes 16 to 44.
When we say that these
are the best coats that we
have ever sold at $15.00, you can well realize the greatness of the
sensational savings. Regular $25 to S3O coats on sale tomorrow
morning promptly at 8:30 for sls.
Women'! and
misseß' sklr ta,
pleated and fancy
models, in all
wooi serge
$2.00 MEN’S SWEAT
ERS—Large s h a w 1
collars. Sizes 54 to
40. Special
95c
52.50 MEN’S UNION
SUITS Heavy
weight ribbed; sizes
:>() to 4*i. Special
§1.24
Important Notice
Broad Ripple City Cars
Beginning Jan. Ist, 1921, the fares on Broad Ripple-Indianapolii
cars will be as follows:
From Indianapolis or any intermediate stop south of Fifty-
Third Street to any stop north of Fifty-Third Street, in
cluding Broad Ripple, the fare will be 10 cents.
From Broad Ripple or any intermediate stop north of
Fifty-Third Street to any stop south of Fifty-Third Street,
including Indianapolis, the fare will be 10 cents.
Between Indianapolis and any intermediate stop up to
and including Fifty-Third Street the fare will be 5 cents.
Between Broad Ripple and any intermediate stop up to
and including Fifty-Third Street the fare will be 5 cents.
Six tickets for 50 cents, on sale at Traction Terminal Ticket
Office, Indianapolis, Broad Ripple Depot, and such other points as
the company may from time to time designate.
Passengers will board cars at front entrance and leave cars at
rear entrance.
Pay-as-you-leave. 4
See small hand bills for detailed instructions
UNION TRACTION COMPANY OF INDIANA
Kill That Cold With
CASCARA gT QUININE
FOR AND
Colds, Coughs La Grippe
Neglected Colds are Dangerous
Take no chancaa. Ke.p this standard remedy handy for the first sneeze.
Breaks tip a cold In 24 hours Relieves
Grippe In 3 days—Excellent for Headache
Quinina in this form does not affect the head—Cascara {9 best Tonic
Laxative—No Opiate in Hill’s.
ALL DRUGGISTS SELL IT
*3.98
House Dresses and
Aprons for Women
$3.00 Fleece Lined House Dresses
Fleece lined house dresses for women, in
dark blue patterns; neatly fill
trimmed; sizes 36 to 46
Coverall
Aprons
Coverall Aprons, in
button front or
sash back styles;
Rick-Rack or plain
braid trimmed. Spe
cial —
SI.OO
MEN’S
$1.25
WORK
SHIRTS
$1.25 Men’*
Blue Charn
bray work
shirts; collar
attached —
65c
if"
Stout Size
Aprons
Stout size aprons
for large women, of
good quality per
cales: dark blue or
light figured per
cales—
sl.49
3