The Saint Paul globe., December 28, 1902, Page 17, Image 17

About The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
This January Will Be the Biggest Trading Seasori in the History of St. Paul.
S Great Sales Start Friday Morning, Jan. 2d
Muslin Underwear -- Stronge & Warner's ißetail Stock - Linen and White Goods.
m^^^^^H^r^^ill^^ Special Bargains in Silks. m^^j^^H ignuiii Jl'iyif w '
I^J3J^Bi|lkJL^B^^^ Goods Which Must Be Sold Before Our Inventory. W^T^T*! J3J Vl wl"T^i3S^
4|^«r^ On Monday we offer 5 great Silk Bargains. We can't describa them as we can show them. Coma and judge for your- IPl^PyiyWlpfsW^WfJyH^^^^W^f^^^^^l^^
wstjSggJ^BS^ggggggß9B& m "imami*^ self as to their attractiveness and real worth. Some run in value up to $1.50 per yd. For 3 days'selling they are marked I^^^
II" ■ ■- MKEuiNftEita.co.ST.PAUL.HiHR. ; ■&„ 29c ; 39c 59p 69c 89c M JillJi wjULMitautfccu.ii.-nuiLMmit "
Silverware Department Specials I \tift&i*x%jf*€ii* and HACl'pfV Q«ll<a Before Inventory Linen Sale
Department Right at Seventh Street Entrancs. . ./, .. %^J ]LBi%jL^&&- T^^^^^LX^ .. * - "EJL • A \JF &5 &%& J/ 'j *^/^lli " :•! Linen Dopt., Center Robert St, Ann«. \
Wm. Rog3rs' "Eagle Brand" Silvsrware, Monday, ■" :.- ;ii ■ - iKSSf^S'JsS* _ ;''.' : ■■■'■'.■':■ "■_ ''"V:f:,-i ' ■."• 7:"; "~ *" • :■- :-. -.■■ Checked Cotton : Crash Bleached Muslin Remnants,
Teaspoon. pam ftQ^ c,d M.at Fo rks with «~ .'A Genuine Price Reduction Sale to close out stock be= l^T hnStPer He SSf per 4C
handles Set of 6 *■«»«* fancy handles, each 039G inventory, January ist. AH advertised lots will be on bargain tables—plenty wide width'rii'prbMi r«M- on £;„«, ««;'ek' 7™~v
tSST '*"%*■„ I 98C S^^^jSlt °f St^"^ P'e"^ of extra salespeople-There will be no feason why anyone C^^weS^'^ S2^jsft p NIS?J
.^ ndlef • ""'' ""■«* pair , DOC should be disappointed. Come with the crowd and get these great bargains: a yard ...............«C to ISc yd, special at /2C
SSS^WSTeSLSS . h CaTa"s Lrr:. w!: h. to. n:!s9c Sale closes Wednesday at 6 o'clock. .; |:: : k || ■ ,| g | Large-tables' foH of Remnant* and Odd Lots of
La s s poo"lef^s2.3s &££.«!£&£ _- Ladies' Underwear. Ladies' Hosiery. }&££&*£& °™h Tovr^ms- Etc" -at
A., !; Dinner Co« Spoony %. *> $2.50 ||I| Ladies' Peeler.Cor.he.vy HUfcea fleece, st , L^. Black Fleeced Co^on Hose, " -. .' .' : ..' ', ' '
r;;;:::Jj! HS^~39o ■ :JE SSSiSsr.^. .17c At sc, 80, 11c a Pair Curtains, Rugs and Draperies Dept.
handles each WLp Child's Knife, Fork and Spoon, with >£^KBHB&3 Ladies' Fmo Ixl Ribbed fleeced Vests and Pants, ...,£ _ . v " ■"_ r***nS-3c* s --^ " *"^ On Eth Straet Balcony. .. .:
sl^s ::.».!?-7Sc SS|fc -mmM EjSs":~r"'"c'" aSi H&SrE ;:^^» 1^«^ ?af' 01
— :"~ "". '. " • : WlSBg LUu^V^/pantsrTights and' Union Suit|| fjl^J^L^LZt Mf^S^^^P Figured Silkalinss, 36-inch, b 3 st Rope Portieres, For all kinds of
Qr*A/-»|.ril in lßrx-«»-^' wJ.^I, ls&m ■ worth 75i«, $1.00 and $1.25, the odds and ends of *', , . ,OI .u" UDie fl/imP/^^SmJW^' qua!lt/> pre-inventory sale price less opsnings, choice of our stock and rang-
SpeCiai 111 OOyS • : IBm tho entire stock of this price underwear in one toe W;? nl ■ 140 'VM^^MlM' than half of what it's generally sold . ing from $4.50 to $5.50, &O 4 O
-. .. Coaster Sleds, made of hardwood niceiv iwWWi bis rßalß lot, at ■ S?C toe, a pair for .. B-Wii> K^MYIW^ for- A •j—'^r 6 2 C at, each ;.. 3M-ISF
.^^aaftte^-^BBHBM^ Coaster Sleds, made of hardwood nicely fi&H cnoioo ?!?.....:,...........,...... 570 . 4 pairs for 50c. . , yard..........-... : ;..v^..;; .
■ . —=—--—-j —: BVM VH 5i";:.,,^™^.....?..„„, Lined Hose, ordinary &;? ffiS»«? , worth 40c and a yard. 87 *** *sßy*ns ,as
' fPRBM ', !.', ",'!» . and extra wide lesr 'ta^B*^ at only £l2u Tapestry Portieres, sarncle nairs.
rV,TL^f^^ M f^fc 4L I W Ladies' Heavy Australian Wool flat underwear <• ««.™e leg, only one pair cJf a kini. at almost
WrOCKCrV Jfint Srlle - D Great ' My (not ribbed), the best and wannest garment *• .^ i ISO : >■ m, Extra heavy Wool Smyrna Rugs. hilt and In many instances Half -
m^* e7 VF V# i-;MIV Bas 2 m2nt. ~ ' §KBf made in America,, sell at $1.50 every- QOp ■»"-"* Kr . W Size 9x12 ft., only one of a kind, worth Pries.- '
Sale Closer Wp/inpcrlav «t A ft Vl rt^ ' - WT where Our sale price ..... ..^......... V«»lJ» J pairs lor.^ue. _.. ..•_•_.--.,-.,,_ ..•- v .- ■ .^f= $27.50, . prs-inventory sale price, 1: - ; : —v '
v viwata vrcuilC^Jciy at O O UOCK. We . . Ladies' White Swiss ribbed Combination Suits, -Ladies' Imported Fleece-Lined Hose, have every for ; ; ;V <& Ift OR Curtain Swiss, 36-inchss^' £tg* 1,
fll A Sale tO reduce Stock clear awiv nil r»rnlff»n m medium weight cotton, and fleeced, just the kind improvement that can *make,,a. good fij CA" choics .......... njJ B O B»F 51 wide, at, a yard x3U
.HI- ty^^, ucdi away dii uroKen jra^j want if you don't wear .wool, fl*©^ wearing stocking; the price now i 5.... ...jtLxSVjf ' .-•-■■■■■.■ - . : ,v . -.-, .. - : ; ../■,-.
/Csg\ assortments and put the department in first- <®a Tne price for this sale is..-.;....^.05fC 'fflßaSfiffl^^n/Hoi^itt^^SS ? «^ r V. ,^r : . :
/|^^^ class shape betore inventory, and this sale Same in extra large sizes at;."...............79c foot; price- cut . ■„. .: :; . W^riTl 'SnOSS Cold WC£ltn6f
V<^^« Will do it. :;: /.V Ladies' Wool Ribbed Combination Suits, regular fl».g Oft to \ ..^^^..r:^^^ :.„„::...\ :...„.. &%3i* . \. ,' „'• ; v " ■
no^^* a ;„■ •- , and extra large sizes, a $2.00 quality, at . ';' 9 I:ibO«F Ladies'imported:: Cash mere ■ Hos e ; full-fashioned \; v/ ./ -^^^panment in Minnesota Street Annex. ; ,. .-..•,.;
t A Sale tO reduce A great collection and $1 . 00 Quality Oneita Suits, weight cotton, and fleeced, just the kind feet, ribbed or that can price cut good AC| A choics \»ill furmsh-just the footwear wide, at, a for these zero.days.
ama . cnr( . . , t , , a Va> ur"KCil v wan . f yQu flon>t wear wooh wearing stocking; the price now is
assortments and put the department in first- i@E^ rhe price for this sale is Osf C Ladies , Ribb^ Leg Cotton Hose 7 with natural wool
class snape before inventory, and this sale Same in extra large sizes at 79c foot; price cut _ 9t%t* WflriTl 3nOBS OOIU W'CfltnCr
Will do it. Ladies' Wool Ribbed Combination Suits, regular Q| QQ to ....... r. *Z%9lr 9 s
n^rtf . o . . , . „ . and extra large sizes, a $2.00 quality, at ■. 9 I «O9 Ladies'Jmported Cashmere Hose, full-fashioned v/ . )W Department in Minnesota Str M t Annex
Uecorated Lamps—A great collection and $1 . 00 Quality Oneita Suits, silver gray and wool plated, "T Cf» feet, ribbed or plain leg; price cut aa We *'N furnish just the footwear you nsed for these zero days,
extended range of price. Whatever you may want you at...... .:./:.> ..../.........'■ y--{?-r-y'---- a *9%* to ....»"5.':;.....\i........... OlfC School Gait#erS .; Women's .;-.--•.:
are likely to find here, and all at a discount of 20 DCP Oneita Suits, black and silver gray; the $2.00 ''.tf^l-: 2Lf& %• . V - ' ; v - , „.,.. ::-; vvV:>-"-^:; !! or™ . : . . :.
cent (rom regular bw price, *" P cuaHty. Price cut to ....:..:.^...,.^. : ;9l<^ Children's HOSierV. *&% o".'*..^^ Svtr?h oM , \^ "i
W Fine American cut Qia s s-A excellent . Children's Underwear. : I ■.. W^U.*«, woo,. s .,ac k a,,a M '^j£i"f% ••■" o«« fettj^ A
thing upon which to spend your money. Many r .^ ._■;;.•.. . ,».*», " I would be thought cheap at 19c. Our •fitffe-* - or.iy .-'.■?.-. '..'...v. 7^.C^^OSPC- black, fleece lin- .JPlaHßiial •■
aS^W choice pieces on hand, left from the best and lowest-priced Children's Natural Gray ribbed fleeced Vests and |Qq §rice for thi^ sale ..::.-...;.:.:.:.. lUC Children's sizes to 10j*. TC A J^ gturanteed , «|Hs^a'
,: ■;— ■&L stock in the Northwest.-and all marked to sell at S^^^i "', r^S^d v«ta" and"'iS %ldren's %1 Ribbed Black aii-Wool - K^ at :v"... ZOO and Jpflßgß
' vilvll 20 percent Off. • ;?« Sntt 6M'ton'y fleCCed... V • ...15C H%, size s'&. 9% , at only ;.:.,.:...-..;:.150 Men's Fine Jersey .Storm Alaska i^Q^vV-JfciHßf
JT IKixTiV^^iH ff ■ -- Pants; sizes, _■!, jo, jo, at oniy , —s; ©"-■■". ' •.: ' •■ ■ •-;.■■■ Ovf>rchni>3 n*™ nn-tn Jots ■■• ■" -■ ' ■" ■lZ'Bl! ■' fist 1- 7*^^ &JHBm! •' ■
: Sfjiif-. China Of All KindS-Especially OUr Children. Natural Gray ribbed-fleeced Vests arid Pants; sizes 30, Ch&ren's 2xl Ribbed Black Wool Hose, with dark .J^at onf;. .^ . _ /DC - °"° W
|^M/^iiJ^Sff_ •■■■■-,■.;„ l ">!.".i ';,i;y'!. ''■.-• uui 30 an d 34- also boys' brown ribbed Shirts and Drawers, and silver natural graj wool feet, •§ €i*» Wn m «V C W0 ,.« c hnoc , „ t v ' ' ifT* SS^^ ■
WmmMn hne, tr6nCh ,« aVlland '■v; h, out reSerVC Ira" heaVy plain! fleece-lined Shirts and Drawers.in 19 :at |1y:......:« ; :......... „.,r 7 ...>..:,1 If ;^^W™^Sg^. WLwith -. . J^Js? '
'W*? JS&BSfZ?b&M at a discount Of 20 per OSlit from' our low all sizes,; : at only ...'... .v.'-."../.........-..;. v .■_.............. ■..*». V; Children's Extra Fine High-Grade Cashmere Hose, $1.25 shoes at.' . «FOO ■ • '
~V <2>^**^ *%JT Price. .:; /,::■,_",; Great Closing Out Sale of Odd Lots of Children's Un- gC|» all black or with natural gray wool feet, OR O Women's Black Felt high cut Slio- '"'■ '&IMiS&F^ ' ... '.' -]- '::'"".
%. f»rf^>L*v >^(33'II^V &^ &%&£&/ derwear, wonderful values, at ..... .^^ fcWW at only V«9«j» pers with felt Spe- QOa T . i-.,:^SS^^ •..;: ; „
/)//PHrni^ illlv/ Infants' Wool Mixed, white, button front Shirts, all g»||** Our "Home-Made Hose, at this great"bar- «■?,_ cialat;':...;. :VHv:'.\/.VV. u9C Girls' sizss «q_ Childrsn's QQ,>
\UI WU^ \\ Jo^ HI S / sizes, at ••• «-.V«J» in price, small sizes, per pair,.:": ;^V...^ (IOC nen's Fine Jersey Buckle Arctics to 2, at... ;" 1?,?' 1"'? 10^°*'r
iMVcJaL^ilAiJ 1 &U/II Children's Black Wool Plated Tights, all sizes; prices E|| Large Size's, up to 10-inch, at per "; E^ worth $125, . "i - - Qft O -Fleece-lined; Storm Rubbers, the
s^^^*^' TlT^nrffiL EHtaSM "^es^ 'tr cu t to ... r............... <, "vw pairl^"...;.7% ".'...*;'. :"..;; j..'r.7..;".;.i{|y0 at.;.;...'............V.:.,»F€J»1# very bsst grade made, all styles of toes,
■ tnr~u_ tj^r^-rr wV^k^lrf f fiU^ _, , '•■■«- , „ Dr. Dentcn's Sleeping Garments; sizes" up to 3 years, OE-^ _ ■/'■"■- " "v," f " "•;•••••"' ;-*:.;—.V; VV . Girls' Buckle Cvsrshoes, EH*% hsels and spring heels; RQn
J^^ M^~Z|^3^r ©n/mla Remember — Sale open till at V..........V.. T.:.v.05f I* The-"Musser;.' Hcse at a big price re- Cfllf* guaranteed for service ..... O2fC women's sizes at ......;.. .OSFC-.
v:-^BL»----^BS=atfs» l: .\BS2ip;-. Wednesday. ..; ; Dr. Denton's Sleeping Garments; sizes 4to 7 years, JB^A auction, size 6, at ................... 0110 _ Szes ■- -v- _^ V; _. Sjzes ;; _ ,•.-;■ ;0—,..-- : Girls'sizes: „« Children's j.^--
Better come early. First choice is worth coming for. at ..........:'... •••• .jrß*a»w •* Prices rise 5c each size larger. to 2 9VC to 10^./r-4rUO to 2at.... 4«fC sizes to lO'^'i-SG
■■••:.• ■ - • - --• ' -•"• - '--^-. >■ 1 ' ■ -- - •••-' ■■'"-. '^^^ €' -' '''■' •^■----- - ■•■-■■-■■ ■■• -;■-■:- ■•■ - ■-■- - -...-■,.-■:■---■ ••■•■:.,--. ■.-.-:■•■,
„,,.771 : " " " '■ ~ •'■if>;U ■•'• /•'"-(,': •.-;:: • - ' .- ■. „ ■-■.. _ . ■ _—^.. . ..- :■•■■■...: ..• . . =..' •■-..- „.>..... ,- . •.,. ... .. ■ ...... ... .... -.- ....._,'.
Dress Goods Remnants. g§ A Great Clearing Sale!
A Bargain Sale Of Great iVleritand Vallie ISeE " „: J : :. " ■ TheCloakand ;; Suit .;■; department which has made an enviable name
v ■.'■'■■; " "*' as a home of bargains and exceptional values finds that it has some
We need not go into details about this great event. Every woman broken assortments to dispose of before inventory, r
who has lived in St. Paul more than a year counts it one of the Ml/ jt ■fyLrrv- _ \i . A ■, en *ir * - n .* : « 7
trading opportunities of the year. ' lAl*\ N° QUeStlOfi °f C°St Of ActUal ValUe Considered.
: «iv i ' * ; i_v i_ V*. i iC'i. «t, '^wßalK^^S^^^ :-- ■ Sensationally low pricing; has been cut in this clearing sale. Remember one thinp-, and
We never carry stock over from season to season, but have an absolute rule that each Wmi «*f l\ IS?C°«V\ fKoi- is that these goods must go before Wednesday next, but come early, for it's worth
„/ ,j et. l-'ri. 4.v '(Wstof3 l%&J2fiz!£>2£n t^ tnat ls that these goods must go before Wednesday next, but come early, for its worth
season s goods must be sold out. So when we come to the enci of such a season as the /Msraa*isßfcSaKP^yk&f*** while to <>.- choice ; ■':.
past during which our enormous dress goods department has eclipsed all former show- ' ' <4gß^fmHp '"?'Sw '?\v:" while to fjet choice, • ■ :' .:,.... -•;• .
past during which our enormous dress goods department has eclipsed ah former show. ■JllPllll! \ JW/'-'\
ings of quality and distanced all former efforts in selling, we find as a logical result a '(I^^M^lW'^ A Greatest -Walking 1 Skirt Bargain Of the Year
much larger lot of remnants and short lengths. v - \ ' v^"''"^X^^w' iff \ ■.:..•.-•• -'"./^.. . .•'•':'--.. •."■/ ':-.-- •":-^--. .•■.■■.,%:::,/;..' ;^ *
_ -• - /*MSI \M!--|il||' *«=»-/ ! These are all high-grade goods, made of elegant Meltc.ns, msnnish woolens and nobby mixtures, highly tailored
f 1 ■A* ' ; : *& _ I^\ "i "i "■^■'"^l ■■/■■" '■'■■•'' JL% '■'--'■ //^Hrlv N^\\^" ~ — i^2ii througout,. and represent every■"■new and approved style cfihe season. Air sizes and every shade and an endless.'
i n€\ 1 1 €J<?l nfi qof 1 ioii^l'S^q woj*tn \t '■ Km iri * r - variety for. they are from our great lines of $8.75. $10.0*0. $12.50 and $13.50 . /&% tr± *■■ jf^
& IIvI4DSrIII'»IC' vi £ - /\/IlO'l A3* V V v/A QUJiJ. Jf " l\~^//'/i\-*^'f£< " garments, but our clearing sale sacrifice price doesn't cover cost of making. 9^ I
Colored and Black Dress and Waist Goods 4 em\l£ rionte Carlo Coats That Must Hove
Nobby, stylish weaves and latest colorings. All the fads of the season in Suitings, Vv^^-^%.;, , - Made of elegant kersey, .lined throughout with Skinner's satin. : From our leading ite M:£F^^'- M% mT%i
Skirtings and Waistings running in lengths of irom Ito io yards each. Plenty of -.'';';-:" .?. ■ and many of them exclusive styles we are,putting out a great collection represent- %I^TB Hg iiiH
full dress patterns and quantities of skirt and waist patterns. . • ing every new style effect of the season and positive values to $20. But they move in this let at. .. ifjP I H
Dpirrpk Cost cuts no figure, actual value is not taken into account, Everything, must go. ? ; ■-;..■" i ■"' ■'■• THiS ; '-: Will JVlakc the Fly
I^riCw. We will not—cannot, inventory remnants. Many are marked at : ; ■.. ; ? An exceptional showing of Electric and Near-Seal Coats.lined with Skinner's satin, full box front. #f*^| Wa B» n
. "---'.""■•-;■.• .■■■•". ." . . high blocked storm collars, the new shape sleeve; standard $25 garments, We have flattered our- Arm aW B^
Half — PriCG» LotS Of Them •at LCSS Than Half = Price. . selves on our ability as value-givers when offering them at $21.50, but in this sale they go at choice M^ |^V*B Jf. . %mw ".
% ■■;'■-■- . . "7" . : "TT ~77i 7TZ .. Z~Ti a --;••■•?■ -.-. n.: ii '.. • ' 'r' .-. Children's Long Coats and Jackets AUou^r season's accumu-iil^^^ fIBB jf^
Every Yard Harked to S^ll and Sell Quickly. solduptoss . 7s , goon LOHg LOaiS anu jaCKeiS /...?...' ...s|>OaOtl
every Yara i larKca io ana yuicKiy. .;-sojd-u P :to-si7s/^
These Sales flust Close Wednesday at 6 O'Clock, and the Goods flust Be Sold.
GRAFTERS DEFRAUD WOMEN
Bogus Theatrical Managers, Unscrupulous Wall
Street Brokers, Wife-Seeking Adventurers.
Special to The Globe.
NEW YORK, Dec. 27.—Although not
essentially of American origin the
grafter has obtained in this hemis
phere a position of such importance
that he completely ovel■shado^Ys his
European prototype. As an essential
part of the social cosmogony of the
United States he demands recognition
in a sociological sense, whether his
field of operations be such-and-such a
set at Newport, or the poor Ignorant
denizens of New York's East side laz
aretto, upon whom he preys with a
wantonness that smacks of cruelty.
There is one side of the grafter's life
about which we see little in the news
papers, for the very good reason that
the victims of this sleek, debonair
counterfeit of manliness and decency
generally prefer to pay the price and
suffer in tilence rather than expose his
villainy and their own weakness as a
necessary condition.
The grafter who makes a specialty
of women has a thousand ways of
bringing to his net the gullible mem
bers of the fair sex.
One of his most common methods is
that of posing as a candidate for mat
rimony, and if he is of presentable ap
pearance, well schooled in the art ot
flattery and of good style, he may
travel from Maine to California on his
"shape," leaving in his wake a trail of
more or less bruised hearts and accu
mulating a more or less plethoric bank
account.
Probably the most lucrative field
outside the matrimonial is the sport
ing. The freedom which the grand
stands permits of between men and
THE ST. PAUI, GLOBE, SDNDA*, 4' DECEMBKITIJB, 1902.
women, and the opportunities which it
offers for forming acquaintances are
irristible temptations to the gTafter.
The green woman sport is a positive
gold mine to him, for she is so pleas
antly confiding and is only too glad to
entrust her bets to a man to place.
Then there are loans to be repaid when
luck comes the grafter's way, and many
another scheme for wheedling the dol- '
lars out of the new friend's pockei.
Another prolific field for this class of
grafter is the woman with a passion
for the stage.
There is no time in the history of
New York that there are not a dozen
or more traps neatly set for women
who"have ambition to become theatri
cal stars, and the money to carry it
out.
These women are generally attracted
by specious advertisements in the
newspapers, announcing the forthcom
ing production of a society play. A
woman of social standing is needed
for the stellar role, and her opportunity
to win fame and fortune is assured.
This is a very alluring kind of bait,
and generally brings forward several
women who have long secretly cher
ished hopes of getting on the stage.
Often the woman is married and she
wants everything kept strictly secret.
Plenty of money is forthcoming, but
hubby must never know what it is be-
ing used for until the fateful night has
arrived, and the patiently nought suc
cess won.
This kind of a client is the very best
that is available for the 'purposes of
the grafter. There is no question what
ever about any quarrel 'or expense
when the inevitable happens, and so,
after the game has been playetl to its
limit, and the chicken sufficiently
plucked, the manager suddenly has a
call out of town, and the little farce
that has been enacted in his office
comes to an abrupt conclusion.
Of course, in many cases, ;produc
tions are made, and the game-is car
ried merrily along. Manager and star
combine to use their influence with
wealthy hubby, and his leg is pulled
assiduously so long as there Is any pos
sibility of making believe that the vic
tim has talent, or the public any fur
ther forbearance.
There are two ways of working: this
kind of graft. There Is the straight
laced manager, who Is all business,
and who is sure that he has picked up
a star accidentally, and whose faith In
her never wanes until her last dollar is
gone, and there Is the less astute
grafter who makes very little effort to
work the legitimate side of the scheme,
and whose only object under any cir
cumstances is the transference of the
would-be star's funds io liis p_wn
pocketbook. The habitat of this un
doubted bird of prey is any of the l^ge
cities, for a change of climate is often
found desirable by him, and his Victims
are as easily secured in San Fran
cisco as they are in New York. Many
of the dupes of these bogus managers
never dream that they have been the
victims of a confidence game, but at
tribute their failure to bad luck and
promise themselves a change of for
tune later.
After the dramatic fakir or grafter,
the most pretentious and dangerous
pirate of these pleasant waters Is the
broker grafter. Within the last decade
the number of women who have broken
away from old traditions and become
operators on "the street" is phenom
enal. It does not take a woman long
either to learn the tricks of the trade
or to become a shorn lamb, but there
are "tenderfeet" feeling their way into
the mysteries-of Wall street every day.
These women are the grafter's prey,
and have furnished the material for
many a subsequent exposure and hasty
flight to bournes unknown.
The men who carry on this class of
fraud are the most adroit scoundrels In
the profession, have probably done
larger things In tfceir time than swin
dle women. The# have been in stock
deals where millions were involved, and
when dirty things had to.be done for
the kings of finance, wTio would never
soil their own reputations by appear
ing in the role that had to be played.
These men are astute, polished men
of the world. They have nice homes
near the park or on Riverside drive,
if not on Murray hill. They are, more
or less, in society, and the victim is
often admitted to the circle of stylish
acquaintances. Theater parties are ar
ranged, and their confidence is gradu
ally won. Meanwhile tne grafter has
his book carefully made up, and the
victim is led on to the point of putting
up a few hundred? on sugar, oil, or
any of the stocks that vary frequently
and considerably in value.
There is a month or two of alternate
successes and failure, during which
the investments grow larger and larger
to cover the margins, and finally the
end comes, the victim is informed that
all Her margin has been wiped out, and,
as a sadder and wiser woman, she re
turns to her pet amusements, if luckily
she is not shorn of her last dollar and
has to accept a position, probably that of
servant to some social snob who makes
-her life a martyrdom. The alternate
choice, not infrequently selected ,is sui
cide.
The most dangerous class of grafters
in connection with the plundering of
women are the men who manage to get
Uiemselves appointed executors or
guardians for women who have been
left forjunes. The fees of these offices
should be sufficient to guarantee the
honesty of men so entrusted with the
care of the money of others; but they
do not prove so, and the average wom
an's proverbial incompetence in finan
cial affairs makes it easy to take ad
vantage of her.
I know a woman today who is scrub
bing floors for a living, whose husband
died ten years ago leaving her a for
tune of $100,000 in United States bonds.
She commenced her experiences as
"angel" to a theatrical company, ex
pecting to become another Mrs. Leslie
Carter. A year or two of this amuse
ment, ending with her disgust of
stage life on account of the unwel
come advances made to her by her
manager, resulted in reducing her funds
considerably.
Her remaining thousands went, at
the advice of her executors, into a well
known speculative stock, boosted by
politicians, which is now worth about
as much as confederate bonds.
Compared with the grafter, who preys
on his own sex, or the poor illiterate
who deforms himself to win a few
pennies from the sympathetic East
sider, these heartless scoundrels who
prey upon the credulity of the "weak
er" sex are a nameless abomination,
and should be hunted down remorse
lessly by the strone arm of the law.
17