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THE BOOMERS AND THE BOOMEES 



THE city man of small means who has acquired a 

 passion for the country is picked out as an easy 

 mark by the boomers who have attractive (on paper) 

 orchards, gardens and farms to sell. The " boom " 

 perhaps may take the form of a poultry campaign, and 

 some of the older readers may remember the epidemic 

 of " hen fever " that spread over the country forty or 

 fifty years ago. 



There is the same principle underlying all exploita- 

 tions of this kind: first, the skilful and insidious play 

 upon the human desire, and the attractive and decep- 

 tive form in which that desire may be gratified. The 

 typical promoter is by no means devoid of intellect ; in 

 point of fact, he is shrewd, keen, intelligent and con- 

 scienceless. He is, above everything else, a profound 

 student of psychology. He knows to the uttermost 

 limit the moods and passions of man. He plays upon 

 them skilfully, as the virtuoso touches the keys of the 

 piano. 



A story is told of an event which took place at a meet- 

 ing of the makers of automobiles. At this meeting 

 the various proprietors or manufacturers of the different 

 motor cars had the opportunity of freely advertising 

 their own special brands. One of the largest of the 

 makers, while on the floor, described the wonderful scope 

 of his business. He said, " You scarcely realize the 



magnitude of the business which I represent, and per- 



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