small apartment, two callow youths, whose 
appearance did not seem promising for a 
firm who were “prepared to take contracts 
for sending merchandise to all parts of the 
world,” were found. They were question¬ 
ed pretty sharply about their business, and 
their answers being unsatisfactory, they 
were taken to the Desplaines street station, 
giving the names of W. F. York and F. C. 
Duncanson, and locked up. They vigor¬ 
ously protested that their business, though 
not strictly legitimate, could not be classed 
as swindling, and claimed to have received 
the sanction of the postoffice department. 
The scheme operated by the young men 
was to send out a number of postal-cards 
similar to the one received by Mr. Tllling- 
hast, and then, if an answer was received, 
in return for the 64 cents they would send 
a package containing a small book or other 
article, valued at about one-half the 
amount received. 
The young men were seen in their cell 
last night by a reporter for The Times, to 
whom they admitted that their business 
was a little wrong, but said it was not a 
swindling scheme. 
“In return for the money we received,'" 
said York, “we proposed sending a book 
which would cost our customer at least a 
dollar at retail, but which cost us in job 
lots about 34 cents. We thus gave a fair 
equivalent and made a little money on our 
goods. We had been in the business only 
a few days, and had as yet not sent out 
any goods, thougti the police think we had 
been sending out a quantity. We went 
to the postoffice department and inquired 
if our business was a violation of the postal 
laws and if it would be interfered with by 
the postoffice authorities. We were told 
that we could go on, but we would have to 
send the goods at our own risk. A day or 
two ago we became fearful that our busi¬ 
ness was not strictly legitimate, and had 
begun to return the money we had received 
to those who had sent it when we were 
arrested. 
The assertion that they had begun to 
send back any money is regarded by the 
police as very gauzy, and will be ventilated 
in court to-day. Both young men are 
quite intelligent looking. Young Duncan¬ 
son is the son of Dr. Alexander Duncanson, 
a reputable physician, formerly of Kan¬ 
kakee, Ill., whose office is now at the cor¬ 
ner of Madison and Robey streets. The 
young men were booked on a charge of 
obtaining money under false pretenses. 
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE. 
CABBAGES FOR THE SOUTH. 
Shreveport, La., Feb. 15, 1883. 
Isaac F. Tillinghast, E<q: 
Dear Sir: I believe 
you are going to make Seed-Time and Har¬ 
vest interresting South as well as North. Will 
you please answer the following questions: 
What variety or varieties of cabbage will 
grow and head in the greatest degree of cold? 
Here if we have good plants and put them out 
in September, they will generally grow and 
head all through the winter. Have been using 
Flat Dutch and Drumhead, but believe some 
earlier maturing varieties would be more profit¬ 
able if they will stand as much cold. 
Will the American Wonder and Racer Pea 
stand and grow in as cold weather as the Phil¬ 
adelphia Extra Early? Respectfully, 
G. W. Stoner. 
Answer: Your own observation and exper¬ 
ience in tha matters you ask about are certain¬ 
ly more valuable than the opinions of one who 
has never been so far south as your state. From 
our observations here, we should say that the 
Flat Dutch and Late Drumhead cabbages were 
the most hardy varieties grown. We have 
never observed any great difference in different 
varieties of peas so far as standing cold is con¬ 
cerned. It is a hard matter to injure any variety 
with frost, even here. 
NEW SEE DUNGS. 
Gordon, O., Mar. 15, 2883. 
Mr. I. F. Tillinghast;—Enclosed find an order 
for i bushel of Wall’s Orange Potatoes, he price 
price by the peck in the Catalogne you sent me. 
If you can no; fill it let me know immediately. I 
am much pleased with the enterprise you take in 
the seed business. I am an old potato grower; I 
have originated some good new kinds myself. I 
have a very good strawberry, originated with me, 
not yet sent out. I have also a very good, very 
late seedling apple of no one quality; also a very 
good grape and a yellow raspberry, all of which 
are not yet sent out. I am growing strawberry 
seedlings which have not yet fruited. The “Big 
Bob” strawberry originated in an adjoining coun- 
