1884.] 
AMEEIOAN AGEIOULTUEIST, 
435 
A President of a western college, in making inquiries 
concerning a suspicions enterprise, writes ns: “You 
are death on hugs—especially humbugs. The attention 
yon give to these last, previmts many thousands of dol¬ 
lars from passing annually to the pockets of knaves from 
the pockets of fools.’’ If our correspondent had substi¬ 
tuted millions for thousands, he would have been nearer 
right. It is not fair to consider that all who are caught 
by swindling schemes are fools. The bait often so skill¬ 
fully conceals the hook, I hat many honest and well mean¬ 
ing persons do not suspect fraud until they are caught. 
It is persons of this kind that we have worked, and shall 
continue to work, to protect and warn. 
A New Xiirti to siiL Old Xiine. 
It is not now a “ retired physician whose sands of life 
are fast running out,” or a “returned missionary,” nor 
oven some one who was captive among the Indians, but 
])lain “Dr, H. James,” who “ was experimenting with 
the many herbs of Calcutta,” when he “ accidentally 
made a preparation which cured his only child of con¬ 
sumption.” T.-iat is the new part. The old part is, 
“The doctor now gives this recipe free, only asking two 
two-cent stamps to jtay expenses.” The chap lives in 
Philadelphia. If any one wishes to know more about 
this accidental remedy, he can send for the recipe, and 
will no doubt receive, after the good old style, one di¬ 
recting the “ Calcutta herbs,” in names which are mean¬ 
ingless jargon. 
A fi'oststi Ciii’d All>u>n Competitor. 
Those of our readers who saw some months ago in va¬ 
rious papers a request from a retired editor and ex-puh- 
lisher for Postal Card Autograiths to gather into an 
Album, will appreciate the following; 
1 Editor of American Agriculturist, ( I 
75t Broadway, New York City, f 
I would like to have the Postal Autographs of all 
the subscriliers of the American Agriculturisl. 
Ella M--, Guyadotte, Cabell Co., West Va. 
August 21si, 1884. 
We do itot give the full address, as it might be used for 
the same purpose that Postal Card Autographs are 
wanted. What that purpose is, this lady evidently sees, 
and in her neat way speaks volumes of satire in a few 
words. 
Xlie ways of B’ension Cliiim Agents. 
L. W. Allen, Ilillshorough County, Fla., asks: “Is 
this fair?” A firm of claim agents in Washington, D. 
C., had agreed to undertake his pension claim, for which 
he paid the lawful fee of ten dollars. Mr. A. has recently 
received notice that Congress passed a law in July last, 
allowing attorneys the sum of twenty-five dollars, and the 
agents wished him to pay the increased fee. Hence his 
question, “Is this fair?” Of course Congress would not 
pass a law to affect contracts already made. If the agents 
do not wish to abide by their former contract, it would 
he “fair” for them to return the papers and the money 
paid in advance. They can certainly have no legal claim 
for more. Pension agents, so far as we have known 
them, will take all that they can get. The notice, while 
it implies that the law warrants the added charge upon an 
old contract, does not directly assert it. We would advise 
you to consult the Member of Congress for your district. 
Perhaps he may inform the agents as to the.legal aspects 
of the case. 
Not !1 Part of Tlie “Fool Crop.” 
An inventor of Hydraulic Machines thinking, as he 
says, we might wish its aid in “ investigating this year’s 
Fool Crop,” sends us a circular he received from a “Min¬ 
ing and Smelting Company,” its headquarters being 
—of course—in Cincinnati. The circular states that the 
Directors of the Company have agreed “ to adopt the 
latest improvements in mining machines and imple¬ 
ments, for the purpose of developing to the greatest ad¬ 
vantage their several valuable mines” in Colorado. 
Hence they call upon owners of patents for models or 
drawings and specifications of their improvements. This 
company “ offer a premium of five hundred dollars cash 
for each patent which is adapted for use on its proper¬ 
ties.” It will also “ donate to each competitor twenty- 
five shares, value ten dollars per share.” 
NOT so LIBERAL AS IT LOOKS. 
The liberality of this offer is less apparent when we 
read its conditions. Each competitor is charged an en¬ 
try fee of fifteen dollars, which is to be “ forwarded at 
the same time as the models, drawings, etc.,” and these, 
of course, “ must be prepaid.” It is hardly necessary to 
add that our correspondent having sense enough to per¬ 
fect an invention, was too prudent to purchase fifteen 
dollars worth of information as to the ways of this en¬ 
terprising Cincinnati Company. 
Neitlier FrisEC iioi- I’apci*. 
“O. V. W.,”a P. M. in Benton Co., Ark., writes us, 
that he subscribed for the “Sunny South,” published in 
Brown Co., Texas. He was informed that he was en¬ 
titled to something from a “grand drawing,” and he 
sent the necessary directions for shipping, etc. Nothing 
came, and he has “ written to them time and again, tell¬ 
ing what number it was, etc., but to no avail.” More¬ 
over Mr. W.’s wife also subscribed to the same paper; 
she was sent a similar certificate to sign, but no prize 
came, and not a single copy of the paper. 
PAPERS WITH LOTTERY ATTACHMENT SUSPICIOUS. 
Any publisher who proposes to aid his circulation by 
means of a lottery—no matter if he calls it a grand dis¬ 
tribution. starts with the intention of violating the laws 
of the United States, and generally of his own State. 
Experience has shown, that there is no difficulty in the 
way of sending money to su ih papers, but when prizes 
are to be drawn, or if they are alleged to be drawn, it is 
found out that the post office laws and rulings prevent 
their transmission to the subscribers. All who are 
tempted to subscribe to a paper, no matter where it may 
he published, that proposes by “ distributions,” “ draw¬ 
ings,” “gift enterpiises,” etc., to distribute prizes or 
premiums dy chance, should recollect that they aid in 
an open violation of the laws of the United States. 
Xliat XoH-gate Open A;>’ain. 
Advertisements, offering to send to applicants a puzzle 
picture “ The Toll-gate,” appeared at one time, several 
years ago, in nearly every paper. This “ picture ” was a 
card about the size of an ordinary envelope, with a very 
coarse attempt at a pnzzle on one side, and on the other 
the advertisement of a hook by a quack Doctor, a cata¬ 
logue of the contents of which decency prevents us from 
publishing. Having heard nothing of late of this book 
and the peculiar method of bringing it to the notice, espec¬ 
ially of young people, we supposed that like so many 
things of the kind, it had died out. It seems that this 
gate to nastiness was only temporarily closed. The “Toll- 
gate ” is out in a new form, called the “Shool Fly 1” 
edition. It is a picture almost as coarse as the former 
one, and has an enormous insect in the centre, indica¬ 
ting what may be seen by turning over the card, Humhug! 
Besides the advertisement of the book; there is also one 
of " Dr.Abbey’s Great Specific for Skin Diseases.” One 
who claims to have a “Specific,” has no right to the title 
“ Doctor.” 
PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN. 
A subscriber in Dutchess County, N. Y., and no doubt 
a parent, writes us very much in earnest about the toll- 
gate, and asks us to do what we “can to prevent its trans¬ 
mission through the mails.” 
Fetroleiim vs. ^itock-CHambliiig'. 
Most of our readers will recollect the great facilities 
that .were offered to people everywhere to engage in the 
pleasures and excitements—and also the risks of Wall 
Street—by parties assuming the names of responsible 
brokers. This scheme was broken up by the arrest of 
the principal parties and shown to be a very hollow 
cheat. “Stock-gambling made easy,” is no longer 
allowed, but people at a distance are provided with a 
means of easily getting rid of their money in speculations 
of another kind. 
PETROLEUM. 
Our subscribers in Michigan and other Western States 
are favored with circulars headed “Petroleum,” which 
they are told is “ fast becoming the favorite article for 
speculation.” The circulars have the true ring, as they, 
of course, warn those who receive them that it is “dan¬ 
gerous and unprofitable in the hands of cunning manipu¬ 
lators.” We are told that “ with fifty ($50) dollars one 
can buy or sell one thousand barrels of Petroleum, 
although one hundred (100) dollars is a safer margin.” 
Safer—of course much safer for the broker—when he 
gets it. This recent dodge to make money by pretending 
to induct farmers and others.into the Mysteries of Wall 
Street is not likely to be enormously s'lccessfnl if we may 
jitdge by the way it is regarded by one in Michigan, who 
writes on the circular he sends us: “Thought this 
needed airing a little in your humbug columns.” 
^ 18854 ^ 
BEGINS NOW. 
All IVew Subscribers for 1885, 
whose subscriptions come to hand 
before llctober 31, will receive 
the American Agriculturist 
for hlovember and December of 
this year vuthout extra charge. 
The above ajiplies to All neiv 
subscribers, from whatever source 
received — including Premium 
Clubs. 
Those too distant to receive this 
number before October 31 , will 
be allowed 10 days after its recep¬ 
tion in due course of mail, to take 
advantage of the above in present¬ 
ing the paper to their friends. 
Agents, Attention! 
Boys & Girls, Attention! 
Clerks, Attention! 
Ladies, Attention! 
Clergymen, Attention! 
Conductors, Attention! 
Churches, Attention! 
P.O.Clerks, Attention! 
Merchants, Attention! 
Miners, Attention! 
Farmers’ Clubs, Attention! 
Everybody, Attention! 
Do Dot fail to carefully read the Supplement 
of this October number, and see how easy it is to 
secure one or more of the large number of valuable 
and useful articles which are there described. 
Something will be found for every taste, or suita¬ 
ble for a gift to any friend. Will you have one or 
more of these good Premiums ? A little effort se¬ 
cures them. Xi'y it. 
m- SEE PAG-E 452, SUPPLEMENT. ^ 
