JPWWIW 
I EYE ' 
In reading various forms of swindles prac¬ 
ticed upon farmers and others, but principally 
on the former, it must bo borne in mind that 
swindles of substantially the same kind are 
occurring every day in the year in one part of 
the country or another. The great difficulty 
in detecting them lies in the fact that it is 
very rarely a person can realize that he him¬ 
self is being victimized. The adept swindler 
takes every precaution to lull suspicion, nud 
excite confidence. When the bare fads of a 
swindlo are briefly mentioned, anybody can 
at once sec how the. game was played, and cat) 
generally recall several instances of the same 
kind; but while one is being gulled, be can 
seldom realize the fact. It is only after the 
game has been played out, aud he discovers 
that he has been duped, that he sees at once 
that he has been takeu in by an old trick. 
Each of us has such an excellent opinion of 
his own shrewdness, that it is very hard for 
us to see that we are being cheated. Indeed, 
i n most cases the sharpers load their victim to 
believe that he is getting the best of the bar¬ 
gain—that he is either swindling or fooling 
the other party. Mr. Smith can readily im¬ 
agine Brown. .Toues or Robinson to be dupes 
of a plausible rascal: but the idea that he him¬ 
self should be so gullible seldom or never en¬ 
ters his iniud. We can all readily fancy our 
neighbors and friends victims of some great 
misfortune, such as sudden deafness or blind¬ 
ness; but there are few of us who can imag¬ 
ine ourselves in the same condition. So it is 
with regard to swindling. 
Here, in brief, are two such eye-opening in¬ 
stances: 
Two well-dressed strangers have been swin¬ 
dling many persons near Stamford, Conn. 
They call at houses of well-to do persons, un¬ 
der the pretence of wishing to buy a farm. 
Their visits are usually in families where some 
member is suffering from eye-disease. One of 
the strangers introduces the other as an emi¬ 
nent oculist of this city, and after much persua¬ 
sion the “doctor” consents to prescribe for the 
sufferer. The prescription always consists of 
a lotion and a particular kind of eye-glass, 
both of which are worthless and for which the 
victim pays a round price. Peter Pine, a 
farmer, was thus swindled out of $10, and 
other persons have last sums varying from $10 
to $50.In our Western exchanges we have 
lately seen accounts of the same swindle per¬ 
petrated in four different places; aud it is fair 
to suppose that it has been practiced in a great 
number of other cases about which nothing 
has got into print—at least in the papers 
that fell under the Eye-Opener’s notice. This 
is the “Railroad Survey Swindle.” A couple of 
plausible fellows come along with surveying 
instruments, sometimes of a home-made, rude 
sort. They pretend they are laying out a line 
of a new railroad which is soon to be built 
through that section. Iu all four cases no¬ 
ticed, farmers were the victims they swindled. 
In three cases they accepted bribes for chang¬ 
ing the direction of the line and running it 
through ttio grounds of the dupes, so as to give 
them a chance of getting heavy compensation 
from the projected road. In one case they 
offered to locate a station or depot close to the 
large barns of a farmer to facilitate the ship¬ 
ment of his produce. He paid about $500 for 
the favor, as they told him that a village must 
soon spring up about the station, aud ho could 
sell town lots at a high figure. Iu the fourth 
case the rascals pretended to run the line right 
through the fine burns nud dwelling-house of 
a wealthy farmer, and were induced to change 
the direction only by a bribe of $250 Instead 
of receiving compensation from the road, they 
frightened him with the threat that he would 
be punished for daring to build on the line of 
a road authorized by law! In all eases, 
of course, no railroad was to be built; the 
sharpers were merely “practicing on the gul¬ 
libility of the grangers”. 
To Several Inquirers,— We do not re¬ 
commend the “Erie Medical Co.,” of Buffalo, 
N. Y. Its nostrums are vastly overpraised, 
and are offered at exorbitant figures. All the 
concerns engaged in this disreputable busi¬ 
ness fleece their victims outrageously. 
From all we can learn “The Educational En¬ 
dowment Association," of Minneapolis, Minn, 
is all right; still, wo would never invest a 
dollar iu such a concern ourselves.The 
samo may be said of the Home Library Asso¬ 
ciation, of Chicago. We have never 
heard any complaint of the dealings of Dr. 
VV. H. Parker, of Boston; and we have had 
business dealings with him ourselves for 
several years. As 
we have already said iu the Editorial page 
aud here, the Common-SenseJIucubator ad¬ 
vertised by J. M. Bain, of Ohio, is a humbug. 
The man himself is one of the most pestifer¬ 
ous frauds iu the country. His swindles un¬ 
der various names and at various places in 
Ohio have been denounced over and over 
again in this place; still we are constantly re¬ 
ceiving inquiries about them.E. C. Allen, 
Augusta, Me, is all right .J. H. Reeves 
& Co , who advertise a medical recipe, John 
Sloan, who advertises for agents, Henry 
Worthington, who offers an inhaler for con¬ 
sumption, Bidney Brooks, who offers to sell 
cheap music and musical instruments.William 
Henry, who advertises a cure for deafness, 
and J. L. Scudder, who is iu the cheap hand¬ 
kerchief line—paper napkins—are all frauds 
of unblushing impudence... .The Farm, 
Field and Stockman, of Chicago, having pass¬ 
ed into other hands, is, we believe, “all right” 
this year... 
The “Compound Oxygen” treatment is by 
no means a humbug. We have seen a large 
number of genuine testimonials of good re¬ 
sults from its use, and know of several similar 
cases personally. We cannot, however, say 
that the results will be equally satisfactory in 
all cases.“C. L. Fisher,” Seventh ave¬ 
nue, and “Ed. Grosse,” Bleecker street, this 
city, are “sawdust” swindlers, pretended deal¬ 
ers in counterfeit money. Inquiry at both the 
addresses given revealed the fact that both 
the sharpers were out. It was said in both 
cases that the fellows Lad nothing to do with 
the business (liquor and segar), but that they 
called for their letters. The nature of the 
swindle has been so often explained that all 
should know it by this time; still every week 
several dishonest rascals, while trying to pro¬ 
cure counterfeit mouey to be passed off on 
their neighbors, are themselves victimized 
here and in hundreds of other places iu all 
parts of the country. 
Caw. 
T. W. L., Binghampton, N. Y .—Must a 
writing, to constitute a libel, be false; or is a 
writing denouncing an individual as a swind¬ 
ler, thief or other malefactor, a libelous com¬ 
munication. if the matter can be proved to be 
true? Would the fact of the writing having 
been placed on a postal card make auy differ¬ 
ence? 
Ans.—B ishop (Criminal Law. sec. D1S) says 
that “though no man can maintain a civil 
action for true words which another has 
six>ken or written concerning him, yet this 
truth is, at the common law. no defense to a 
criminal prosecution.” By statute generally, 
however, and in this State, by section 244 of 
the Penal Co le, a tine statement that a man 
a 
is a swindler, thief, etc., can be justified only 
if written or spoken “with good motives and 
for justifiable ends." Defamations of char¬ 
acter on postal cards are expressly excluded 
from the mails. 
II. R. S., Seneca Falls, N. V .—A owns a 
farm and allows his son to erect and live iu a 
house ou the same. A wishes to sell, but buy¬ 
er will not accept unless the sou’s house is re¬ 
moved; this the son refuses to do. What 
steps are necessary to compel him to do so ? 
Ans. —If the house had been erected with¬ 
out A\s consent it would have become his 
property, aud he could remove it, or sell it 
as it stands; but having given his son a li¬ 
cense to build, the course now is to revoke the 
license, aud give him notice to remove the 
building. If he fails to do so, within a rea¬ 
sonable time, the owner of the land may re¬ 
move it. 
E. P. M., Nichols , Conn. —1. In Florida 
real estate is exempt from attachment for 
debt; but not if the bills are for improvement 
or labor thereon; would a bill for fertilizers 
lie a bill for improvement? 2. On lands separ¬ 
ated by a zigzag or worm fence docs each 
owner own the trees growing in the angles 
on his side, and should either party straighten 
his part of the fence, who would then own the 
trees? 
Aire.—1. Yes. 2. The zigzag fence does not 
really mark the boundary of each man’s laud, 
aud the tree, on whichever side of the fence it 
may be, actually belongs to the person ou 
whose laud it grows; no other answer is need, 
ed, therefore, to the second part of the ques¬ 
tion. 
J. McO., Methuen, .1/ass.—A bought a 
tract of land from B on time. After two 
years he concluded that he would be better off 
without it; but in the tncautime he had built 
a bouse on it; has he a right to remove the 
house before giving up the laud, or does he 
lose land and house ? 
Ans. —If a farmer erects a building on th • 
land of another, voluntarily and without any 
contract, it becomes a part of the land and he 
has no right to remove it; but if he erects a 
building ou the land of another, with his con¬ 
sent, and upon the agreement and understand¬ 
ing that he should have the privilege of re¬ 
moving it, itjromaiusjthe builder’s'property.j 
Xt^crmmt’s It)ark. 
CONDUCTED BY EMILY LOUISE TAPLIN. 
TO THE FOURTH BOY. 
So you have come, you little rogue, 
' To Join the boys. 
To roar, to riot, ami to romp 
With dreadful noise; 
Knowing that we already have 
Three of your kind, 
And tax our wit’s devising ways 
To make ’em mind! 
Had you no fear that we might think 
We had enough. 
And so might greet you coldly thus: 
“Sir. quantum surf; 
We’re rather tired of tops and drums. 
And such like toys. 
Pass on: you'll doubtless somewhere And 
A lack of bos's”? 
You hadn’t? And you mean to stay? 
Well, saucy lad, 
Pluck wins! although a girl’s sweet face 
Had made us glad. 
Say, dlil you see—from heaven to earth 
As you did pass— 
Soft-eyed aud gentle, auywhere 
A little lass? 
A lltlle lass whose waiting soul 
Her kinship knew 
And sent a message down that she 
Would follow you? 
Ah! whether so or whether not. 
Since you are here, 
Come In and share our warmth and love— 
God bless you dear! 
—Mrs. George Archibald in Phllaie’phia Press. 
OF INTEREST TO WOMEN. 
Steeple crowned hats seem to grow more 
and more towering and conspicuous as the 
winter advances. It is a fact noticeable in 
this, as in every other case of fashion's follies, 
that masculine ridicule does not affect it in 
the least. This certainly gives color to the 
saying that we women do not dress to attract 
meu so much as to create envy iu the hearts of 
other women. 
Some bright observer of the gentler sex 
gives a new turn to the anti-plumage agita¬ 
tion by saying that blame really belongs to 
the men who kill birds for their feathers, 
rather than to the women who wear them. 
There is a great deal of truth iuthis; few 
women would deliberately demand the slaugh¬ 
ter of bird or beast for their personal adorn¬ 
ment, but when they see a whole counter cov¬ 
ered with the poor little victims, slam by the 
ruthless man, they thoughtlessly buy them. 
Their demand is created by the supply, not 
' ice versa. It only shows us that 
"Evil Is wrought bv want of thought. 
As well as wane of heart.” 
A very pretty sewing aprou may be made 
of fine glass towelling, checked with red. 
Around the sides and bottom is a border 
made by working a pattern like the spokes of a 
wheel in each square, with red cotton. An¬ 
other sewing apron may lx* made of fine linen 
or mummy cloth. Across the bottom is a 
flight of bees outlined iu washing silk, with 
the words. “How doth the little busy bee 
improve each shining hour.’’ 
Those fortunate enough to possess fine lac¬ 
es may be glad to know that a mixture of 
equal parts of French chalk aud magnesia is 
excellent to lay them away in. It keeps them 
clean and white, and the dry powder may be 
easily shaken off before the lace is used. An¬ 
other little wrinkle is the use of boxwood 
sawdust, for keeping the original polish on 
gold jewelry. Any ornaments, either of gold 
only, or set with stones, will always retain 
their sheen, if laid in this sawdust when not iu 
wear. After washing a watch-chain or simi¬ 
lar article, a very high polish may be given 
by shaking it about iu this sawdust; it is used 
by jewelers for this purpose. The sawdust 
may be obtained from auy wood-working fac¬ 
tory where they use Turkey boxwood; it is 
chiefly employed in making printer’s cases 
and engraver’s blocks. 
SIMPLICITY IN DRESS. 
SELMA CLARE. 
Looking at some of the startliug costumes 
seen upon the streets one eaunot help wishing 
that women would profit by Sir John New¬ 
ton's advice to a lady: “Madam.” said the 
great philosopher, “so dress and eouduct 
yourself, that persons who have been in your 
company shall not recollect what you bail on,” 
In choosing her wardrobe a mil lady will al¬ 
ways study, first, suitability, and second, sim¬ 
plicity. Your dress may be as expensive as 
you may desire and still be simple; The cost¬ 
liest ornaments are often the simplest. 
It is painful to see how the two essential 
points mentioned above arc sacrificed to the 
prevailing fashion. One cannot but recall 
the descrip'ion of the dress of the women of 
Jerusalem iu the day of the prophet Isaiah, 
and which he so strongly reproved. English 
women are not noted for their graceful or 
stylish’.dress,-but, they are at least sensible 
and leave startling and vulgar display to the 
lower classes or the demi-monde. 
The fable of the angel and the rosebud may 
not be new, but it very charmingly conveys 
the spirit of my text. 
The angel who is said to have charge of the 
flowers, anil who sprinkles them with dew in 
the quiet night, one spring day slept after his 
labors, under the shade of a rose hush. When 
he awoke he said, “Most beautiful of my chil¬ 
dren, I thank thee for thy refreshing odor and 
cooling shade. If you have now any favor to 
ask, I will willingly grant it. ” “ Adorn me 
then with a new charm,” said the rose, beseech¬ 
ingly. So the angel adorned the loveliest of 
flowers with simple moss. Sweetly and coyly 
it stood, half-hidden in its new attire, the 
moss rose, loveliest of all its lovely kind. 
A PLEA FOR THE ANXIOUS MARTHAS. 
Since reading the article in the Rural of 
November fi, entitled, “ Anxious Marthas,” I 
have felt that I would like to say a word in 
their defense. 
While I have no doubt there are many 
women in our laud w'ho make of themselves 
household drudges from choice, yet there are 
many who are such from necessity. 
It is an easy matter for a person of leisure 
to sit in a comfortable room, surrounded by 
all that is pleasing, and, perhaps, luxurious, 
and with gold pen extract ink from a silver 
inkstand, and write what we wives of poor 
farmers ought to do. Let this person change 
places with one of us, anti I doubt her ability 
to find time or money, economize as she may, 
for much intellectual improvement. I have 
been called upon, to fill both positions, and 
think I know whereof I write. 
I was born and grew to womanhood in the 
principal city cf one of the border States. My 
parents were well-to-do: a brother and myself 
were their only children who lived to reach 
majority. I was educated at some of the best 
schools in my own and an adjoining State. 
In my home I enjoyed all of the comforts, and 
many of the luxuries of life, I had much 
leisure time, and was taught to look upon 
household drudgery as needless, yea, even 
sinful. After the close of the war, I joined 
my fortunes wi th that of a Union ex-soldier, 
and accompanied hnn to his adopted State, 
Minnesota. There I found many, who, like 
myself, were the wives of soldiers, as well as 
many other settlers: all were poor, and many 
suffered for the actual necessities of life; 
most of them were Eastern people, and had 
received at least a common school education, 
and would have been glad to cultivate their 
minds yet more, but poverty and work forbade. 
It seems to me that there is a feeling preva¬ 
lent iu the East that all of the poor farmers in 
the Northwest are ignorant, which is quite a 
mistaken idea. To illustrate; an eminent di¬ 
vine of Boston. Mass., accepted a call from a 
church congregation iu St. Paul: after a few 
months’ residence in his new home he took a 
short trip North, on the Manitoba R. R., 
stopping at a village where lived one of our 
home missionaries. The latter took his dis¬ 
tinguished guest out among tin- farmers, that 
he might become better acquainted with west¬ 
ern life. After calling upon a number of fam¬ 
ilies, lecturing at several school-houses and 
remaining over night with one of the fanner’s 
families and sleeping in the sky parlor of his 
log hut. they returned to the milage. The di¬ 
vine expressed much surprise to his friend, 
yea, even great autonishment, that he found 
so many really intelligent, educated persons, 
living in such a rude way and struggling for 
their daily bread. No doubt, he had expect¬ 
ed to find us all heathen! Munv have vet to 
learn that poverty and ignorauce do not al¬ 
ways go hand iu hand. We have but little 
time for intellectual improvement; chat is a 
luxury which wo can ill afford; our time 
must first lie applied to obtaining something 
to eat and wear; then a hou«e in which to 
shelter ourselves from the wintry blasts of 
this rigorous climate. To this end we must 
labor, often to the uttermost of our strength, 
and then fall short of procuring many com¬ 
forts that mv sisters of the East would con¬ 
sider indispensable to their existence. 
It is up-hill work to open a farm with only 
money enough at. command to pay for home¬ 
steading it: there are many things necessary 
which we have no mouey to buy nor hire, and 
can’t borrow, for your neighbor mav be no 
better off than yourself. Opening a farm, to 
such a man, implies, under his straitened 
circumstances, incurring debt, and this ofteu 
proves the ruin of many a man’s hopes. One 
of the greatest hindrances to the success of 
poor farmers here, iu ray opinion, is the un¬ 
principled money-loaner; he certainly verities 
the statement in Holy Writ that, ‘'The hu¬ 
man heart is deceitful above all things.and des¬ 
perately wicked.” I would not have you 
think that I deem all mouey-loaners a curse 
to this country; not by any means, for there 
are many honest men among them; but I fear 
the former have the majority. Women who 
chance to be wives of poor farmers here, are 
of necessity maids of all work in doors, and 
not unfrequently some out-door chores de- 
volve.upon them also, and by the time.all the 
