THE STAR OP THE NORTH.
*. W. Weaver, Proprietor.]
VOLUME 8.
THE STAR OF THE NORTH
is PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY MORNINU BY
It. W. H I AVER,
OFFICE —Up ilnirs, in Ike veto brick build
tngt on the south side of Main Street,
third square below Market.
TERNS : —Two Dollars per annum, if
paid within six months from the lime of sub
scribing ; two dollars and fifty cents if not
paid within the year. No subscription re
ceived for a less period than six months ; no
discontinuance permitted until all arrearages
are paid, unless at the option of the editor.
ADVERTISEMENTS not exceeding one square
will be inserted three times for One Dollar
and twenty five cents for each additional in
sertion. A liberal discount will be made to
those who advertise by the year.
The following from the Mirror, is a fine
"take off" on Longfellow's Hiawatha. Ru
mor says a book is in press sharply crilici- \
zing die Poem.
A few moments since, we found the fol- I
lowing poem, in the delightful chirograph)-
of our devil, lying In close proximity to a
copy of Mr. Longfellow's "Song of Hiawa- ;
tha." It is positively refreshing, the impu
dence of our devil. And the poem—no one
but Mr. Longfellow or the devil could have 1
done it ;
HIAWATHA.
Have you read the misty poem,
Of ihe mystic Hiawatha—
Read about the wild Dakotns,
And the brave Hnmbugawampartis,
lii the vales of Hifaluten,
In the vales of Wiidiy Washy,
In the vales of Skim my Dishy ?
No Sir K. S r. that I have no',
And I would not for a hundred
Dollars paid in silver, or in j
Gold by the inflated teller,
Of a bank cal'ed the Manhattan,
1 looked in the honk a moment,
And my spine is really aching
At the hard wotds Mr. Longfel-
Low pots in his learned verses.
Rumor says that Mr. Riply,
Critic of the N. Y. Tribune,
Hired by a snob ealled Greeley,
Labors with an awful lock-jaw,
Got in reading lliawa ha.
Guess he got a foul of this word— I
Obejaytyayascalola!!!!!!
Here the MS. ends abruptly.
"Since the above was in type," the head j
compositor has informed us that tlte body of
our devil is lying under the press, with an (
empty bottle in his hand, marked brandy, j
but supposed to have contained laudanum.
Another genius gone ! They die early whom
the gods love !
Fom Holbrook e " Ten Yews as a Special Agent !
Among the Malt bags."
I HADIIS CAKIIIEI) ON THROUGH
Tim in ii.s.
Lawyers, clerg) men, editors, farmers, and i
even postmasters have all in turn been swin- '
died by means pf facilities afTorded by the
post-office system, the ftauds ranging in mag
nitude and importance, from imaginary pa
pers of onionseed, to "calls" for ministerial
aid in the momentntis work of converting ''a
world lying in wickedness!"
It is with a view to put those who may
peruse these pages on the guard, that a few ■
rare specimens of the tricks of these "Jeremy
Diddlers" ure here exposed, morl of which
have come to light within a few niomhs of
this present writing.
The first that we will describe, was perpe
trated quite successfully upon the legal fra- i
ternity, and some of (lie most distinguished 1
members of that highly useful profession in
die different Slates, will no doubt readily rec
ognize the trutlitiilnesis of the picture, as it is
held up to their gaze. This dodge may prop
erly be entitled Young America practising at
the bar."
In January of the pret-enl year, the post
master of Brooklyn, Ne v York, called my at
tention to the fact that largo numbers of let
ters were arriving at that otlice lo the address
of "William 11. Jolliet,'' and that from some
information he had reeeived, he was led to
believe that the correspondence was in some
way connected with a systematic scheme of
fraud.
Arrangements were accordingly made lo
watch the person who was in the habit of in
quiring for the ''Jolliet" letters, and the next
lime he called, which was in the evening,
he was followed as lar as the Fulton ferry,
detained just as he was about to enter the lur
ry-boat. aud questioned in reference lo the
letters.
The person thus interrogated was an ex
ceedingly intelligent boy, about fifteen years
of age, plainly but neatly dressed, and ofjire
possessing manners, particularly for one so
young. When asked whal he intended to
do with the letters he bad just taken from
the post-office, be manifested great self-pos
session, and apparently anticipating trouble,
without allowing an opportunity for a second
question, he hurriedly asked :
"Why. what about this business? 1 have
been thinking there might be something
wrong about JollietV letters. lam a student
in a respectable Isw-office in New York, and
would not like to be involved in any trouble
of this sort. I can tell you, sir, all I know
about these letters."
As his explanation will hereafter appear in
full, suffice it her# to aay that he threw the
entire responsibility npon a stranger, whom
he accidentally met in the Harlem ears. The
•lory was told with apparent frankness, and
a gentleman pussing along who knew the
lad, aud coufirmed his statement as to hia
connection with a prominent law-offioe in
New York, he was allowed to go at large, un
der (he promiae that at an appointed hour on
Iba following day ha would call on the Brook
lyn post-master, explain the matter more fol
ly, and pat him in possession ot facts which
would enable the officers to arrest Jolliet, if
that was thonght best.
The appointed time arrived, but the young
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1856.
man did not. A rather voluminous package
of papers, however, was 6ent as a substitute.
These papers are so well worded, and 60 for
mally drawn up, that I will here introduce
(wo of them verbatim. The reader will bear
in mind that they are the production of a boy
only fifteen years of age:
NEW YORK, lan. 26, 1855, 12 M.
Postmaster at Brooklyn, L. I.
DEAR SIR :
Being detained by important court
business from attending to my promise giv
en to you yesterday to bo at your office, I am
obliged to write to you. I enclose a state
ment of facts which I think sufficient to get
a warrant. It is sworn to before a Commis
sioner of Deeds of New York, authorized to
lake acknowledgments for the State.
■ I 6aw Mr. Jolliet yesterday evening. I told
' him that the mails had not arrived when I
| was over to Brooklyn, yesterday; and, in
, course of the conversation, he toid me he
would take a sleigh ride to Suediker's on Sat
; urday. Therefore it is important yon should
1 get a warrant ami lake him upon that day.—
He also (old me that he would have a white
; sleigh, a while robe, and a cream colored pair
of horses. You can easily know hira. I will
be over, if no accident intervenes, to morrow,
say abou< 11 or 12 o'clock. I tracked him to
the Manhattan bar-room, in Bioadway, but
could not find out his residence, as he stayed
too late. I think he is connected with a gang
ol rascals who have made litis kind of ras
cality their special business.
1 am acquainted with the District Attorney
in this city, and have thought of getting him
to bring the case before the grand jury, and
get a bench warrant out in New York against
Jolliet, ill case you should think it advisable.
Meanwhile, I will remain stilt about Ihe
matter until i hear from you again.
Yours, very truly.
Annexrd is the statement of facts alluded
to above:
Sta lenient of Facts. A.
During Ihe month ol November or Decem
ber, 1854, I became acquainted with a man
whom I knew by the name of William H.
Jolliet. He seemed to be about 25 or 30
years of age, and, by his dialect, of English
parentage; he was genteelly dressed, and
seemed to be a gentleman by his talk and
manners He came to know me from often
seeing me on die cars of the N.York and Har
. lent Railroad, and often talking to me. lam
|in die habit of doing copying, &c., for pay,
| and therefore was willing to do anything in
that way, under the usual circumstances—
that is, for pay.
He asked me one day if I was a man of
tiusinpss. I told him I was. He then asked
| me if 1 could make a copj of • note he had
in hi' pocket, an ! show it to him the next
time I should meet him, and not to say any
thing about it to anybody. I told him I would.
He gave it to n.e, and it was something as
follows—thai is, substantially :
BROOKLYN, L. 1., Jan. 6, 1855.
SIR: I have received a package ol papers
fur you from Liverpool, England, with six
shillings charge thereon —on receipt of which
amount the parcel will be sent to you by
suuh conveyance as yon may direct.
Yours, respectfully,
WILLIAM (!. JOLLIET.
I met him one or two days afterwards, and
gave him tiis original, and my copy. He said
it wan very well done, but looked 100 mnoh '
like a law-hand, and asked me if 1 couldn't
write more of a mercantile-looking hand. I
told him I supposed I could. He then gave
me my copy, and told me to buy some pa- I
per. and make as many copies as I could,
and direct them one to each <>f the names he I
gave me on a list, and mail them. I told him
I would. This was on Saturday evening ;
and on Sunday afternoon 1 wrote about a
hundred copies of them, an<t directed them j
and sent them. 1 met him on Monday, and I
he asked me if I had done it. I told him 1 '
had; he then asked for the list of names he '
had given me, and I I anded it to him. He '
asked if 1 knew the names I had directed i
the letters to, 1 told him 1 did not, although 1 j
did well, my suspicions about him havit g
been aroused by his request for secrecy.
On that Sunday on which I wrote the notes,
I made up my mind to play traitor to him,
by sending the notes as directed, and keep-1
ing all answers which he should get (he hav
ing told me to call for them at the Broklyn |
Post Office), and then delivering them, with 1
my evidence, to officer B——, in New
York, whom I know well by reputation as a
good officer, and an American in fact and !
principle. This was foiled by my disclo- >
sures to the Post Mattel of Brooklyn, on
Thursday.
At the lime he asked me to make the cop
ies of the note, he gave me a five-dollar gold
piece, lo defray expenses. 1 have kept t copy
of the list he gave me, and also of another
which he had given me, and which 1 return
ed in the same way. 1 have mailed abonl
200 letters in all. At the time be ordered
me to make the copies of the letter and mail
them, he requested me to make a letter and
direct it to him at Brooklyn, and mail along
with the others. 1 did so, bot I asked him
what this was for, aud he said he wanted to
know how long it would take for a letter to
go from New York to Brooklyn. But I did
not believe him, and this formed part of the
causes fer my suspicions. I afterwards re
ceived the letter. I think it was Tuesday,
and gave it lo him. At the time of my first
mailing Ibe letters, I dropped, by careless
ness, a list of the names of persons to whom
they were directed, along with them. „ Could
Ibis list be got, it would tell us a great deal
about the liansaciion, and then we could
I have a complete list of all the persons ad
' dressed. It was dropped in one of (he three
new boxes on the southwest corner of the
New York Post Office.
I have seen him since be first spoke to me
about this affair, five or six times, (once on
Friday, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday,
and twice on Wednesday, I believe.) He
lives in Harlem, I think. I don't know any
thing further of interest, and close with the
ardent wish, that a King's county officer will
gel the credit of catching one of the greatest
scoundrels that ever lived, thereby ridding
the community of him. G. H. B.
City of Brooklyn,
County of Kings, ss.
G. H. B , of the oily of New York,
student at law above namad, being duly
sworn, doth dispose and say that be has read
the foregoing statement, and knows the eon
tents thereof, and that the same is true of bis
own knowledge. G. H. B.
Sworn before me this
26th of January, 1855.
B. T..8 ,
Commissioner of Deeds.
Being satisfied that a young lad of suffi
cient abilities to compose these documents
in such a style, could not have been made
the innocent dupe of any one, especially a
stranger, I determined to lay the whele mat
ter before his employer, a prominent mem
ber of the New York bar. He had beard
nothing of it before, and was much pained
to hear my narration, for he was warmly at
tached to the young student, who, up to that
lime had enjoyed his entire confidence, and
for whose improvement and legal education
he had taken unusual pains.
A moment's reference to Ihe Law Regis
ter, a work containing the names and resi
dences of all the members of the legal pro
fession in every Stale in the Union, and to
be found in almost every law office, showed
the source whence he had obtained the list
which had been "dropped by carelessness"
into the postoffice, for pencil marks appeared
ugai'tst the names of most of the country law
yers, but including none of those that had
ever been correspondents of the firm witb
which he was connected!
The opinion that there was no accomplice,
nor even principal, in the case, beyond the
boy himself, was tully coincided in by his
employer, ana it was at once decided to call
to call the lad up for a private examination.
I thought, as he entered the room, cap in
hand, and with an ait of perfect nonchalance,
that I had seldom seen a more expressive
and intelligent countenance. Hia high fore
head, adorned with graceful curls of brown
hair, his full and laughing eye, and the regu
lar features of his face, seemed made for
some belter use than to delude unwary vio
tims.
"George," sa'd Lis employer, "what do
these Jolliet letters mean that you have been
sending all over (he country V
Boy.—"I will tell you all I know about it,
sir. Some weeks since as 1 was coming in
town one morning, in the Harlem cars, a man
calling himself Jolliet "
AGENT.— "SIop, George, and hear me a
moment before you go further. We don't
want to hear that story. We know there is
no such person as Jolliet, and if you go on
with euch a statement before Mr. F.," (his
emplyer,) your pride will render it bard for
you to make the acknowledgments that I
know you must come to. You have no ac
complice, and if you will bring me the Law
Register, I will show you where you got the
names of the lawyers to whom you sent the
letters."
MR. F.—"Now, George, you see that Mr.
H. knows all about it, and I hope you will not
attempt to deny the truth. lam deeply pain
ed to fin J you hai'e been guilty of such
misdemeanors; and I trust, for your own
•ake, that you will make a clean breast of
it."
After a pause of a lew moments,the young
man acknowledged, that, being 'hard up,'he
had resorted to this plan to obtain fuuds, and
that he knew no such person as "William H.
Jolliet."
AGENT.— "How then eould you have sworn
to the statement you sent to the Brooklyn
pott-master? You must have been aware
that in so doing, you were committing per
jury."
Boy.—"Ah ! but I did not swear to it. My
natns ii attached to the affidavit, it is true,
but having prepared it beforehand, 1 spoke
to the Commissioner just as be was leaving
the officer, and he signed it, but in his burry
he forgot to administer the oatb."
AGENT. —"But that omission must have
been merely accideotal. Supposing he bad
required the usual ceremony, wbat would you
have done ?"
Boy.—"1 have so often seen him omit it,
I that 1 look that risk. If he had insisted, I
I should have backed out.
| Subsequent inquiry satisfied me that the
| Commissioner in question, having often had
occasion to sign affidavits for the young man,
in the course of the office business, was not
always particular in administering the oatb,
and that it was no doubt neglected in the
present instance.
The punishment inflicted in this case, was
all Ihsl the most indignant victim of the fraud
would have demanded ; and there is reason
to believe that a permanent reformation in
the character of the young man has been the
result; and that the rare talents which he pos
sesses, will yet be found arrayed on the aide
of honesty and virtue.
Answers to the Jolliet letters continued to
arrive from all parta of the country, for aome
time after the discovery of the fraud, as here
related. The letters that had accumulated in
the Brooklyn post office, were sent to '.he
Dead Letter office, opened, endenbsequently
returned to their respective owners, with
Trath and Right Rod aid ear *>*atry.
their contents, accompanied by a proper ex
planation.
In nearly every instance, the dodge had
been successful. The six shillings, or that
amount in postage stamps, were duly en
closed; and, in some instances a dollar, to
make even change, with directions for for
warding the mysterious package.
Such an unexpected notice had no doubt
given rise in many casA to sundry visioos
of heavy fees, which were to flow in upon
the fortunate correspondent of Jolliet, for
conducting the business of some wealthy
capitalist of (he old world, who, attraated by
his professional fame, was about to confide
to him matters of great weight and import
ance—perhaps some cnmplica'ed law'suil,
the successful issue of which .would bring him
a wealth of reputation and money, e&fipared
with which the outlay of six shillings was an
item too contemptible to be regarded.
Or some sanguine individual might have
sent out a legacy in the 'package from Liver
pool.'
People were dying every day in England,
whose heirs lived this country. It was not
very unusual for persons to inherit immense
fortunes from those whose names they bad
never heard. It might make the difference
of thousands of dollars to a man whether his
name was Brown or White, when some pos
sessor of one or the other name came to leave
hie property behind him. And it would be
a pity to lose the chance of securing a band
some properly for one's self, or the oppor
tunity of acting as agent for somebody else,
though the whole affair might prove but a
hoax, and the chance of thus finding a for
tune rather less titan the prospect of drawing
a prize in a "gift lottery."
It was amusing to peruse tha letters which
the Agent received from those who bad been
swindled, acknowledging the safe return of
the letter and money which they had sent to
Jolliet. Most of them were "well satisfied"
when they sent the money, "that it was all
a hoax," but then it was a small sum that he I
applied for, and they thought Ihey would
send it to the fellow for the ingenuity he had
displayed in "raising the wir.d !" All, how
ever, seemed very glad to get their money
again, even at the risk of allowing such tal
ent to go unrewarded.
Some wary old heads, 100 acute to be caught
by such chaff, look the precaution to request
Jolliet to call on their friends in New York,
leave the package, and get the six shillings.
Another directed that it should be left at the
Express office, Hie expense" r"*L and
when ihe parcel arrived, the entire charges
would be promptly met.
Two or three, not content with informing
Jolliet that be had taken them in, indulged
in somewhat sarcastic style of correspond
ence. The following are two specimens of
this kind of reply :
P , Feb. 2, 1855.
Mr. Wm. H. Jolliel,
Sir:—l am in receipt of a note (rom you,
informing me that ynu have in your posses
sion a package for me from Liverpool, Eng
land, on which there is a charge of 6s. stern
ling, and which you will send to me on re
ceipt of the above sum.
Sir, I cannot but think it a little strange
that my large circle of friends and corres
pondents in Liverpool fa circle which may
be represented thus, 0) should have thought
it necessary for parcels which they send me,
pass through your hands, unless you have
some connection with the friends aforesaid,
unknown to me. Before I send you the ster
ling money, I should like answers of the like
quality, to some or all of the following inter
rogatories :
lit. Who are you?
2d. Who knows you ?
3d. Who do you know ?
4th. Is "Wm. H. Holliet" the name giv
en you in baptism?
sth. Wouldn't you receive less than six
shillings, if you could get it?
6tb. Do you think you have taken me in?
7th. After reading the above, please in
form me whether you remain Jolly yet.
Not your victim,
JOHN S .
H , Jan. 27, 1855.
Sir:—l know lam ambitious. I have my
aspirations. My fame may be extending
Perhaps it is. I had thought it was local;
confined to this county, certainly to the State.
But it seems that 1 ath known abroad, and
you wish me to pay the moderate sum of
seventy-five cents for verifying the fact. S-r,
lam an Anglo-Saxon. I rejoice in it. And
I don't doubt that some where between Ad
am's lime and mine, some of my progenitors
have inhabited England. But I believe tbey
have all died or moved awßy. So you see
it isnt't likely that I have any relations in
Liverpool, whence came the package, you
say in your hands.
In the next place, sir, living as I do in an
inland town, I know little of those "who go
down to the sea in snips." (David, Psalms,
Cap. 107.) And all my particular friends are
in this country, according to the best of my
knowledge and belief. But no others than
the individuals I have cited, would be likely
to send me packages from foreign lands. It
therefore follows, sir, that the aforesaid pack
age is not tn rerum nalura. I shall be hap
py to receive from you any facts which may
viliate this conclusion.
Panning this, I remain yours, &c.,
ED. B——.
Mr. Wm. H. Joiliet.
We have allowed the lawyers to lead off
in the melancholy prooession of victims of
rascality which we have undertaken to dis
play to our readers; and it is our design, in
marshaling our regiment of "the Great De
' luded," to place the olergy second in order.
Lawyers are (or ought to be) hard-headed,
witb little faith in mankind at large; while
it is the general characteristic of clergymen
to bo soft-hearted, and to trust, sometimes
"not too wisely, but too well," in the integ
rity of lhe:r fellow men. In addition to Ihe
weak points which they may have in com
mon with all, and through which they are
liable to be succesalully assailed, the cultiva
| lion of that spirit of charity which "thinketh
no evil," makes them slow in suspenling vil
i lanous designs on the part of others; and
renders them an easy prey to those who are
unscrupulous enough to use their unsuspect
ing disposition as a means of carrying into
I effect their own base purposes.
In making these remarks, we are far from
wishing to cast any slur upon the native
shrewdness or penstrstton of the clergy,
which would be unjust to them, (for there
few keener intellects than those that are pos
sessed by some who are members and or
naments of this body,) but our object is sim
ply to mention some of Ihe causes which
often make them Ihe victims of imposition.
Many of them, especially those who live in
the country, occupied as they are with the
duties of their calling, in the retired fife of
the study, and in intercourse with the com
paratively honest and virtuous community
in which their tot is cast, are somewhat se
cluded from the world at large, and know
little, except by report, of the innumerable
forms of deceit and iniquity that people en
act, who five outside of their own quiet
boundaries. This is, perhaps, less generally
true at Ihe present time than it was years
ago, betore Ihe increased facilities for com
munication had given equal facilities to
rogues, who have chosen our large cities as
a field for their nefarious operations, and
have extended them, by means of the mails,
to the remotest corners of the country.
The trick which we are about to describe was
attempted on a large scale, and the trap set
for unwary clergymen was sprung in almost
every section of the country, with considera
ble success, though some of (he intended
victims were too wary to be thus swindled.
The trap alluded to was in the form of a
letter, of which the following is a copy:—
NEW YORK, Sun Jay, March 18, 1855
Brother I' :
Being at leisure this af ernoon, and some
what wearier! rather than refreshed by the
morning's discourse of our respected pastor,
I have concluded to sit down and write you,
thbugh utterly unacquainted, savo in that
sympathy which persons of like tempera
ment involuntarily feel toward one another.
It is the apparent coldness and formality
of our metropolitan sermons that has led me,
by a pleasant contrast to think of yon. 1
heard you once, while passing through your
place—a sermon that has tnany limes recur
red to my memory, though its calm piety
and deep perception of human nature may
be weekly occurrences to your congregation.
I have several times thought it would be
well for our church to call on you for a trial
here. Our house is wealthy, and 'up town,'
though that is no matter.
1 had almost given up the idea, when it
was forcibly returned to me yesterday by
seeing a notice of you in the new publication
of travels through the States ; in which I see
the writer has heard you, and was so im
pressed that he gave a strong description of
you and your style, so well according with
my views, that I feel confirmed in n.y opin
ion of you. You have probably seen it.—
And, aside from any vanity at praise in print,
or any pain at his censure, (for he finds fault,
too,) I think a preacher cannot too much
study his style, in duty to his Master and his
people, by learning nil he can of his hearers
views of him, if not for the praise, at least
for the blame.
So you see I yet hope to sit under your
ministrations. I wish you would write nr.e,
immediately, what you think of coming
here, if 1 propose you. My bell has just
rung for tea, and 1 close hastily, wishing you
success in any field, and "many souls as
seals of your ministry."
Yours, in the Lord,
A. D. CONNELSON.
P. S.—lf you have not seen the nonce of
you, (in the book 1 alluded to,) I will get it
for you. I believe it sells at a dollar and a
half, or thereabouts.
I close in haste, A. D. C.
Here is an instance of one who
"Stole the livery of Heaven
To serve the devil in."
The author of this production, which was
lithographed, leaving only a space after the
commencing word "Brother," for the inser
tion of the person addressed, was signed in
some copies as above, and ia others by the
name of "W. C. Jansing."
We easily imagine the eflect of such an
artful, flattering epistle upon the mind of
some unsuspecting and humble country
pastor, whose chief ambition had hitherto
been to minister to the spiritual wants of his
little congregation, and who had never be
fore indulged the thought of receiving a 'call'
to the attractions and responsibilities ot a city
pastor's life. Ho taxes his memory in vain
to recollect upon what occasion any stranger,
who might represent the devout Connetson,
had beeo present during his Sabbath services,
and in like manuer fails to recall any re
miniscences of the author, who, in his' Tra
vels through the States,' had also heard him,
and was "impressed" so remarkably in ac
cordance with Mr. Connetson's "views."—
His opioion of his own abilities having been
elevated several degrees by the united testi
mony of two such competent witnesses, he
begins to think that after all, it ia not so very
improbable that he should be thought of as a
a candidate fot that "wealthy" and "up
town church."
"Was not the distinguished Dr. L
called from as small a place as this, to the
charge of a large city, congregation ? And I
remember that his abilities did not use to be
so much superior to mine."
With reflections like these, lie works him
self into a stale of mind thatjwould prevent
any surprise, were he some day to be waited
on by a committee from the church afore,
said, with the request that he would favor
the congregation with a specimen of his
preaching, with ihe additional view of se
curing the "pleasant contrast" to the "ap
patent coldness and formality of metropolitan
sermons," that might result from his minis
trations. At any rate, it would be gratifying
to him to see for himself,"what the traveling
critic had said of him and Iris sermons ; not
that he oared particularly about the opinion,
so far as he himself was concerned, but he
would like to have his people know that
their minister had attracted the attention of
distinguished characters from abroad. So he
replies to Lis spontaneous correspondent, in
timating that he should have no objection to
taking charge of Ihe "up-lown" church ; and
enclosing a dollar and a-half, to purchase the
book of (ravels, which he does, not without
misgivings that he is sacrificing 100 large a '
portion of his slender salary, for indulgence
in the anticipated luxury.
It is almost needless to add, that the dollar
and a-half went to the "bourne from which
no traveller returns," and that our clergyman
did not, in this instance, display "that deep
perception of human nature," which so of
, ten recurred to the mind of the admiring
Connelson.
The operations of this vftorthy were soon
stopped by the New York postmaster, who
having received letters from some of the
shrewder members of the reverend body,
enclosing the above epistle, care,the matter
in charge to the police, whose movements
alarmed the rogue, and blew up the cheat,
before mjny letters containing money had
arrived. Enough came, however, to show
that had he not been disturbed, he would
have feathered his nest with
the spoils of those whom he had plucked.
These letters, remaining uncalled for, be
came ' dead" in due course of time, and
were returned with their contents to their au
thors; doubtless refreshing the heart of ma
ny a sorrowing minister, who supposed that
he had seen the last of his ftoney, and had
given up all hopes of receiving the promised
quid pro quo.
I insert ss a sort of epistolary curiosity, a
letter addressed to Connelson bj one of his
intended victims, which was sent under
cover to the New York postmaster, with the
request that he would read and deliver it, if
he knew the whereabouts of the person al
luded to.
" F , March 23, 1855
"Mr. A. D. Connelson,
" I am in receipt of a communication from
you, of the 18tb iust, of whose flattering
contents 1 have reason to believe that I am
not the only recipient; as I am not ignorant
ol the fact that the art of lithography, can be
employed to multiply confidential letters to
any extent. If, as you state, you have at
any time heard a discourse from my lips, 1
regret that the principles which it inculcated
have produced so little impression upon your
actions, especially as it has 'many times re
curred to your memory.'
"There are truths, sir, in addition to those
you may have heard on the occasion referr
ed to, (if there ever was any such occasion,)
which, judging from the apparent object of
yonr letter, it might bo profitable for you to
recall. I would recommend to your atten
tion the truth contained in the following say
ing of the wise man :—'The getting of treas
ures by a lying tongue, is a vanity tossed to
and fro of (hem thai seek death.— Prov. 21, 6.
"You have expressed a hope 'to sit under'
my 'mintitratiOiß.' I trust you will be prof
ited by the few words now addressed to you,
and if you leel any disappointment in failing
to find the expected 'dollar and a half, o:
thereabouts,' you will have to console your
self with the reflection, 'Howmuch better is
it to gel wisdom than gold? and to get un
derstanding rather to be chosen than silver?'
—Prnv. 16, 16. I give you the reference to
the passages quoted (hat you may ruminate
on them at your Sabbath's 'leisure,' which I
hope will hereafter be more profitably em
ployed than in attempting to perform the part
of 'a wolf in sheep's clothing.'
"Your well-wisher, G. J. T."
"P. S. If yon ever happen lo pans through
this place again, and to be detained over the
Sabbath, your name, mentioned to the sex
ton, or indeed, to any member of my con
gregation, will secure yon a 9 good a seat as
the house will furnish ; and if you will in
form me of your intended presence, before
hand, I will endeavor to suit my discourse to
your wants, if not to your wishes.
"Not what we wish, but what we want,
Do Thou, oh Lord, in mercy grant."
"If, however* circumstances like some
that i oan foresee, if you continue m your
present course, should prevent a visit to our
place, I hope you will manage to be satisfied
with the ministrations of the ohaplaiu at
Sing Sing, who, I understand, is an excellent,
talented man. And I trust that you and your
travelled friend will agree as well on the
question of his merits as you have on those
of others."
Further comment on this case is unneces
sary; and we would only say that any one
suspecting an imposture in any suoh mode
as the foregoing, need not be preveuted from
indulging in a reasonable suspicion, by the
charitable thought, "This person could not
be such a rascalfor it is a truth that should
bo well known and acted upon, that no am-
[Two Dollars per Annus.
NUMBER 4. fi
ount of hypocrisy, deceit or audacity ia 100
great to be practised by miscreants like those
villanons devices are to some extent exposed
in these pages.
THE ONION SEED TRICK.
"If yon have tears, prepare to.shed them
now."
The next ingenious "dodge" to which I
would call the attention of my readers, is
one which might be styled double barreled,
inasmuch as it brought down both editors
anil farmers simultaneously.
The agricultuial portion of the community
has been much exercised ol late years on
the subject of seed. Astounding stories have
circulated through the newspapers from time
to time, concerning the wonderful prolific
powers of certain kinds of seed, and prices
have in some instances been demanded for
these choice varieties, whioh remind one of
the times when a laying hen of the right
breed would earn more per day for her own
e: than an ordinarily smart negro. It really
seemed to be the belief of many enthusias
tic persons, that seed could be brought, by
careful cnlture, to a pitch of perfection that
would almost render it independent of the
assistance of mother earth, save aa a place
to stand on. The improved seed was to do
it all. However desirable it might be to ob
tain seed which could be warranted under
all circumstances to produce heavy crops,
(which of course can always be done sftera
certain fashion, by feeding it out to fowls,)
this "good time coming" will not be hasten
ed, we apprehend, by the public-spirited ef
forts of "Mr. Joab S. Sargent," notwithstand
ing the glowing prospects held out in the
following advertisement.
FARMERS AND GARDENERS.— ATTENTION '.
Spanish Onion Seeds.
_ The subscriber will sen I to any part of the
United Slates and Canada, a paper of 'he
seeds of the above superior Onion, on the
receipt of ten cents (one dime.)
Farmers and Gardeners, see to it that you
procure the besi of seeds. For a mere trifle
now, you can pnl money in your pocket*
and fat on your ribs.
Address, JOAB S. SAHOEM",
260 Hicks St., Cor. of Stale,
Brooklyn, N. Y.
P. S. Publishers of newspapers giving
the above and this notice three Insertious,
calling aitention editorially thereto, and send
ing marked copies to the subscriber, will re
ceive by return mail three dollars' worth of
the above seeds, or a copy of Barnes' notes
on the Gospel, valued at three dollars and
fifty cents, or two dollars cash. Address
plainly as above.
April 11, 1855.
Observe how adroitly the cunning Joab
aims his thrusts at the most vulnerable spot
in both classes of his victims. "Publishers
of newspapers," in the plenitude of Joab's
generosity, are to have their choice between
the onion seeds, the Gospel, and the ready
cash, if they will but make known to the
world tho incomparable qualities of the gen
uine Spanish article. And many of these
publishers "called attention to the same"
with a will, as the following copy of one of
those notices will show :
"SOMETHING NEW FOR FARMERS AND GAR
DENERS.—See our advertising columns. If
you want large onions, get the real Spanish
seed—a change in the seed works wonders.
We have seen bushels of onions imported
from Spain, of hall a pound weight each,
and as large as saucers."
It may bB well to say here that no onion
seeds, "Spanish" or other, were sent in com
pliance with the many orders which poured
in upon the successful Sargent from all parts
of the country, excepting that a few of those
first received were supposed to have been
ausweied by the sending of a few seeds of
some kind, whether onion or grass, no one
knew. Perhaps the recipients will disoover
in the course of time. The editors were
equally unfortunate. Many of them select
ed the "Notes on the Gospels" in preference
to the seed or the money, yet their wishes
were not destined to be gratified.
Let us see bow this tempting advertise
ment worked on the farmers and gardeners.
Here is farmer Johnson, whose boy has
just brought In hie weekly paper from the
office, and who is proceeding to refresh him
self after the labors of the week, with the
record ol what the world at large has been
doing in the same time. He deliberately pe
ruses the columns ot his hebdomadal, dwell
ing with solemnity on the more weighty ar
ticles, and endeavoring to laugh over the
funny ones, till, after having exhausted the
"reading" department, his eye goes on in
search ot new advertisements, whioh he
can distinguish at a glance, for he knows all
the old ones by heart. His attention ia ar
rested by the conspicuous heading, "SPANISH.
ONION SEEDS." He reads it over catofully,
and studies every word, that he rrmy be sure
that he fully ant! correctly understands it;
and then comparing it with the editorial no
lice of the same thing, he rapidly becomes
convinced that Spanish onions must be great
things, and that ten cents may be safely in
vested in the speculation. Visions of sau
cer like or.ions rise before him; of prizes in
Agricultural Exhibitions ; and if he is an in
habitant of Connecticut, be fancies he sees
the former renown of the ancient town of Py
quang, or Wetherefield, growing dim before
the luslure of Spanish onions. Accordingly
he sends the required dime to Joab, who
proved te be like the elephant whieh had
been trained Ip pick up coin from the ground
and ph>oe it on a lofty shelf. Upon a certain
occasion, a young gentleman wis gratified
by this performance, he having furnished a
half-dollar for the display of the animal's
skill. After the piece waa safely deposited
far out of reach, the youth requested the ex
hibitor to "make him hand it down again."
"We nsverlearnt him that trick," was the re
ply >