Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1880 — New Lamps for Old. [ARTICLE]

New Lamps for Old.

That the supply jof persons who would like to make a thousand dollars on an investment of one should be ample is not strange; but that the supply of persons who expect to do so should be so abundant as it is must certainly be deemed surprising. That Mr. John A. Potts, “boss truckman,” is in the former category we can easily understand; but why. so staid and discreet a citizen should enrol himself among the enthusiasts last named is less clear. Still, when we remember how continuous is the succession of tempting advertisements, which, under theheadingsof “Financial,” or “Bumness Chances,"” are set forth to catch the unwary by promising to give a shilling for a sixpence, the wonder perhaps should be dissipated. ' When the magician in Aladdin wanted to recover the lost treasure to rub which brought boundless wealth and the realization of every wish, he disguised himself so as to look as little like a magician as possible, and peddled lamps through the streets of the city, promising to give “new” ones for “old.” The stratagem, as we all know, succeeded. Cupidity smothered dis--trust, and the priceless article was recovered. In like manner, as must .be inferred from the perpetual baiting of similar hooks in our public journals, persons eager for good bargains are constantly allowing themselves to be despoiled of solid values in exchange for the glittering lures of novelty and false pretense. When Mr. John A. Potts, therefore, saw that “ a sober and reliable man,” who could put down “from 91,000 to 92,000 immediately,” might invest it in “a sure paying business’’ that would net 920,000 in a very short time, he was so far impressed as to address “ Reliable” on the subject, or to let Mrs. Potts do so; and we venture to believe that neither of the worthy pair will ever put their trust in a similar advertisement again. “ Reliable” turned out to be one of the old commonplace family of gentry who have a “system” to break gambling tables; or, rather, this was what “ Reliable” pretended to be. for his scheme was so complicated and far-reaching that he meant, it appears, to get Mr. Potts’ money, whether the “ system” worked or not. He in a manner proposed an empire within an empire, ana proposed it with so good effect that some five hundred dollars of poor Mr. Potts’ money were soon tucked comfortably away in “Reliable’s” own pocket. It will scarcely be believed how this was brought about, and after a little while Mr. Potts will scarcely credit it himself. To be brief, he went into a certain faro bank with the firm determination to win 91,900 in less than fifteen minutes; whereas, and handsomely within that time, Mr. Potts lost some 9500. or all the money he had in his pocket. At this juncture, or perhaps a little earlier, the interest of his friend "Reliable” had so far cooled in the current proceedings that he was no>

where to be found; and Mr. Potts has been left to cope with the fluctuating hopes and fears customary on such occasions pending the attempt of the police torecoverhis money. It Is heartily to be wished that both Mr. Potts and “ Reliable ” will get their deserts—Mr. Potts his lost cash and “Reliable” a term in the prison at Sing Sing—and that the public who are daily swindled by answering the cunning advertisements of which “Reliable’s” was a type, will take warning from this forcible example. Probably not more than one in five cd these printed invitations—if, indeed, that be not too< great a proportion —comes from an honest source, or leads if accepted to solid and satisfactory results, and the sooner this fact is well understood and Smerally acted upon the fewer will be e victims and the lighter will be the work of the Metropolitan Police.—JT. F. Post.