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good or bad so long as it circulated。 He could put thousands of
counterfeits afloat without the slightest fear of detection。 His
constituency believed in him and would stand by him。 Currency was
very scarce in that congressional district； and it would really be
doing his people a great favor to give them more。 After setting
forth the mutual benefits to accrue from trusting him； he appealed
to Wogan & Co。 with the vehemence and energy of the sewing…machine
man； or life…insurance agent； to send on the goods without further
delay。 They should never regret dealing with him； his character
and standing being a sufficient guaranty that he could not play
false。 He was acting in good faith； and expected like treatment in
return。
Unfortunately for the political aspirations of 〃Hon。〃 John Whimpery
Brass； the authorities not long after made a descent upon the den
of Wogan & Co。； finding a great many letters from credulous fools；
and a large supply of sawdusttheir only stock in trade。 The
missives of the prospective congressman were published； thus
gaining much more extensive currency than he proposed to give to
the imitation greenbacks。 It was supposed that the noisy fellow
would slink away to some cave in his native mountains； and never
show his brazen face among honest people again。 But the impudence
of 〃Hon。〃 John Whimpery Brass rose to the level of the emergency。
Instead of hiding or hanging himself； he published a card
representing that he embarked in the scheme for the purpose of
entrapping Wogan & Co。 and bringing them to justice。
Pathetic was the spectacle； showing the confidence of an ingenuous
soul in its own prowess； of the volunteer detective； digging
parallels on the southern spurs of the Blue Ridge for the capture
of the wily swindler a thousand miles away！ Armed with a kernel of
corn； the doughty gosling sets forth to catch the wicked fox that
is preying on the flock！ If the bold mountaineers； the
constituency of 〃Hon。〃 John Whimpery Brass； cannot commend the
discretion displayed by the projector of the enterprise； they must
certainly admire his pluck。 In face of the odds； few goslings
would volunteer。
Perhaps the card might have been accepted by the more trustful
class of adherents as a satisfactory explanation of the letters；
had not the aspiring statesman in course of time fallen under the
ban of the law for defrauding widows of their pensions； the
campaign against Wogan & Co。 having so completely exhausted the
virtue of the amateur who planned it as to leave no residue to
fructify in subsequent operations。
THE FORTUNE OF SETH SAVAGE
At one time the bogus…lottery men drove a thrifty business； but the
efforts； virtually co…operative； of the post…office department and
of the legislatures of the older states； have latterly pretty
effectually forced them into the wilderness。 The managers forage
on the same class of people as the sawdust swindlers； procuring
lists of names in the same way。 A common method of procedure is to
inclose with advertisements announcing the prizes； together with
the place and date of drawing； one or more tickets duly numbered。
Great confidence is expressed in the personal fitness of the party
addressed； who is requested to act as agent for the sale of the
tickets。 A few weeks later another letter is sent to the intended
victim； informing him that the ticket of a given number forwarded
to him at such a date had drawn a prize； the value of which is
variously stated from a few hundred to many thousand dollars。 He
is then requested to send immediately ten dollarsmore or less
for the ticket； perhaps ten or twenty more for additional charges；
when the full face value of the prize will be forwarded promptly by
express； check on New York； or in any other way the recipient may
direct。 He is also told to antedate the letter； the intermediary
promising to blur the postmark to correspond； so that the
remittance may appear to have been made prior to the drawing。 In
conclusion the writer adroitly suggests that he desires the
fortunate man to exhibit the money to his neighbors； stating how he
obtained it； and mentioning particularly the address of the agent
from whom the ticket was purchased； the object being to create an
excitement in the place with a view to large sales for the next
drawing。
Even of a trick as transparent as this the victims are counted by
thousands； exposures and warnings being alike disregarded。 The
infatuation of a certain class of ignorant and credulous people is
well illustrated by the case of Seth Savage； a poor man possessed
of a few acres in the vicinity of a small village in Vermont。 One
day； when a special agent of wide experience happened to be
visiting the post…office； Seth received a letter； the perusal of
which threw him into a frenzy of excitement。
〃What is the matter？〃 inquired the postmaster。 〃You seem to have
good news。〃
〃Look a…here；〃 replied Seth； holding forth the missive in his
shriveled and bony fingers； 〃for nigh on to sixty…five year； Mr。
Martin； I've fit and work'd and work'd and fit jest for my vittles
and drink。 Neow when I'm tew old tew 'joy it； a fortin comes to
me。〃
〃Is that so？〃 answered Mr。 Martin。 〃I am very glad； but tell me；
what is it？ Your neighbors will all be glad to hear of your good
luck。〃
〃Read that；〃 said Seth； handing him the letter triumphantly。
The postmaster read the manuscript。 One Dewitt of New York City
assured Mr。 Savage that a certain ticket sent to him a month before
had drawn a prize of three thousand dollars； that on receipt of
thirty…five dollars in a letter antedated according to directions；
the full amount would be forwarded to him。
〃Surely； Seth；〃 expostulated the postmaster； 〃you are not going to
be fooled in this way。 Dewitt is a humbug； a swindler。〃
〃Neow； heow dew yeou know that？〃 inquired Seth。 〃Has he ever
fool'd yeou？〃
〃I don't deal with that sort of people；〃 replied Mr。 Martin mildly。
〃I dislike to see anyone wronged； especially a neighbor。 Here is a
gentleman who knows all about such matters。〃 And Seth was formally
introduced to the special agent； who took pains to explain the
character of the swindle fully。
The officer left the village with the pleasant assurance that his
brief visit had contributed at least toward the rescue of one poor
object from the jaws of the devourer。
After all； however； Seth was not convinced。 By selling his only
cow he managed to swell his scanty stock of cash to the requisite
sum； which he sent to Dewitt； fully expecting to be able in a few
days to confound the postmaster by the actual display of his newly
gotten wealth。 The dupe； who had invested a goodly portion of his
scanty means in the venture； waited long if not patiently。 At
length； after the expiration of the last hope； Mr。 Martin inquired；
〃How did it happen； Seth； that you threw away your money on that
lottery scamp； when we showed you that the whole thing was a
cheat？〃
〃Wall； neow； arter it's all lost；〃 replied Seth； 〃I'll tell yeou
jest heow 'twas。 Human natur' is naturally suspectin'。 I tho't
yeou and that ar' t'other postoffis fellah want'd to git the prize
for yeourselfs； an' I didn't mean to be beat so。〃
A WISH UNEXPECTEDLY GRATIFIED
When the bogus…lottery men were driven out of the large cities by
the vigor of the postal authorities； they tried for a while to
operate from small country towns by collusion with dishonest
postmasters。 As the delinquencies of the offenders were
successively brought to light； their heads rolled into the basket
at the foot of the official guillotine。 The swindlers； however；
succeeded in bribing fresh victims； and for a time cunning and
duplicity managed with tolerable success to maintain a foothold
against the power of the department。
Among other similar swindles； sealed circulars were at one time
scattered broadcast over the more remote states； announcing that on
a given date the drawing for a series of magnificent prizes would
take place at Livingston Hall； No。 42 Elm Avenue； Wington Junction；
Connecticut。 Patrons were urged to remit the purchase…money for
tickets promptly； as there would be no postponement of the grand
event under any circumstances。 〃Fortune；〃 continued the glittering
advertisement； 〃knocks once at every one's door； and she is now
knocking at yours。〃
As usual； multitudes swallowed the bait； but some； instead of
sending the greenbacks to Highfalutin & Co。； forwarded the
circulars to the department。 Thereupon special agent Sharretts was
instructed to visit Wington Junction； with the view of learning
whether the postmaster was properly discharging his duties。 Taking
an early opportunity to perform the mission； he alighted at the
station one morning； and proceeded to survey the town； which
consisted of four or five houses scat