July 11, 1892. A Rhode Island preacher writes to ask for help.
“Doubtless,” he began, “you have many letters from people upon whom the cares of life press heavily, and it must be a source of great annoyance.”
After dwelling at some length upon his deplorable condition, there was a—
“P. S.—If you can’t send money, please send me a suit of cast-off clothes, and greatly oblige,
Yours truly,
——.
“N. B.—I send measure, so that you can get an idea of what size I need. Breast 37, waist 32, leg 33.”
May 17, 1893. A woman with a nose for lucre and a cold nerve, writes from Waxahachie to ask the lucky prospector to “come down and look at her daughter.”
“She is a perfect beauty; has a good solo voice, but is a little lazy. She has not quite developed, being only thirteen years old; but if you will take a look at her you will change your mind. She’s a beauty. She wants to go to Italy or France and study music and if you will help to educate her you may have her.”
What a cold-blooded proposition is this, soliciting as a horse trader would for some one who has a fortune to take a look at her child thirteen years old!
A lady writes from Canada to borrow three thousand dollars to buy a farm, and adds that one man should not have so much money.