The announcement that Colonel Dalbiac, M.P., intends at an early date to introduce a Bill to prevent the landing, and to give the police power to expel known foreign criminals residing in this country, has caused considerable trepidation amongst a section of the foreign community, who fear that advantage will be taken of this measure, should it become law, to surrender to the tender mercies of the despotic Governments of the Continent political refugees. On the other hand, it must be admitted that there is crying necessity for legislation to cope with the herds of criminal foreigners who have settled in certain districts of London, which they have succeeded in transforming into an Alsatia where every form of vice and blackguardism flourishes. Lately the papers have contained, with painful frequency, reports of robberies and outrages perpetrated in the districts of Soho and the streets in the vicinity of Waterloo Station — regions particularly patronised by criminal foreigners, These reports have not, to most people, carried with them the significance that should properly attach to them. In reality such outrages are perpetrated by well-organized gangs of French scoundrels known in French argot as "macquereaux", or miscreants who are partly bullies and thieves. It is, indeed, a disgrace to the police of this metropolis that bands of these ruthless, desperate, and lawless ruffians should exist and flourish, especially when it is considered that many of them have been expelled from the Continent for these very practices.

       Until within the last few years the "macquereaux" were content with extorting money from the unfortunate women who consorted with them, but lately, owing to their long immunity, so unlike the methods pursued by the authorities on the Continent, where men of this depraved class are hunted down, imprisoned, and expelled, they have organized themselves into bands for the purpose of committing outrage and robbery.

       It would be impossible to enumerate all the crimes that have recently been perpetrated by men of this class. Only the other day the murder of the unfortunate foreigner Broissette sent a thrill of horror through the land, and to merely recount the murders and outrages committed in the Soho and Stamford-street districts within the past few years would more than fill a column of this paper.

       It should always be remembered that the cases the public hear about only represent the smallest proportion of the crimes of those districts. It is easy to find several houses in streets off Frith-street and Dean-street, Soho, and Stamford-street which communicate with each other through traps and doors hidden by wall paper which are used for nefarious purposes. This, of course, means that a criminal conspiracy exists among the occupiers of these houses. A master carpenter assured the writer that in the last five years he had constructed sliding doors between thirty-two houses in Soho. Some of the owners of these houses are Vestrymen it is well to bear in mind. Without extra powers, the police admit that they are almost helpless.

       Every night each member of the gang takes up his appointed station; the women are spread abroad as decoys. Woe betide the unfortunate person who is inveigled either into the back streets of Soho or South-East Lambeth by these harpies. Even if he does not enter a house, he is almost sure to be robbed, providing the street is fairly quiet. If the victim can be stripped quietly and without his knowledge, it is usually accomplished. But if he appears on his guard, or if his assailants fear resistance it is very different. A favourite dodge is to engage an intended victim in conversation for a few moments, and then when a favourable opportunity is opened clench the two middle fingers of the right hand and violently thrust the little and forefinger into his eyes, thereby blinding him for the time being. It is no uncommon thing for persons to have their eyes forced out on their cheeks in this manner, and instances can be given of gentlemen who have thus been blinded for life!

       Pipes are used by the macquereaux also, for blinding those they wish to rob! These pipes are made with a small rubber tube, placed underneath the stem, and terminating at the bowl, containing cayenne pepper! These pipes are smoked in the usual manner, but in the event of their owners desiring to do so, they have only to blow, and their victims eyes are filled with cayenne pepper!

       Another device is to approach and engage in conversation, and then the robber suddenly seizes his victim's coat by the shoulders and pulls it down over his arms, which of course, leaves the person attacked helpless. He then usually receives a stunning blow or two on the head and his assailant decamps with his money and watch.

       Such are some of the practices of this dangerous class and it is indeed high time that legislation was passed which would render it difficult for these scoundrels to practise their infamies in this country.

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       In continuation of the "Mysteries" published by us last week, our special contributor writes that the streets of Soho are not exceptionally dangerous to ordinary passengers. In fact, anyone walking through the intricate end winding ways lying between Oxford-street and Shaftesbury-avenue would be struck with the apparent quiet prevailing at all hours of the night. Should, however, the young man from the country accept the overtures of the women who haunt the Leicester-square, Oxford-street, and Piccadilly-circus districts and accompany them to any of the dens that abound in this quarter he will return home a sadder and wiser man, minus watch, purse, and valuables. Old residents in the district say that it is absolutely dangerous to enter one of these places.

       The police are "powerless," and so are the Vestrymen for excellent reasons. Some of the police, it is asserted, follow the same occupation as the gentlemen from the Continent. It is maintained by those in a position to know that many constables make from £5 to £10 weekly out of the blackmail they levy upon the unfortunate women. The recent Manchester police scandals hare shown how very fallible the police can be in this respect. Not that the police do not enforce the law sometimes. They have been known to be so zealous that some women have been arrested three days running, while others have plied their trade unchecked. Slanderous tongues say that those women have neglected the customary dues.

       The reason why the Vestrymen do not enforce the law are also obvious. It is alleged that Vestrymen in these parishes own house property in which this infamous traffic is carried on. Some landlords demand a reference. But there is a man living near Shaftesbury-avenue who makes a comfortable living by certifying that the macquereaux and their ladies are perfectly respectable persons. Should the landlord get into trouble, he can prove that he has been misled in the innocence of his heart by a forged reference.

       The general conception of these scoundrels is that they are needy, desperate ruffians. But this is not so. The macquereaux, so far as dress goes, is quite the gentleman and might be mistaken for a West-end swell. Some even realize considerable portable property by their infamous trade. One man, who owns a room with sliding doors and is said to have money in the bank to the amount of several hundred pounds, employs another man to rob his victims. He will be comfortably seated in a neighbouring café while the dupe is stripped by his confederate. Should an arrest occur, he can easily prove an alibi.

       Experience has proved that these infamous scoundrels are frequently used as agents provocateurs. They have occasionally penetrated among the foreign refugees, but they are quickly driven away when their real occupation is discovered. With these vile wretches in their pay it would be easy for the police to trump up false charges against any exile "wanted" by the Continental police if Colonel Dalbiac's Bill became law. Much more to the purpose it would be if an inquiry were instituted into this extraordinary supineness of the police and the local authorities in face of this monstrous evil. Another matter worthy of note is that if prostitutes and criminals hare increased, so have the number of idle rich men. Belgravia and Piccadilly are responsible for the plague spot of Soho.

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       It is curious to observe how, whenever an East-end betting club is raided, the police always time their appearance on the scene when the club is filled with its patrons, who are promptly hauled off to gaol. But in the recent raid on the infamous establishment in Portland-street, the police, although they had it under observation for months, and brought witnesses to testify that numerous "gentlemen" visited the house nightly, made their raid when the house was empty, and thereby doubtlessly saved many scions of "our old nobility" from appearing in the dock.

       The Home Office, which has the control of the Metropolitan Police, is making that force more political every day, and is adopting increasingly the suggestions and methods of the Continental police forces. It is believed that political refugees are frequently kidnapped and taken out of the country with the connivance of the police, who, it will be remembered, took no steps until public attention was drawn to the the scandal by the Press when Dr. Sun Yat Sen was kidnapped in Portland-place. The late Sergius Stepniak, it is well known, lived in dread of being surreptitiously conveyed out of the country, and the stories that he used to tell of compatriots who, after making appointments to meet in an hour or so, had disappeared as though the earth had opened and swallowed them, in this vast city of London, were surprising. It is perfectly well know that foreign Governments maintain emissaries here to watch suspected persons, and as for kidnapping not being feasible, it is as easy as possible for a strange foreigner to meet with a compatriot, be invited to drink, and then drugged and conveyed on a vessel lying in the Thames and so deported. As recently as the Greco-Turkish War inquiries were made concerning a young Turkish gentleman, who was never seen after going out from his lodgings one Saturday afternoon. James Stephens, the Fenian leader, relates that several attempts were made in the streets of Paris to kidnap him by agents of the British Government, and seeing that a vast plot like the Jameson Raid, which had the covert approval of the Government, was hatched in London, it is obvious that while the present system prevails any infamy may be perpetrated.

       The procuration and the exportation of young girls to the State-licensed brothels of the Continent is largely in the hands of the class of macequereaux to whom we referred last week. The fate abroad of a young woman so deported is horrible. She is a prisoner in the brothel to which she is sent, for on the Continent girls of the town are not allowed to ply their trade in the streets, and she is compelled to accept the embraces of any man who will pay the mistress of the house high enough, no matter how repulsive he may be. The Portland-street case this week is a sample of what is done in other countries. Twelve years ago a law was passed punishing the procuration of girls with severity. Since then the prosecutions under the Act may be counted on your fingers. Yet the men engaged in this horrible trade are well known to the police.

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       In London the women-folk of the very rich and the very poor, as a class, smoke incessantly. "Advanced" women smoke, not so much because they find pleasure in it as because they consider it proclaims their emancipation. Courtezans of all classes smoke for the reason, as Lombroso explains, that it unconsciously soothes their nerves. Most "Society" women smoke and, if the truth must be known, drink also to excess. West-end picture galleries, fashionable florists, and massage establishments are places which are extensively used by Lady Clara Vere de Vere and her friends for this purpose. It is no uncommon thing for ladies to request to be left alone in the inner compartments of a Bond-street gallery for half an hour or so, ostensibly in order that they may contemplate the beauties of a picture, but in reality to smoke cigarettes and drink brandy! The methods by which they conceal spirits and cigarettes are decidedly ingenious. Parasols are made with hollow sticks, which contain long glass tubes which are filled with cognac. The gold knob is constructed to unscrew and form a flask. Fans frequently conceal cigarettes in their folds and are specially constructed for that purpose. Bouquets would, were they closely inspected, be frequently found to hide a dainty little bottle of brandy. The reason for these subterfuges is that no woman in "Society" could be seen in a public-house without loss of caste.

       In some countries on the Continent ladies smoke openly, notably in Spain or Russia. A drunken woman in Spain is, however, a rarity, and, the writer, who lived five years in Malta and the South of Italy, never once saw a drunken woman. It was said, however, in Malta that there was one lady, the wife of a foreign Consul, who used to drink to excess. Her husband, who was once questioned by the Duke of Edinburgh, then Admiral of Mediterranean fleet, as to the reason why his wife never accompanied him to dinners or diplomatic parties replied. "Your Royal Highness, she so much resembles the English ladies that she gets drunk and lies on the sofa."

       No greater contrast can be imagined than the spectacle of the bejewelled woman of the "upper ten thousand" toying with a cigarette in a drawing-room and the hearty relish evinced in her pipe by an old Irishwoman in her cabin. Nearly all the women who live in common lodging-houses smoke, not dainty cigarettes, but shag and twist tobacco. It is quite as common to see a girl of fifteen in these haunts puffing away at a pipe that would turn a navvy up as it is to see a cabman smoking on his box. These women, however, never smoke in public, although late at night they frequently accost men end ask them for a bit of 'bacca or a pinch of snuff, a habit they also indulge in. It is noteworthy that every one of the victims of Jack the Ripper had pipes in their possession.

       At the Democratic Club, when that institution was flourishing, many of the lady members smoked, chiefly cigarettes, although there were a few who could tackle cigars. None of them ventured on a pipe, which proved that their smoking was merely a pastime, not a habit.

       In spite of all that has been urged in favour of women smoking, the fact remains that the habit is mostly indulged in by women who have not only cast aside conventionality but also morality. Drink generally accompanies tobacco, and the world knows that it is the nature of women to rush to extremes.

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       The advent of fine weather in London is heralded by the more or less impudent appeals by papers of the claptrap character on behalf of nondescript "funds," for which they petition, not through their own columns, but by means of placing girls and boys at street corners to importune passers-by. There are some journals which obtain large amounts for deserving purposes in this manner, but the majority of their imitators simply use for their own purposes the sums dropped into their collection boxes by pedestrians who imagine that they are subscribing to the "Penny Blanket Fund" or the "Seamstresses' Sniff of the Sea Guild." It certainly looks like "straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel," for the authorities, who are supposed to put down mendicity and imposture, to be winking both eyes at the shameless begging that is openly indulged in by the proprietors of some of these rags.

       Surely, as it is a punishable offence for a squalid man or woman to solicit alms, the powers that be should exert themselves to remove these begging boxes from the corners of our principal streets? It is high time that the Charity Organization Society or the Mendicity Society inquired into the bonâ-fide nature of most of these "funds."

       The general public have no idea of the rascality practised by some of these bogus journals. They are usually started by illiterate sharpers and they depend upon "prizes," which are never paid, for their circulation. Generally they contrive some scheme whereby they induce dupes to forward them shillings for lottery purposes, and are every bit as bad as "Perfection" Miller. The writer some time ago answered an advertisement in a daily paper, "Wanted a capable journalist to act as editor," and secured the appointment. The office near the Strand was quite irreproachable as far as appearances went, and the proprietor, who was as ignorant as a savage, told his editor he could have a free hand over everything but the competitions (those he would attend to himself), and he would pay him £300 a year. At the end of six weeks the "proprietor" decamped with upwards of £1000 he had received for a "result" competition, and the money, a considerable sum, that had been collected for a "fund." He impudently forwarded the editor a cheque for his salary which was dishonoured, paid neither his printer nor paper maker, and obtained his office furniture on the hire system. Surely when such adventurers flourish and start papers, it is high time that the "funds" they get up should be investigated?

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       The passion for gambling is rapid extending among women, both of the "upper ten thousand" and the working class. The poorer women are not able to cloak their vices as effectually as their wealthy sisters. Hence we find reported in the daily papers the conviction of a woman gambler at Battersea and learn that in factories in the East-end of London and in the weaving sheds and spinning mills of the industrial North betting and "bookmaking" is nearly as prevalent among women as among men of the same class.

       Not content with attending racecourses and entrusting large sums to their male attendants for the purpose of "backing" horses, there are such large numbers of women of wealth addicted to gambling that at the present moment there are at least five "clubs" which are, in reality, gambling hells, in the neighbourhood of Kensington and Park-lane. These "clubs" are, to all outward appearances, gentlemen's mansions. Inside the scene is, however, very different. Daylight is excluded from the drawing-rooms by means of heavy shutters, but the rooms are ablaze with electric light. In the club our correspondent visited two long tables run down the centre of the room, around which nearly forty ladies, some of them in evening dress, bedizened with jewels, others in plain "walking" costumes, were seated, playing, some at nap, others at baccarat and poker, but the majority at rouge et noir, for dear life! The keeper of this club is a titled lady in "reduced circumstance" and her patrons are all of the élite of Society. It was painful to witness the avidity and the recklessness with which they played. Little sound was heard except the tinkling of gold and now and then an hysterical cry of triumph or a stifled sob of loss. The stakes for which these women play are high. Five shilling "nap," for instance, was being extensively played and those who are aware how at halfpenny "nap" a sovereign can be rapidly lost or won, may form an opinion of the money that would change hands at this game.

       In a lull of the play drinks, including brandy and whiskey and soda and champagne, were handed round and consumed greedily. The clay continues till a late hour. The proprietress of this establishment seemed to know her guests' arrangements perfectly. Every now and then she would rise, approach some lady, and say, "You must be home, dear, you know, by seven for dinner or the Earl will be anxious," or "Don't forget your appointment with the Colonel. You must not make him too suspicious." Time was when a lady like the Duchess of Montrose (Mr. Manton as she was called), who was known to openly bet and own racehorses, was ostracized by "Society." Now-a-days the vice has become so common that it is not even regarded as an idiosyncrasy by the aristocracy and the wealthy. "You would hardly believe it," said one of the largest advertising "tipsters" recently to the writer, "that I have nearly as many ladies on my books, regular customers, as men. It I was to reveal their names, you would, indeed, be astonished."

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       One of the most pernicious callings is that of the illiterate and ignorant miscreants who boldly announce that they cure "secret" diseases and dub themselves either "professors" or place alphabetical appendages to their names. Their advertisements are familiar enough in our public lavatories, despite the rewards offered by Vestries for the conviction of bill-stickers, and, strangely enough, legal proceedings can only be taken against the person who actually posts the bill.

       As a general rule these "professors" — who style their abodes "medical halls," "temples of health," &c — are entirely ignorant of the healing art. One in a large way of business who is of German extraction is unable to read or write! He maintains upwards of thirty bill distributors daily on an average and on occasions like great race meetings, frequently increases his staff to 150 men. The permanents hands are paid 30s. per week; extra men receive from 3s. 6d. to 5s. per day, and any fines they may incur are paid. Should they be so unfortunate as to get a sentence of imprisonment without the option of fine, under the Indecent Advertisement Act, they receive a gratuity amounting to £1 for every seven days they are incarcerated. Some time ago one of these "professors" was sentenced at Liverpool to seven years' penal servitude for blackmail and fraud in connection with this discreditable calling, and the police stated that his turnover amounted to £15,000 yearly! This man had previously been a billposter for a rival quack.

       The methods of these rascals are as follows: Although their victim may be only suffering from a slight ailment, they proceed to frighten him by saying that he has contracted a fearful malady which will probably cause insanity and death unless a very long and expensive course of medicine is taken. In most cases the "patient" is some inexperienced youth who has been "seeing life," and he places himself in the hands of the "professor" whose specious advertisement has inveigled him, and is bled of every penny and kept unwell for months, and frequently has his health injured permanently by the vampire in whom he confides. As a rule the great dread of patients is that their relatives should learn of their folly. This fear the "professors" artfully work upon and thus continue to extort large sums from them. One young man, a student at a well-known University, was bled quite recently of upwards of £400. It will hardly be credited that these scoundrels actually spread disease in order that they may make profit by pretending to cure it! A great many of their patients come from country places, where the residents feel ashamed to consult the local doctor, who is usually the friend of the family. To these resorts the "professors" despatch women of degraded character with instructions to mix with the farmers' and well-to-do tradesmen's sons. In about a fortnight it is necessary for these females to quit, and then bill distributors and bill posters come down from London, and the place is deluged with advertisements. The proprietor of the "medical hall" reaps a rich harvest and many of the young men a heritage of sickness and sorrow! We have said enough to show the necessity for intervention on the part of the authorities, and the passing of laws which will effectually prevent the continuance of this infamous trade.

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       During the last few years, owing largely to the strange success of fictional works that have glorified detectives, an immense number of "private inquiry agencies," "detective bureaus," &c., have sprung up in our midst. Some of these are of course of a bonâ-fide nature, but the majority are run by unscrupulous individuals, who combine blackmail with espionage. Speculators of a shady type find numbers of these so-called "detective agencies" in employment for the purpose of finding out the position of shareholders in joint stock companies. Should they report that the holder of valuable securities is an unbusiness-like person — a widow or a country parson unversed in the ways of the world — the speculator contrives, by means of forwarding circulars or by boldly sending one of the private detectives with a specious story concerning the forthcoming failure of the company, to frighten the shareholder into the belief that the shares are almost valueless. As soon as this is accomplished an outside stockbroker writes and makes an offer for the shares, which is almost invariably accepted, and the duped shareholder is induced to part with property at considerably loss than its market value. One person who has been recently the hero of a great company scandal has acquired several hundred thousand pounds' worth of shares in this dishonest fashion.

       A common form of advertisement for these "private inquiry agents" to use is to print on their letter paper that "Messrs. Ferret and Fox beg to draw their clients' attention to the fact that all cases in which they have been employed to collect evidence have proved successful to their patrons." The reason is that when evidence is lacking they usually proceed to manufacture it. That is constantly being shown in divorce court proceedings. As they are mainly employed in divorce cases, the amount of money they receive for "faking" evidence and committing perjury is incredible. Some time ago an ex-private detective assured the writer of the truth of the following incident: A wealthy City magnate's son, a young fellow just turned twenty, married an actress who was touring in a minor company. The father, who was a religious man, was indignant, and cut off the allowance of the son, who, compelled by threats of being left destitute, was induced to leave his wife and go to Australia for twelve months. He also employed a firm of private detectives to procure evidence for a divorce. This they agreed to do, and argued that poverty would be bound to drive her into sin. For this purpose they, by means of anonymous letters, &c., succeeded in preventing her from obtaining employment for some time. Eventually the lady was offered an engagement in a "fit-up" pantomime company — a company that tours small towns where there are no regular theatres and performs in town halls, &c. — at 15s. a week, Surely on such a salary she would soon fall an easy prey to temptation. To make this doubly sure, the ex-detective was despatched to the town where the lady was performing, with instructions to spare no expense to induce her to live with him as his wife. He had little difficulty in obtaining an introduction and proceeded to make love in the approved fashion. The lady, however, had expensive tastes and before his designs were accomplished over £300 were spent on presents of jewellery, &c. Finally the damsel agreed to live with him as his wife, and in the next town they visited did so.

       At last sufficient evidence was procured for a divorce, the detective was recalled to London, and in a short time proceedings were inaugurated. Then a strange thing happened. The detective, who had deliberately induced a woman to commit adultery in order to ruin her future life, received a summons to attend at his employers' office, where he found the City magnate and the head of the firm, looking virtuously indignant. "You damned fool!" began the irate father. "I don't know what you mean, sir," said the detective. "Perhaps not, sir — perhaps not," said the religious gentlemen. "You and your precious employers have had nearly £1,000 out of me for your expenses since this divorce business commenced and dam'me, sir, you've been living with the wrong woman!"

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       It seems a strange anomaly that despite the enormous police protection awarded to the West-end of London the neighbourhood of Piccadilly-circus and Regent-street is nightly haunted by professional druggers. The drugger is of the aristocracy of crime. He is always well dressed and is frequently a broken-down medical student or professional man. His haunts are "fast" West-end bars end places of amusement. He generally contrives to ingratiate himself into the society of the elderly men of means who are often found in these resorts sampling vice on commercial principles. Men of this type are considered the legitimate prey both of the druggers and blackmailers, as the chances are they will never dare the publicity a prosecution would entail on them, They are generally married, with families, and regarded as pillars of propriety by their associates.

       The methods of the druggers are to get into conversation with this type end invite him to have drink. Various topics are touched upon, and finally the everlasting theme of "woman" is introduced. "Pooh! you can see nothing here," the drugger will observe, gazing contemptuously at the painted, bedizened women around. "Now, I know a place where you can see something worth seeing, you know. It's only half-a-crown's ride in a cab to get there, too." The curiosity of the victim is aroused, and he agrees to the proposal. The final drink is ordered. The drugger contrives while taking the glasses from the barmaid to empty the contents of a little tube containing chloral, which he has concealed in the finger of his glove, into the victim's glass. The drinks are swallowed, the two enter the hansom, which is ordered to drive to an address some distance away, and in a few moments the unsuspecting roué is unconscious! The drugger at once despoils him of his money and valuables and then stops the cab, tells the driver that his friend is "too far gone," to proceed to the address in question, pays his fare, and directs him to drive his friend to some well-known hotel.

       The victim is probably locked up for being drunk and incapable, and when he comes to usually prefers to give a false name. The box attendants at certain music halls can also tell some strange stories of gentlemen who have been drugged.

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       Almost every boy and girl now-a-days who is possessed of a little education and a vast number who are grossly and invincibly ignorant fondly imagine that they are the possessors of either literary or histrionic powers. They are, consequently, fired with the desire either to earn the bread of uncertainty as authors or actors. Unfortunately, instead of going for advice to writers or actors of experience, the overwhelming majority of these youthful aspirants fall into the hands of some of the bogus literary and dramatic agents who infest London, are bled of every penny, and frequently entirely ruined by these specious knaves. The methods of the bogus theatrical agent have been frequently described at the police courts, but there appears to be a perennial crop of fools who invariably become the prey of knaves.

       The bogus agent usually proceeds by taking an office in the neighbourhood of the Strand, which he furnishes sumptuously on the hire system, and advertises extensively for "amateurs of both sexes." The number of applicants an advertisement of this description brings in is enormous. A few weeks ago an advertisement for experienced artists to form a stock company in the provinces resulted in 1,000 applications. As soon as the bogus agent receives the letters of application he writes to them individually to the effect that he is about to tour some well-known play and they can have a certain part on payment of £10 10s. premium. Sometimes he is able to find a sufficient number of credulous persons to form four or five companies. When this occurs he has to make elaborate arrangements in order to prevent rehearsals from clashing. In a few weeks, after a rehearsal or two has taken place, the "manager" announces that they will open at the Theatre Royal, Slocum-in-the-Mud, and agrees to meet them in that interesting village. Needless to say the poor dupes proceed there, only to find the theatre engaged by a bonâ-fide company, and of course their bogus manager never turns up; he has skipped it to Birmingham or Liverpool, to repeat his operations under another name. The lot of the duped "amateurs" is, as a rule, an unhappy one. They lose their faith in agents and usually return to London and pester managers for small parts, which they may succeed in obtaining if they have means. It is even said that in some well-known theatres the minor rôles are played by persons who pay to gratify their vanity, to the great detriment of old and experienced actors, many of whom are starving. There are any number of "Johnnies" who will take £10 worth of "stalls" weekly in return for "walking on" and speaking a few lines. Women also make similar arrangements and contract to have a certain number of stalls to be taken by their admirers so long as they are at the theatre.

       Bogus literary agents are usually Jews. They advertise to the effect that they can place MSS. with editors and publishers. They charge fees for reading the MSS. submitted to them ranging from 2s 6d. to £2 2s., and in this way reap a considerable income. Should they have the luck to meet a fool with money they persuade! him to publish his stuff in book-form, needless to say, at his own expense. The agent saves him all trouble and technical work in the matter and incidentally fleeces him of large sums. In this manner most of the inane books with which the world is burdened see the light. Another dodge is to persuade the dupes either to buy or invest money in some utterly hopeless paper. The money that has been lost of late years in periodicals started in this manner has been fabulous. Yet the crop of ninnies never seems to fail.

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       It is a common thing to read of the conviction of some impostor for fraud by soliciting alms for some non-existent charity. But directly the rogue blossoms into affluence, rents a house, and terms it a "home" of some description, the authorities become blind to his impositions.

       Judging from the gullibility of the public, we should say that there is an immense field open to enterprising landladies of boarding houses, who should invent some high "faluting" title for their establishments and appeal to the charitable public to supply them with "funds" on the grounds that they keep their young men lodgers indoors in the evening. Similar "charities" appeal for funds on behalf of working boys' homes, servants' homes, &c., which are run on precisely similar lines.

       Other organizations appeal to the public almost solely for the purpose of paying their officials' salaries and the expenses connected with printing and postage. Take the trouble to study their reports — few know, by the way, how to dissect a balance-sheet — and you will find that the funds supplied by the public to further some deserving cause are swallowed up by salaries, office expenses, printing, and posting! The overwhelming majority of the persons who run these charities are ex-Dissenting ministers, commercial failures, and neurotic cranks. The missionary swindle to convert the heathen still flourishes like a green bay tree in our midst, although most men of the world who have travelled regard at least one-half of the missionaries in uncivilized lands as idle and immoral and Government officials state that most of our "little" wars are caused by the meddlesomeness and rapacity of these black-coated gentry. Silly old women at home, however, Still provide these impostors with about £2,000,000 per annum to enjoy life on.

       The time has surely come for a stringent inquiry into the purposes and methods of all these begging charities. Considering that £10,000,000 yearly is paid for poor rates and as large a sum subscribed to various Societies established to relieve some form of poverty or other, it is obvious that gross maladministration prevails. A thorough investigation, there is little doubt, would lead to the conviction of some of their promoters and secretaries as rogues and vagabonds and cause the reorganization of many others.

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       The general public have just been informed of some of the nefarious practices of a number of so-called "financial" journals by the statements of the fallen millionaire, Hooley, who attributes his bankruptcy in some degree to the blackmailing devices of these periodicals. Many will be surprised at the lack of commercial honesty prevailing in the City of London when they find that the master of millions admits coolly, and as a matter of course, that the rapacity of these "financial" journals caused his ruin. To those, however, in the "know" in city affairs, no astonishment, save at the apathy of the authorities, will be felt!

       There are at the present moment numerous journals of this class, some of which are ephemeral in their existence, others continue for years. Very few enjoy a bonâ-fide circulation of 100, yet their proprietors continue to reap large incomes. They are run on the following methods: It is an axiom in the City that so shady is the character of most company promoters there is scarcely one who would dare to ran the risk of cross-examination. Brokers and promoters unite in regarding each other as wolves and the outside public as sheep to be shorn and devoured, This lamentable state of things is the blackmailer's opportunity. Two articles commenting on a company flotation are written and set up. One lauds the enterprise to the skies, the other gives particulars of a damning character relating both to the prospects of the company and the past history of its promoters and vendors. The proprietor, armed with the two proofs, waits on the chief promoters and demands any sum from £10 to £10,000 for the publication of the laudatory notice, under the threat of publishing the other. The money is often paid. From ten to twenty papers are thus "squared," and the public in consequence are beguiled into investing in bogus and dishonest concerns.

       As a general rule less reliance can be placed upon the advice of financial journals than upon the "tips" of sporting "prophets." The "turf" has a bad name, but it is conducted with greater honesty than the trade of company promoting. Few are aware of the intense difficulty there is in exposing a swindle through the Press owing to the dead-set made by juries against newspapers. The muzzling of the Press thus costs the public many millions yearly. Some time ago the writer was acquainted with a system of swindling, which has since been exposed in a court of law, in connection with certain hotels. A subsidiary company was subsequently floated, which is now in bankruptcy and the subject of an inquiry. Yet not a single daily paper used the accurate facts he supplied them with. One would at least think that, after receiving such "copy," editors would direct inquiries to be made before printing eulogistic articles concerning the company in question, which every one of them did! It is sad to think in connection with British journalism that, with a few honourable exceptions, a large advertisement prevents free comment upon commercial matters. Take South African investments for instance. Four years ago the Press boomed £1 gold mine shares up to an average value of £;11 11s.; to-day their holders would be glad to obtain 2s. 6d. each for them all round. The cycle "boom" is another, and now we have Klondyke and its mines advocated by almost every paper in the kingdom. This is not this fault of newspaper editors, but of proprietors, whose only object in running a newspaper is to make money out of it. The editor receives all the blame; it ought, rather, to be levelled at the head of the proprietor.

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       For several years there has been in existence a gang of swindlers who play upon the credulity and ignorance of small capitalists — frequently widows — who have perhaps a hundred or a hundred and fifty pounds, by advertising "businesses" for sale and disposing, for considerable sums, shops that are absolutely worthless. They work on the following lines: They take shops in a new neighbourhood and usually open them as "generals," newsagents, sweet and tobacco shops, and dairies. Grocers' shops with off licences and beerhouses they greatly affect, as in these trades it is comparatively easy to "fake" the returns. After shops of this nature have been opened and a manager, who is in the "swim," appointed, they are worked for a few weeks and then advertised to be "sold at a sacrifice." Inspection is invited, and, sooner or later, a purchaser comes along and buys what he fondly imagines is a nice little business with a steady turnover of from £25 to £35 a week for £120 or so. There can be no doubt as to the genuineness of the trade, the dupe argues, for has he not inspected the weekly accounts, all properly receipted, of the various wholesale firms that supply the shops, when Messrs. Blank have been paid about £8 weekly for groceries and Brush and Co. £10 weekly for oilmen's requisites. As soon, however, as the new tenant enters into possession he finds, in some unaccountable way, that the takings drop from £25 weekly to about £2 and that he is not taking enough to pay his rent, much less live! Should he complain of being defrauded he is told that the trade has fallen oft owing to his lack of business ability. In a few weeks the brokers are got in and the purchaser goes out ruined.

       This is is an every-day experience and it is managed by the advertising business swindlers owning, generally, a large and prosperous shop in some well-known neighbourhood, the stock for which is purchased at the worthless suburban shop, which is intended to be disposed of and then transferred to the main establishment. Of course the wholesale purveyors make out their account to the suburban shop, which are shown to a would-be purchaser as a proof of the bonâ-fides of the business.

       Beerhouses are sold on the strength of doing so many barrels monthly, and the brewer's receipts are produced in evidence. In nine cases out of ten, however, the trade is a bogus one. Intending purchasers of small shops should always insist upon having them on trial for a fortnight before parting with their money. If the business is of a bonâ-fide nature and the intending purchaser a respectable person, no opposition will be offered by the vendor, while, if he refuses, the business he wishes to dispose of may be avoided as fraudulent.

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