Perhaps an even more subtle form of deception is to take the victim to "Tne picture is fons of the or some dilapidated temple under the pretence of showing him idols and other temple relies, and while 100k Ing behind some large image, he allowed to "discover" a vase covered with dust and loses no time in examining his find. He naturally gets very excited when he discovers that It seems a very valuable one, even though it is slightly damaged, He Is Informed that It has been in the temple for a number of years and that the present tead priest Fecelved It from his predecessor. The Duyer is naturally anxious to know the priest is willing to sell it and! his excitement increases when he hears the price, which in a mere fraction of what he imagines is its gal value, for he has no suspicion that it is not a genuine article. He ig told, Rowever, that the head! priest is really unwilling to sell it fand will only let him have it under one condition, namely that nobody else Is told of the transaction, Another trick of these wicked people is to inform you that a certain person has raised a loan on his curios of that he has pawned them. The time limit Is almost duo and unless he can redeem them the things will be Jost to him. Under the Jeircumstances, he is willing to sell them to anyone who will pay a price slightly higher than the amount of the load and the interest due.
Tt, of course, seems a very good opportunity of getting some good things cheap, as a loan made on s.ch things Is never more than a mere fraction of what they are really worth. The perspective buyer is then taken to the pawnshop or wherever the things are stored and is given an opportunity to buy them. The whole affair ig nothing more than a plot to Jdefraud the intending purchaser as the goods are not genuine and he is fortunate indeed if he does not buy them.
There are many other methods vy Jwhich the unwary may be persuaded {to part with their money, and when buying curios It must be Femembered that with the exception of a few ree~ agnized dealers whose word can be relied upon, the majority of those in the profession have most persuasive tongues and could teach even Ananias much about the gentle art of lying.
fact, it would seem as if in their Jorder merit can be acquired by the evasion of the truth, and even if they jate taxed with misrepresentation, they do not seem at all concerned.
The only word of warning that can given to perspective buyers is that forst-class articles cannot be got Jcheaply, and that, almost without exception, any get-rich-quick propositions which may be brought forward Jare only intended to deceive those ]who are foolish enough to'believe them. If things are to be bought, it is much better to get them from [dealers of established reputations.
T will end by tolling the story of young foreigner who went to Peiping [some years ago and purchased for 3 very large sum of money what he [believed was one of the finest bronze Jvessels in the world. Though he spoke to one or two of his friends about it, he absolutely: refused. to eve its witereabouta as he had been informed that it he did s0 he would probably lose his chance of buying inspire of the many allampls of his trends to. persuade him to" have nothing to do with the transaction, he Became the owner of the bonae, and "was only after three or four museums had refused to buy it that he realized how foolish he hed been.
[there are many other tales that could the told, but most of those who have een victimized prefer' to. keep stent, bough without doubt thole erence. as not been without iis ood effects ton them. "in eoneluc fon 3 would sya i nat wise make the desier lose face by open declaring that the things he offers sre not genuine, and the station always be saved by the. words, wel fu" which realy, means fom sot, interested nis kind' of fsurla" The dealer accepts the verdict with equanimity and Is quite satisfied, apito of the "rebut beceure his face hab been saved, the dominion of the Emperor of Ghing, within the Consular District of Canton," whereof Sit Daniel Brooke Robertion, Knight, C..
Majesty's" Consul and "whereas expedient to appoint a person to act temporarily as and. for "the said Sir Daniel Brooke Robertson, C.B..- within the said fslend of Hainan, now a portion of the Consuler District of Centon, T 0 therefore approve Mr. Robert James Forrest to net as Vice-Consul. within the ald. island and T authorize. him within the same to hold and form Court' and to excrelse. all the power and authority which a person yo neiing temporarily "may "exercise under the Seth wectlon" of the "China and. Japan Order in Council, 1065."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.