money and send nothing in return,
but when they do send a "machine" it is worthless. The actual cost of it
never exceeds twenty-five cents. One scoundrel, some time ago, sent a
lady who had remitted him three dollars a large needle, and wrote that it
was "the best sewing machine in the world."

Another swindler advertises a music box for $2.50, "warranted to play six
airs." In return for the money, he sends a child's harmonicon, the
retail price of which is fifty cents.

Another advertises a "Pocket Time-keeper," at one dollar. It is usually
a wretched pasteboard, tin or brass imitation of a sun dial. Sometimes
it is a child's toy watch.

The day of mock auctions has gone by, but there are still one or two of
these establishments lingering in the city. These are managed in various
ways.

[Picture: A STRANGER'S EXIT FROM A "CHEAP JOHN SHOP".]

At some of these establishments a lot of pencil cases, watches, or other
goods, is offered for sale. The lot generally contains a dozen or a
gross of articles. Bids are started by the "decoys" of the proprietor,
who are scattered through the crowd, and strangers are thus induced to
make offers for them. Each man supposes he is bidding for a single lot,
and is greatly astonished to find the whole lot knocked down to him. He
is told he must take the entire lot, that his bid was for all. Some are
weak enough to comply with the demand, but others resist it.

A well-known Broadway auctioneer was brought before the Mayor, some time
ago, on the following complaint. A gentleman, who appeared against the
auctioneer, stated that he had attended his last sale. The auctioneer
put up a box containing twelve silver pencil-cases, and the gentleman,
supposing from his manner and language, that he was selling them fairly,
bid two dollars and fifty cents for the lot. To his surprise, he was
told that he had bid two dollars and fifty cents for _each_ pencil-case,
and that he must pay thirty dollars for the whole lot. The money had
been paid and the auctioneer refused to return it, insisting that the
gentleman should take one pencil-case or nothing. The Mayor compelled
the scamp to refund the money, and warned him that he would revoke his
licence if a similar complaint were again made against him.

In some of these establishments, a stranger who attempts to remonstrate
against the swindle fares badly. He is hustled out by the confederates
of the proprietor, and if he