stor as Lord X---, and society meekly
obeyed him.

Impostures of this kind do not always terminate so fortunately for the
parties concerned. New York gossip has many a well-authenticated story
of foreign counts and lords, who have set society in a flutter, and have
married some foolish, trusting woman, only to be detected when it was too
late to prevent the trouble. Some of these scoundrels have been proved
to be married men already, and the consequences of their falsehood have,
of course, been more serious to the bride. Others again do not enter the
matrimonial market at all, but use their arts to secure loans from their
new acquaintances. Not long since a foreigner, calling himself a Russian
Count, and claiming to be sent here on a mission connected with the
Russian navy, succeeded in borrowing from some credulous acquaintances,
who were dazzled by his pretended rank, sums ranging from $500 to $2000,
and amounting in the aggregate to $30,000. When the time of payment
arrived, the Count had disappeared, and it was ascertained that he had
escaped to Europe.

Impostors of other kinds are numerous. Men and women are always to be
found in the city, seeking aid for some charitable institution, with
which they claim to be connected. They carry memorandum books and
pencils, in the former of which the donor is requested to inscribe his
name and the amount of his gift, in order that it may be acknowledged in
due form by the proper officers of the institution. Small favors are
thankfully received, and they depart, assuring you in the most humble and
sanctimonious manner that "the Lord loveth a cheerful giver." If you
cannot give to-day, they are willing to call to-morrow--next week--any
time that may suit your convenience. You cannot insult them by a sharp
refusal, or in any way, for like Uriah Heep they are always "so 'umble."
You find it hard to suspect them, but, in truth, they are the most
genuine impostors to be met with in the city. They are soliciting money
for themselves alone, and have no connection with any charitable
institution whatever.

One-armed, or one-legged beggars, whose missing member, sound as your
own, is strapped to their bodies so as to be safely out of sight, women
wishing to bury their husbands or children, women with hired babies, and
sundry other objects calculated to excite your pity, meet you at every
step. They are vagabonds. God knows there is misery enough in this
great city, but