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The victim in this case, if you please to call him so, is the writer. I sent, for the purpose of investigation, $50 for this "$200 gun," and I received a gun marked "Henry Tolly," but not the well-known gun maker of London, who is known as the manufacturer of the J. & W. Tolley guns.

I took this gun to an importer and large dealer in guns, and he appraised it as selling in the trade at about $35, and says, it is the lowest grade that has all the improvements, but that in his opinion it is a low grade Bonehill gun, marked Henry Tolly, and that he never heard of any gun manufacturer by this name. Now this does not matter so much to me, as I do not have time to hunt, although very fond of it. I shall therefore keep this gun as an exhibit, in evidence of this fraud, and put it in a safe place, for home defence. In the meantime, I vouch for the unreliability of the above circular, for this gun is not in any way "the highest grade of a first quality Bonehill or Tolley gun." The gun expert to whom I showed it says it is not "Damascus steel barrels," but iron. It is "not the match in every respect of any $200 gun in the country," and is not as described in the above circular. Instead of its being a $200 shot gun for $50, it is rather a $35 gun for $50.

Some may say, O well, this is only fleecing sports. Not so fast. Even sporting men, and those who find pleasure in hunting in the woods and on the lakes for recreation, have rights that even the fraud should respect. The fraud in all these cases is like a hungry shark, all flesh is fish to his maw, and no matter how gross the lie, only so the fraud has means to cut a big splurge in society, as does the above in Boston.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE WONDERFUL CALVIN AND HIS DIVINING ROD.

The belief in the potency of the divining rod is as old as human credulity; its history has formed a subject of the curious research of antiquarians and students of social development. During the Middle Ages,* when this "rabdomancy," or divination with the rod, rose to its height, the willow wand was employed to discover hid treasure and to detect theft, and even murder.

In many sections of our own country, to-day, the willow wand is used to find water beneath the ground, and it is no unusual thing for the credulous Western "prospector" to employ the same medium in his gold seeking.

While the magic rod is properly a thing of the Middle Ages, sufficient superstition concerning it lingers to make it a very profitable instrument for the tricks of the sharper, who is generally successful with the rod to the extent, at least, of finding treasure in the pocket of his victim.

One afternoon, not many months ago, there came into my office a forlorn and consumptive looking individual, who announced himself as hailing from New England, and now in search of the great "Calvin ;" also of $213, which had been forwarded to that gentleman.

This Calvin was a nineteenth century scamp practicing the roguery which has been the stock-in-trade of his craft for thousands of years. Following our custom, we shall let his story be told by the letters and circulars in the case, as they were furnished to us by our New England friend.

Calvin had introduced himself and his "profession” by the following circular:

* The interested reader is referred to a chapter on the subject in Baring. Gould's "Myths of the Middle Ages."

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Seventh son of a seventh daughter. Has the gift of foresight. Reveals from the cradle to the grave. Past, Present, and Future. Gives advice on Business, Money Matters, Love, Courtship, Marriage, Sickness, Lawsuits, Traveling. Will interpret dreams; bring together those long separated; cause speedy marriages, etc., etc.

WHAT IS ASTROLOGY?

The Study of the Stars. Reading your life history from the position and aspects of the planets at the time of your birth; from that position will be given an ample statement of the disposition and qualities, good or bad; with counsel how to modify evil traits of character; with a statement of the disease each one is by nature predisposed to; with advice how to avoid such results. Full particulars about money matters will be given, and by what means wealth will be gained. How to prevent losses by being forewarned and using caution.

YOUR FUTURE DESTINY CAN BE CLEARLY REVEALED

with as much certainty as the solving of the mathematical problem. It can also foretell with perfect certainty the result of all commercial and business transactions and speculations.

WHAT IS BEFORE ME?

Is the question which, at least in regard to the temporal affairs of life, every person asks themself. Whether to be successful or not to be, in a vocation, profession or business; whether to occupy a high or a low position, socially and financially, is the query which every person makes to themself. It has been said that "every man makes his own castle-builds himself." But is it invariably so? Is it not the fact, on the contrary, that a large portion of the human race really find it impossible to succeed, no matter how desirous for success, or how energetic and untiring they may be in their efforts, or how sound, apparently, may be their judgment?

Men, after years of unrequited toil, or unforseen reverses, after wearing away the best years of their life in a fruitless struggle for wealth, after trying every means for gain and advancement which may have offered seeming inducements to them, find themselves in the evening of life with wasted energies and in poverty. Why? Simply because they, in their self-reliance, neglected to avail themselves of the advice and instruction which may be had.

In LOVE, COURTSHIP, and MARRIAGE, Calvin will prove very ample in his judgment, whether happy or contrary, and date of marriage will be given, with full description of the husband or wife, as the case may be, their disposition, etc. If rich or poor. If to marry more than once. If it would be wise for any two to marry. If they are by nature suited. Of children, the number, sex, etc., and whether they will live or die.

All parents should have the nativities of their children written, for they will then see what they are by nature suited for, and have a guide to direct them.

OF DISEASE.

It is known to all who have studied stellar influences, that the numerous diseases afflicting mankind can be cured by observing the different significators in a nativity; the nature of the disorders to which the constitution is

predisposed may be ascertained; and this fact once known, the cure is half effected.

It is evident, upon a little reflection, that a knowledge of these times (dates of good and evil) must be of very great advantage to all who are wise enough to have their nativity written. Accidents may be prevented, often illness and even death, by being forewarned by a competent professor; if evil threatens, we can be prepared to ward it off; on the other hand, if good fortune awaits us, we can be prepared to take the fullest advantage of it.

A person can select a fortunate day for auy important matter, such as marriage, beginning business, removals, journeys, signing papers of importance, &c., &c. How often you will hear the remark passed, "Everything seems to go wrong to-day!" This is when bad aspects are in force, known only to the astrologer. According to the position of the planets at birth each one is adapted to a certain sphere of action—out of that a person will not prosper. Calvin is the only astrologer in this country who thoroughly understands the legitimate study of the science, and the sublime mysteries and secrets of Egyptian philosophers, and who accomplishes the most wonderful phenomena and results which have never before been attempted nor attained by any other astrologer in America.

TESTIMONIALS.

TORONTO, Canada.-Chas. Clifford, writing Feb. 20, 1871, says: No language which I am capable of using can express the unbounded satisfaction I have received from a horoscope made out by Calvin: not an incident of my life has escaped him. I merely enclosed to him my place of birth, date, and hour of the day, and sex, with his fee. His prompt reply delineated every joy and sorrow of my past life exactly as I knew it to have been; at the same time pointed out the events of each coming year until death. He also suggested the best latitude to locate, and gave me advice by which I could have the fullest benefit of the accident of life. I have often marked out a different course, but have been invariably compelled to realize exactly what he has predicted; therefore, not a single proof is lacking to establish in my mind the certainty of astral infiuence over this life upon earth.

We were always skeptics to the science of astrology until the following facts came to our notice. A lady of our acquaintance was advised by Calvin not to take passage upon a steamer for Europe, as it would be lost. She followed his advice. The steamer was lost.-New York Daily Standard, March, 1872.

A young lady of this city had been deceived by her lover. He refused to marry her, and suddenly disappeared. She wrote to Calvin. She is now married and happy, by following his advice. We also knew a married lady who had a cruel, dissipated husband, who took no interest in his wife or family. In despair she wrote to Calvin. She pursued the course he advised. The husband became a sober, industrious man, and affectionate partner.

Another single young man had been trifled with and promised a young lady's hand and heart, but was put off and flirted with for over two years

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