THE ECONOMICS OF HELL. [To THE EDITOR OF THE ”srxerAres."1
SIR,—What your article points out in the Spectator of February 17th when reviewing Mr. Kauffman's "Daughter of Ishmael" is not confined to the "ponce." When residing some thirty years ago in one of the chief cities of the West Riding I remember that a man who was professedly running a registry office for servants was discovered by the police to be secretly a procurer, and was promptly dealt with. Iu the now defunct Church Gazette I wrote an article (February 10th, 1900) on the point, advising country clergy to warn their young women. This man's method was as simple as plausible. A girl from the country put her name on his books ; shortly she received a notice to call at his office on a certain afternoon, at a certain hour, to have an interview with a certain mistress. Evidently the man consulted the time-table so as to give the girl very little time between the appointment and her last train. This was part of the " plant.' If the girl came alone, as often happened, the " trick" was worked thus. After the girl had waited a bit and was getting anxious about catching her last train the man came in and said, "I cannot understand why Mrs. So-and-So has not come," and then whilst he was talking a person would hand him a tele- gram. " Sorry detained this afternoon ; will call to-morrow morning," which faked message he would read to the girl and add, " Well, never mind ; I will wire home for you; I know a nice motherly woman who will look after you, and then you will be on the spot to see Mrs. So-and-So in the morning "- the time being made before the arrival of the first train in the morning—" and it would be a pity to miss such a good situa- tion ; besides if you went home you would not get here in time,
besides your extra fare," &c., &o. Oftentimes, alas! time vile plot succeeded, and the girl was ruined—the more guileless the girl the easier was she a prey to this harpy. All this would not bo worth recalling but for thelact that this specious dodge is not to-day unknown.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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