EDWARD MORRIS,
Attorney-at-Law.
82 Madison Street.
Trusts and Estates a Specialty.
Chicago, Ill., Jan. 4, 1905.
MR. GEO. FERLIN,
Los Angeles, Cal.
Dear Sir:
I have during my professional career arranged many
marriages for ladies of means, and at the present time
have among my clients some ten or twelve wealthy ladies,
ranging in age from twenty-five to fifty years, desirous of
marriage, one of whom is the charming widow whose likeness
I herewith enclose.
She is worth $60,000 ($25,000 in ready cash, the balance
in high-class tangible property inherited from her mother,
recently deceased). She is alone and childless and her
physician, on account of her bereavement, has recommended
a marriage and change of scene, and in her dilemma she has
consulted me, her legal adviser, and I, in turn, without
her knowledge, appealed to a matrimonial agency with which
I have for several years had business relations in a
professional way.
Out of the several names submitted to me I have, after much
thought and deliberation, selected yours, and I beg that
you will consider carefully my proposition and the fact
that I am not in business for my health, but for revenue,
together with a desire to please my clients and to give
them value received.
This lady, while unusually bright and intelligent, knows
little of the ways of the world, and nothing of business,
and, to be candid with you, needs a husband to manage her
estates, and I can, by recommending you personally, cause
her, through me as her attorney, to open negotiations with
you for a marriage; so if you desire a wealthy wife, as I
presume you do from the fact that you are registered with a
matrimonial agency, I will, for the consideration of $100
introduce you to her, have you visit her at her expense, as
you may mutually agree, and will absolutely guarantee your
marriage to her within sixty days, if you will follow my
instructions to the letter.
All that I ask is, as an evidence of your good faith and to
cover the immediate clerical expenses necessary thereto,
you enclose me immediately upon receipt of this letter,
BANK DRAFT OR MONEY ORDER for $10, the balance ($90) to be
paid after marriage, and when I have caused her to place in
your hands, or under your control, a goodly portion of her
worldly possessions.
Now, if you wish to accept my proposition, enclose me
immediately the small retaining fee ($10) and promise me
that you will follow carefully my instructions; otherwise
do not write me, as I positively will not enter into
further correspondence until you have engaged me as your
attorney upon the lines I have laid down.
If before the end of sixty days you feel that you do not
care to pursue the matter to a conclusion I will refund
your money. My standing as an attorney is ample evidence
that I will faithfully carry out my contract. Remember that
I have among my clients, as I have stated before, ten or
twelve wealthy ladies to my certain knowledge desirous of
marriage.