SCHOOLS TO TEACH SHOW-CARD WRITING CATCH MANY VICTIMS AMONG THE POOR
GIRLS.
December 5, 1905, J. H. Bell, the proprietor of a SHOW-CARD COLLEGE at
21 Quincy St., was arrested and the place closed. Bell advertised for
students to learn to write show-cards and signs. He is said to charge
$1 for a course and to promise positions at large salaries as soon as
the course is completed.
After the course has been finished and the tuition paid Bell is
declared to have refused to give the graduates employment on the
ground that their work is unsatisfactory.
A great many girls are attracted to the scheme, and sign contracts
to pay Bell for the instruction in the belief that they will be
benefited. Bell tells them that he has customers who will purchase all
the cards they can make. They are to receive a few cents for each card
as soon as they learn the business, but they are required to pay a
fine of 2 cents for each card they spoil.
"They are set to work painting gold borders such as are seen in the
windows of the department stores, but the task is so difficult that
only a finished artist can do the work. Bell has a woman accomplice
who hustles into the office when it is filled with women and girls and
tells how she makes from $25 to $30 a week painting cards. Her talk
encourages the girls to keep on spoiling Bell's cards and increasing
his income.