CHEAP HAPPINESS.

It is an old dodge, even in France, to extract sums of money from credulous people by means of sending out glowing circulars, but it was developed in a remarkable manner by Albert Klein, a native of Czechoslovakia, who has just fallen into the hands of the Paris police.

Klein began operations in the usual way, by offering work which, he represented, would yield 12f a day. It was easy work, and would only take two or three hours to accomplish – a nice addition to modest incomes. Klein received thousands of replies, and from each of his correspondents he demanded 12f, the cost of the material, which would be sent immediately after the money was received. Several thousand people sent 12f, and in return they received a stock of circulars and posters which offered happiness to young women for the modest sum of 5f.

It was very simple. The young women who paid 5f became members of an association called “Le Bonheur,” and the agents who secured members were allowed 1f in respect of each adherent. Klein received daily hundreds of letters containing 5f. He was fast becoming a wealthy man. Unfortunately for him, several “agents,” not receiving the money due to them for their work, came to Paris for the purpose of talking matters over with their employer. Klein was not at home. Meanwhile, complaints poured in from young women who had paid 5f for the happiness which never came to them. The police got on the job, and Klein was arrested. At his office no fewer than 15,000 letters were discovered. There are allegations of abuse of confidence as well as of swindling against him.

An advertisement in a matrimonial journal, setting forth that a man with 10,000f cash, in addition to excellent qualities, wanted a wife, caught the eye of Klein, who, it is alleged, succeeded in getting hold of the money.