The Chain Letter That Worked the Christian Endeavor List

The endless chain system of swindling the sympathetic has broken out in Seattle, advantage being taken of the publication of the names of the delegates to the Christian Endeavor convention to endeavor to make them links in the chain.

The following letter in a feminine hand has been forwarded to the Post-Intelligencer by Rev. W. Merritt, pastor of the First Congregational church of Snohomish, to whom it was handed by the recipient:

'A cripple girl of fourteen has been left by the death of her mother the task of providing for herself and two infant sisters.

'To accomplish this task entrusted to her by her dying mother, she will need the help of kind friends.

'She is unusually bright and very desirous of obtaining an education for herself and two sisters.

'It seems a pity that one should be left in such sad circumstances, and no one with a heart could refuse the small sum of ten cents and the time of writing two fac-similes of this letter to sympathetic friends.

'Trusting that this letter has fallen into humane hands, and that my humble request will be kindly granted, I remain, faithfully yours,

'MRS. O. H. CLARE.

'In behalf of my young friends.

'P. S. Should you feel like contributing more to this cause it will be thankfully received by MRS. CLARE,

'P. O. Box 77, Seattle, Wash.'

In sending it to the Post-Intelligencer Mr. Merritt says:

'This endless-chain system of bleeding a sympathizing public needs no encouragement. If the case is genuine, and the intentions honest, we can readily excuse, but the system is to be condemned. It is a social upas tree that should be destroyed.'

In concluding, he adds that others have received a similar request from the same person.