Free Portrait Swindle.

Thames Star, Volume XXXX, Issue 10449, 22 September 1902, Page 3

Free Portrait Swindle.

— <» As many persons on the Thames have receivedi circulars frota the enterprising M. Tanquerey, of the ''Societe ArtistJque de Portraits, Paris-," it is well that they should be warned or very likely thley will be victimised. He professes to execute "■artistic crayon! portraits' fromi phtotographs supplied, and. 1 states in his circular that "in order to introduce our work in Australia, we have decided to make a limited number of our portraits for some prominent people absolutely free of charge, believing that to be the best and cheapest method o£ advertising our work amongst the English speaking people." He encloses a "coupon" so that the recipient can take advantage of his offer, adding, "the only favour weiask you in return is to' recommend our portraits to your friends and acquainr tanees. As mi most .other cases, says> the Christ church Press, >n which something is offered for nothing, people who- talre advantage of M. Tanquerey'a offer .pay pretty dearly for it, in the end. -A charge is demanded from; them —noti far the free, portrait, of course, but for the frame, packing, etc., and Hi© gull who forwards the amount, demanded finds that he has paid far more tha.iv tl* value of the rubbish.be gets in return.—if indeed, he gets; anything' a* all. It is in. this way that our ingenious friend make's his living. No more striking, proof of! his audacity could be given than the fact that he encloses with: his precious offer what purports to be ai testimonial im his favor from. Mr Labouchere, the editor of "Truth"—the man who has exposed his plan of operations so effectively in Enigland that! M. Tanquerey has been driven to seek fresh simpletons furtfoter afield!