Demoine courier., 1854-08-03
A Scene at the Races.

The Reporter Of The n. Y: Times, in
a sketch of the proceedings at the Ma.
tlonai Race Course, on Long Island,--
gives the following sketch Of "Profess.
or of Cheaterv:''
One gentleman had pecnlia: attractions
for us. There was boRhommie-a
subdned good nature in his manner, that
would win any ones heart. he was
not loud or slangy. He pleaded gently
wilh the cfowed, in an atlectioualo voice
lie wore spectacies, and might have
passed al anv temperance or abolition
meeting for a phIlanthroPist OF the first
water.
/ The mode III which this amiable pro.
lessor conducted his operations was this:
He had a small table before hin. on
which were three cards--an eight, a king
end an ace. The rest he viii explain
himself. ....
| PRoFEssoR LoQUIrUR.-Now. gentle
mcn. here are three cards. You see
ihen-(aiter showing them, he places
them on table, in row, distinctly
showing where The ace is)-one hundred
dollars that no one Will point out the ace
OF spades What do you say, sir!--
Certainly, sir, the gentleman betting has
the privilege of turning the card himself,
One hundred dollars, &c.
Here agentleman offers TO bet twenty.
PRoFEssoE-Take your bet sir. I'm
not in the babit OF betting less than hun
dred. but once in way don't mind,
gust 10 show The gentlemen present that
It's all fair. Stand back, little boy, if
you please; .ou aint got no money to
| bet.
The gentleman here turns the card,
which proving Ia be the ace Of spades.
he pockets the twenty dollar piece iri
umphan,,y. ...s -.'........
PRofEssoE--( --(ApParenl!y pleased at
losing. Very good, SIR. Sometimes
win, sometimes lose. I've got two
chances, you see TO your one, so the adj
vantage Is on my side. Still, If gen
,leman keeps his eye on The card. aud
follows it carefully, he must win.
thank you for your bet, sir, win or lose.
Here The professor turns his head, of
course accidentally, and " hile his atten.
lion is thus drawa away, the gentleman
who won before seizes the opportunity
to mark the ace on the back with pen
ell. The spectators grin. Now, indeed,
the professor Is going 10 be swiuded.
No one can mistake the ace. The pro,
lessor turns round blandIy and commen-
!
ces again. lie never sees, good man.
The mark on the card. How very blind
he must be! Perhaps his spectacles are
not good. The green ones are eager
Tor the fray. The good professor offers
bet OF a hundred dollars thai no one
can turn the ace. Several bystanders
forni joint stock operstion, and make
up the sum between them. The pro-
lessor sweeiiy inquiries ii all the gentle
men are agreed wha. card shall be turn
ed. Joint stock company point with
one accord TO the marked card, chucklipg
lnwardiy at the fate of the professors
money. 1. is turned. No ace. A king,
an abominable moeking king stares them
IN the lace! The crowd laughs. The
tASNNS~Si S>''h'y SutiNiS UP Ills CdEus,
looks at them paternaiIy over his spec
iacles, and he and his accomplice change
their quarters, leaving the Joint stock
company disconsola,e.
1t seemeL a desecratioa To have these
things going on in the green fields, mid
| pleasant lanes, where The sun shone
through leaves not yet robbed Of their
rich gloss; by fences where the fox. glove
and the wild vine, and the young barley
rusiied It's silken iasseIs in The wind,
nothing was heard but the ciuk OF mon.
ey; the slang and jabber OF The swindlers
and the oalhs and abuse Of the swindled.
Knots OF gamblers every where. From
the oily professor in spectacles, who
would not bet less thar hundred, down
to the paltry man OF sixpenny bets, who
piundered the poor rus.ics ou. Of their
solitary dollars.