The weekly Butte record., 1863-07-11
P arisia n T opies.
BY RALPH EASEL

/ In the peculiar vocabulary Of the Persian
police courts, the epithet araletout cru, llite-
rally, swallow all raw is applied to certain
swindlers, dressed Ike gentlemen, and wearing
spectacles. in order to give rise to the supposi-
ton that they are short-sight-a supposition
Indispensable to the successful pursuit Of their
vocation, which is neither more nor less than
peculiar and ingenious species of theft. They
enter the shop of dealer in precious stones,
and ask TO be shown an assortment of small
diamonds or pearls. These dimiuutiVe gems
are ordinarily displayed to the purchaser upon
piece of white paper, and as the visitor pre-
+ tends to be extremely short-sighted, he stoops
close to the paper, and manages, without much
risk of discovery, to pick up with bis tongue
number of diamonds, which are not missed
until the thief has made his escape. 4 ehsra-
lIer dirdustrie of this description has just been
detected, under the following circumstances
A jeweler in the Palais Royal who had been
victimized, related his mishap to confrere,
giving at the same time, an exact description
of the thief Only a day or two afterward,
fellow called upon the second jeweler, and
was Immediately recognized. Assurance in
this respect became doubly sure, when be ask
ed to be shown some pearls The tradesman
replied that he had none at the moment, but
expected to receive a large quantity that very
day, and invited the customer to call the next
morning. Meantime, notice was given to the
police, and at the proper time detective con-
cealed himself in the shop. By his directions
the jeweler impregnated his pearl card with a
bitter drug, and awaited the arrival of the man
in spectaces, who was puuctual to his appoint
ment. At the propitious moment be "imbbed'
number Of pearls, but the bitter taste of the
paper threw him off his guard, and be involun-
tarily betrayed himself by rejecting his plunder
The detective then emerged from beneath the
counter and seized his unresisting prey.
The ingenuity and cunning of Partisan roques
applied to honest industry half the talent they
display 10 robbing the community at large,
they could not fail to earn an abundant sub
sistence.
In addition TO the instance above related the
following may be cited as example of rare in
genuity, prostituted to a criminal purpose A
gentlemanly dressed individual passes near the
open show window OF a fashionable shop, it be-
ing, in Paris, the custom in many descriptions
Of retail trade to spread goods as temptingly as
possible before the public The gentlemanly
dressed individual pauses, glances around, to
assure himself that he is not observed, picks up
some articles. as if to examine it closely, and
walks off with his prize. If he gets clear with
ont being noticed, the act belongs to the cate
CORY of ordinary thefts. But if, on the contra
ry, the shopkeeper or his clerks have chanced
to witness the " lift, and pursue the depreda-
tor, no sooner is the latter collared than
servant in elegant livery steps forward, draws
a well filed purse, and says in an imploring
tone
For heavens sake, sir, don't let this scan
dalous affair go any further, and state to me
the value of the article taken by my unfortu-
nate master, that | may at once indemnify you.
The person you suppose to be vulgar thief, is
the Marquis de-, who has fortune Of sixty
thousand francs year, but is subject at inter
walls, to deplorable mania for shopllting
the effect of a recent severe Illness, which has
impaired his mental faculties. | am specially
employed to follow him and pay the damages
incurred through his melancholy insanity
Unfortunately had lost sight of the poor gen
teman at the moment he paused before your
shop or he might have been spared this bitter
humiliation"
Hereupon, the tradesmau looses his hold
upon the Marquis collar, and makes all
sorts of apologies, whilst the by-standers who
have witnessed the scene look pityingly after
the noble mailman, as be walks slowly away,
followed by his faithful servant. This is called
the trick Ia monomania."
The mother-wit of the Partisan flou
never forsakes him. \ short time ago the
senior actor of the Theatre Fraucais VI. Sam
son, took his farewell benefit, after dramatic
career Of more than forty years. Being an
immense favorite with the theatre-going public,
Samsons last performance attracted an enor-
mour crowd and long before the opening of
the doors, the line of applicants for places ex-
tended from the theatre to the Place du Palais
Royal. Among the patient throng was
young German, who, determined to be present
at the representation, had been waiting outside
nearly two hours. At last the crowd began
to move slowly toward the box-ofice, and the
German stepped forward with the rest, IN
mindful of the pressure before and behind him.
Just at this moment, however, be felt a hand
thrust sieathily into the pocket containing his
purse. Unable 10 turn round and collar the
audacious pick pocket, be managed to free one