Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-10


moral ground is assumed by the ''roper-
in" from the very moment of the intro
duction, and the first visit paid to-
gether IS paid on the Sabbath to the
church; the next visit is rendered to
some intellectual lecture, then fine art
is discussed; then it viii be proposed
10 visit some fashionable theatre
merely to see Shakespeare and en-
courage the legitimate drama; then an
invitation will be extended to witness
a match game of billiards; a night
stroll through the metropolis to see
life will next be suggested, and finally
the pair will terminate their wanderlngs
at that club or gaming-house which,
If at first mentioned, would
have been avoided with adherence.
The trouble, however, is only taken by
the roper-in when his victim is sutfi-
GENTLY rich to bleed freely and repay
the time expended on him with inter
est. But not only time, but absolute
money is sometimes invested by the
roper on his proud prey. One agent OF
a Broadway game recently devoted NJ
teen days and nights and several hun
dred dollars to the securing OF his man
which sum was paid entirely at his
own risk, as the gaming house assumes
no outside expenses. At last, however
he ssgot his man dead TO rights
is, gained his point-and received
1000 as his share OF the money lost at
faro by his victim.
As q general rule the Topers IN con
fine themselves to the most ready game,
occurred IL the most eilsy nIanusr-
namely, by forming the acquaintance
| of rustics, overcoming them with
liquor, and then conducting them IL
/ their drunkenness to the faro-taOle
scarce one intoxicated man on Broad
way out of ten escapes their clutches
4 faVOrite device, and generally
! very successful one with certain class
/ of ropersin, is to assume the appear
| ance and Carb, the wondering look, and
| the homespun or old fashioned attire
of rustic, as also to pretend an utter
| ignorance of city ways. by these
means the confidence OF "a cCuntrymaI
is fully secured--ouly to be abused.
Others methods OF procedure on the
part of rOperssin to betray their fellow
men might be mentioned, but space is
| limited, and sufficient has been written
to enable the public to form a general
idea Of the foully, cunning nsOdas Opeg'
aadi of gamblers agents iR the metrop
oils.
STATISTICS.
Figures havea language of their own,
often more powerful than words. And
when we state that in New York, there
resides about four hundred and fifty
men who earn their livelihood solely
by decoying fools to the faro, some con
ception can be had of the extent to
which this fearful profession of ropers-
in is carried. In addition to the regu-
lar members OF the profession, there
are large numbers of outsiders, who,
though not dependent wholly on rOp-
ing in, yet turn an honest (?)
penny by It's means occasionally.
This better class will ex-
coed, so far as known, six hun
dred; while a regular gambler, or pro-
prietor of a game, will not hesitate
himself to play the part of his own
agent when opportunity offers or pecu-
mary necessity impels. On the aver
age, the ropers-in of the metropolis
earn about $50 per week each, or, to
speak accurately. about $1,000 per an
mum. Some weeks q professional may
clear many hundreds of dollars, again
for weeks ne may receive no commits
sions whatever; but, computing the
losses and gains of the seasons, his
yearly profits may be estimated a. the
figures just given.
Taking these as n basis, it is calcula-
ted that about $4,000, or nearly
three-quarters of million dollars per
aunum (S2, LOCO per diem) passes into the
pockets of these rOpers-iD, merely as
their commissions on the losses of their
victims, which must amount, on the
average, to about three times these
figures, or over 50, 10000 per annum
unfairly lost at play through the instru-
mentality of these agents. These fig
ures are alike startling and suggestive.