New-York tribune., 1867-07-26
CONEY ISLAND.

AND OTHER sHARPERs-THElt l'J. MOpE ~ Of
FLEHCING THE UNWAiY-THE fOLiNN 0'AN
A"yED.
L. is probably safe to suppose thaC INC MA
istv Of those who so to Coney Island on pleasure eAc
sops get what they seek viz fresh roll IN the SURF
clamnner and plenty Of good braeng sea arr put there
are AT the same time quite number who get wen heeeeu
nv some one or another Of the sharpers VINO are ever ID
wait for the unwarY Owing TO its close proximity 10
Nev-York Coney Island is probably lnesIeo WIN WIN ui
beriggers petty gapT, % If ouP seaside resorts Those
who frequent its shores arc on aSSo,b % " ~, ot ~
d class than are TO be met with
at Long Branch ana othcr great watering places, -
To me tpmu tiOn which attracts the holiday mer-
or mechanic 10 the sandy shores WheCOn the ocean
breaks so beautifully, IN regular continuous swell brn5s
ior ond tine Ingenious individual who strikes for for
tune and the states Prison through inc modum OF
necnniosity; the distribution of wealth on the one hand
and the ganering on the other Inc same wave @ ias
d iShe sfncl i'm the sand before ldm and broad
Umbrella over his shoulder and head. bandy offers TO
bg YOU $40 $40 that you can't turn the lace CaId from
tb bree which he CA st upon the deaablo before him.
This class OF slyindcr have always been rather numer
os at Coney Island, but they have become pecnliaf
which they practice their frauds upon the unwy Let
us them at their work for lew minutes INC poat
has inst landed and long train OF passengers OF both
sexes and all ages streaming across the sandy meek
Hotel and nrocceds TO the shore Numbers of bathers
along the beach for the breeze is wonderfully fresh and
pleasant and the soft wash OF the pillows on the strand IL
i'm itself musical bath in the land Of dreams.
You are first interrupted IN your walk Dy the appear
ance of gentleman who gives every Indication OF being
the sea and his face TO the saudns MS heau Des sSI
frred from the hot sunshine by broad umbrella the
bandle of which Is supported by his right shoulder and
arm In front OF him stands httc dealtOped ,aple,
about two feet square, the single shaI1tpointed reg
of which is planted firmly into the sand The gentle
man" has usually something oI the aPPeaHhcS VI G tnG
returned Californian" with sl0uehed Dack nat anu
b1soL ogk tIONSprS
cut He has number Of $40 glcenDacks tMlNcu rOub
one of the fingers of his left hand, and he Is slowly, and
in the world or the three cards is face-card
AVID the two others arc not. The game consists in
the dealer throwing them in different positions upon me
table backs up and betting that you cannot turn up the
face-card You condemn the pursuit but are araWn az
most ressuby to sec what is going on III loohs so ey
Won saw il slide from the dealers hand upon the table
But OF course IL You bet IL VIII be upon the wrong Cau
for ibe returned california gentlemen is not standing
there in the hot sun all day to lose money but to make IT,
re1tlemcn Usually play the unsophisticated rustic with
eonsIdcrnbIe w6rs OF mmicry The suayity OF the glib
tOngued dealer soon attracts quite crowd. -,
facecarl Tor little matter Of sOi Don't consider that
am pressing you am only here for your amusement
Yonr money is Just free the water that rms III the
sen al your feet Here the cards you see their faces
plainly and YOU see how slowly cast Them down You
dnn 1n IL nm and vii make it so II you prefer No,
thank yOu don't take s. bets WOud hhc 10 opto YOU
If could: but my risks very great ana IN honest
man must make living somehow. Now gentle
men, WHO win uqdcrtakc 10 turn the winning card Tor
a little matter Of S10i'
Every nducement is put forth TO excite bet. Some
times The winning card while IN the dealers hahas ~
MAINLY distinguished from the others by large grease
spot on tine back by corner being torn on You see
how IL is marked and you that - % the light card nut
as soon as they are all upon tho table, II you bet on IT,
Won viii cer iuly losc for the meantime another card
similarly marked has been substituted ~ me ueaie =
scigt0 hand. and youT piOus atcmpt to cheat ut Is
nothing else the gablers rewarded by your beng neat
The bvsaDdcrs are almost always hcftatng but when
they are unusually backward about coming forward the
secret partners of deal begin TO hurry mp business ~
their peculiar style FOr instance, here D. quite crowd
around our friend O the returned Californian appearance
That old gentleman the blue flannel blouse aud heavy
fobchain has been watching the three cards open
mouhed Tor time. Every time they are thrown ho
Is perfectly certain that he knows the winning picture
but he Is opposed TO gambling " on pIl.'tl anu '..
fore hangs re. Tine blandIshmcnts OF tho dealer have
been ayished upon him for some imc IN Nan Wfn 'u.
denly simple minded, ldlohclo9hihg y"uth' "ho ha'
been Watching the cards earnestly Tor some moments
bursts the side OF the old gcntcuiD saying ~
going 10 do It, by Jlngo know I've sot,ed the tAIt
and IN win watch mc This last is spoken 10 thc old
gentleman, with confidential elbow nudge M tho rlDs
Tho young man bets on the wrong eaIa, an ana turns turns
away with well simulated gasp OF disappointed aE9ny
icaly what IN the Of conscenco did you bet on
nal card fort You had sure hns on tho card With the
81 Thought had the right one, >" murnurs the youth ia
blubbcrng way 4" but suppose yo" bet ola the ea Win
Thlsis too much FOR the old gentleman
"By Joyc! WILL" says he.
lie does so. and losing his money looks eAhspeiatcd'
I'm fix him this time" whispers the simple Young man
his head away"
Strange rs may appear Just ~ this moment the dealer
does turn his head away The simple young man slips MP
To the table softly, reveals tho aCecard To cVcIN bWN
marks it by unng mp corner replaces H. uud th'
resumes his place beside the respectable old gcur.
with the chuekling whisper, We've got hln thi' i"
and no mistake
Gone gentlemen" resumes the apparently uncOn.
sciOus gambler, abstraecdly continuing ms d,a VINO II
go the small matter OF $40 on the winning cardF'
=" / bet slO Hs card - CNClanis the simple young
man. enthusiastically cappng his fist upon the paste
board lie has Just marked.
The respectable old gentleman Slowly draws out hs
huge morocco wallet
q" will 90 one hundred dollars" says he, on the same
card; that Is, II You bet that high"
" Certainly, We bet as high as you please
The card Is turned up and OF proves TO be the
wrong one The respectable old gentleman resumes his
wallet aud staggers muiely out OF the crowd with mis-
tristful glare at the slmle idiOclOOkng young man,
whom, ,hc for the first time begins 10 suspect very
reasonably, as one OF the gamblers cOnfedefates.
Quite number OF these monte players, together with
tmblc.rggers confidence men, and their cODcomitant
gangs OF backlegs thieves and pckpOckets be
the COney Island beach In hne weather, aud their
bOdness has increased rapidly that even the policemen
measure Overawed. Yesterday afternoon con-
stand and take the cards away from the dealer IN order
20 the pockets OF the unsOphticatcd but his
thOry resisted and, being entirely alone, and sur
rounded by mob OF eursng, threatening backlegs ho
compelled to desis These petty gamScrs, or sharp
ers naturally belong 20 tho class OF Tuans who In
the Jam about the steamboat landings often insult and
assault passengers 10 create the excitement which affords
them an opportunity for indiscrminate plunder.
II is certainly due not only to the comfort OF the public
but TO the interest OF the hOtekeepofs the island aud
the propretOs OF steamboats, and railway lines conveying
passengers thereto 10 have the nuisance abated Ut the
earliest day
RELIGIOUS.