Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-12-20


The same temptation which attracts the
holiday merchant or mechanic to the sandy
shores whereon the ocean breaks SO beau
tifully, ip regular, continuous SWELL brings
the confidence man, the gentleman with
his 'little JOKER and the ingenious indi-
vidual who strikes for fortune and the
State prison, through the medium Of
siight-of-hand manipulation. 1t is merely
question Of pecuniosity the distribution
OF wealth on on the one hand, and the
gathering it on the other. The same wave
that FLASHES so merrily among the group
OF innocent bathers, murmurs at the feet of
the gentlemen, who, with his one legged Ia
bic stuck in the sand before him and
broad umbrella over his shoulder and head,
blandly offers to bet you $40 or $50 that
you cannot turn the face card from the
three which he throws upon the little deal.
table before him.
This class of swndlers have ALWAYS
been rather numerous at Coney Island,
bat they have become peculiarly noticea-
BILE this summer from the excessive bold.
ness with which they practice their frauds
upon the unwary. Let us see them at
their work for few minutes. The boat
has just landed, and long train of pas
sengers, of both sexes and all ages, are
streaming across the sandy neck Of land,
over tho plank walk which passes the Pa
vilion Hotel, and proceeds to the shore
Numbers of bathers are already in the
waves, and throngs are also sirollng along
the beach, for the breeze is wonderfully
fresh and pleasant, and the soft wash of
the pillows on the strand is in itself mu-
steal bath in the land Of dreams.
You are first interrupted in your walk
by the appearance Of a gentleman, who
gives every indication of being engaged in
some business. He stands with his back
to the sea and his face to the sandhills,
his head being sheltered from the hot sun
shine by broad umbrella, the handle of
which is supported by his right shoulder
and arm. In front of him stands little
deal top table, about two feet square, the
single, sharp pointed leg of which is
planted firmly into the sand. The gen.
tleman has usually something of the APP
pearance of the returned Californian, with
slouched black hat, and black frock coat,
vest and pants of the free-and-easy cut.
He has number of $40 greenbacks
twined around one of the fngersof his
left hand, and he is slowly, and with APP
parent carelessness, dealing what is called
Three-card Monte" This is one of the
simplest games in the world. Of the three
cards one is face-card, and the two 9TH
ers are not. The game consists in the
dealers throwing them in different posi-
tons on the table, backs up, and betting
that you cannot turn up the face-card.--
You condemn the pursuit, but are drawn
almost irresistibiy to see what is going on.
1t looks SO easy to determine the face-card
for you almost swear that you saw it slide
from the dealers hand upon the table
But, Of course, if you bet, it will be on the
wrong card, for the returned Californian
gentleman is not standing there in the hot
sun all day to lose money, but to make it.
He generally has several pimps around
him, and these gentlemen usually play the
unsophisticated rustic with considerable
powers Of mimicry. The suavity Of the
glib-tongued dealer soon attracts crowd.
Come, gentlemen, and see il any of
you can turn the face-card, for little
matter Of SO. Don't consider that am
pressing you. am only here for your
amusement. Your money is just as free
as the water that runs in the sea at your
Z feet. Here are the cards; yon see their
faces plainly, and you see how slowly l
cast them down. You think you know
which is the face-card. bet you $40
you don't turn it up, and will make it 500
if You prefer. No, thank you, don't
take ID DttS WOutu llkc W UuISc you ~
could but my own risk is very great,
and an honest man must make living
somehow. Now, gentlemen, who will I'M
derfake to turn the winning card for lit
tie matter Of $10?"
Every inducement is put forth to excite
bet. Sometimes the swimming card,
while in the dealers hand, is plainly dis
tinguished from the others by large
grease spo, on the back, or by one corner
being torn of. You see how it is marked
and you see that il is the right card, bu
As soon as they are all upon the table, j
you bet on il. you will certainly lose; TO
in the meantime another card, similarl,
marked, has been substituted by the deal
er's sleight-of-hand,a and your pious attemp
to cheat Git is nothing else) is rewarde'