New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-11
DESCRIPTION BY A TEXAN
Operations OF Confidence Men

scribes - little of life in New Orleans. w,
make this extract from his letter Of til,
third instant:
The most prominent and humiiatiu- o
all the changes notice, and | may add III,
most annoying, is the persistencv of th'
confidence fraternity" one meets here now
There may have been some here always; /
SO | never found it out, and they certanI,
were not so numerous or so openly Fcrsls
tent IN their calling rs at the present time
Is there no law applicable! Texans seem t
be selected az their especial friends, why
don't know; certainly not because they be
long more especially to the family Of suck
ers," or that "thcy have not travelled o.
are not reasonably posted upon the ordinaI,
affairs OF human life. Is il because they
have more money, or are more ready to see
the sights"t than their fellow sinners OF Other
States! l suppose there is some reason
for it.
have ''hal it tried on NE four different
times, and am getting cross ABOUT It, 1T Is
not fatterinH to be considered a '!tat -ti
be told by the manner in which stranger
approaches you that you are sucker,
and fit subject to be swndlc".
| have had some amusement out OF Il,
however-have seen the elephant; have
been treated sundry times 10 sarsaparlla,
and have neither bet nor paid ont !, cent in
L
fooled they were in my case to the con-
diton Of my funds, has also afforded me
amusing compensation for the modification
of being taken as a good subject for expert
ments in their line. 1t occurs to me il they
had known 1.-The elephant had stamped on
to my pocket book" they would not have
been nearly So tricndly-certainly would
not have wasted so much precious time.
One gentleman from the country took
kindly interest in the locality where my
washing is done. He had been at houston
thriving place, Improving now, etc. lie
was here seeking business; had not found
any; had rouGht Il few lottery tickets while
waiting, but had not drawn anything Yet:
luck was against him SO Tar; must turn. he
thought, as he had seen several persons
draw large amounts. 'The lottery was
presided over by General Hood He lmv
friend) mad Just hough: one more ticket:
would 90 over to see the drawing, JUST
then to take place. He would introduce
me to the general: and if successful III
getting prize, and he thought the chances
were in his favor now. various AMI sundry
things were to be done. vastly agreeable.
doubtless. to an old gray hcadc'. sinner like
myself. The lottery certainly was not
protitcd by that effort. and whether my
friend won his prize. and il .nj"yin. the
many pleasures IN which l was te Share 50
prominently, l dor know. |. however. see
him every day. He seems to be still waiting
for business. but for some reason. has lost
all his friendly interest in me. no: even
seeming to recollect me any more.
Next evening another and much better
looking man. with i nose much smaller and
not SO blue, with curly hair and very
sprigh,ly. took Il seat beside me in one OF
the beautiful places in st. Charles street :ol
q decent man TO visit. where they sing
songs. ETC. drink sarsaparlla, etc. served by
pretty girls. etc. where Il man will 2" once
perhaps and be satisfied with that once.
seeing Il Specimen OF humanity no; congre-
gated probably anywhere else. He. also.
was nearly broke waitin. for business; was
going 10 the ball that nigh: and Was on: for
fun; wanted to call ut the club first and
try his hand once more II fare; had los,
every time yet: would 90 and look and
see that he WASN'T chea:ed' Would 1
smile, We would smile at the
club. We did. This ,lUl,. as it is called. is
directly opposite the st. Charles Hotel, on
stairs my friend had :. bad cold and
coughed. He rung the bell at the door, and
Il rapid moving of chairs and feet was Yer;
distinctly heard When we got ill., how
ever. some half dozen men. all that were
III the room, were quietly sitting AZ the
table, and playing as il Il had been going
on for hours; the dealer OF faro being 80
his coat. My friend soon won thirty dol
Jars. His lucf, had turned. Would bet "a
small amount with him as partner. He
was glad | was there to See the tlnw
fairly done, as he had always lost before.
On the same floor was an agency OF the
Havana Lottcry-at least < said on the
door. We went in to see. There We're dice
TO throw, and we lost or won to the number
thrown. NY friend won and lost "a little.
and then wanted l should throw for him.
which did. In the meantime a man came
in in great haste with 4 card for General
Hood; was particularly disappointed that
the general was out; would wait a littc
would bet while waiting, or rather take
ticket. Both bet Oh my throw. and Won
thirty dollars each. They We're 80 delighted:
/ must take one of their tickets and bet il:
Each wanted to give lne one. but preferred
to throw for them, and finally had 70 be
very positive | would not accept Il ticket.
before they gave it up. They went o,
with the game. however. till they lost all
and then. Would | loan ten dollars -
Nv young friend could not 90 to the
al unless he retrieved some OF Ii,
loss. The proprietor did not persuade any
one to invest; it must be perfectly volun-
tary. He had sent an agent 70 Houston,
and when l returned there he wanted me
to bear testimony TO his way OF doing bust
ness. OF course would. Please consider
that 1 hereby comply with that request.
How he found ont that was from Houston
| don't know; | certainly did not te!l him.
Does a residence in Houston awhile civ. a
man some distinctive feature by which he is
known all the world over or il it onlv in
lottery Offices 1t makes one It little sad to
Lose such dear tr!eAds. THIS last one don't
seem to know me new more than if W. lad
never met before.
This ''roping in is really a most serious
evil here. One Texan. since have been
here, lost i'll one evening sixteen hundred
dollars at the club" and had t" return.
without doing the business Tor which lie
came. But enough OF this.
Subscription to the National Loan.
We find the following dispatch in the
Memphis Sun:
WASHINGTON, February 1.-The Treasury
Department has given public notice that
books will be opened on the sixth of March
next, id this country and in Europe, for sub
scriptlon to the national loan. under an act
approved July Il, 1870. entitled an ac: to
authorize the referring Of the national debt,
and the act III amendment thereof, approved
January 20. 1871. The places at which sub !
scriptionS may be made. aEd the names of !
authors and agents OF the government, will !
be announced hereafter. The posted loan !
comprises these classes OF bonds named: |
First-Bonds to the amount of 500. 900 900, |
payable in coin. at the Treasury OF the Uni
led States, ten years from date OF their is !
she, bearing interest. payable quarterly in !
coin, at the rate OF five per cent per annu1r
Second-lionds TO the amount OF $500, 0OD.-
900, payable III coin. at the p!casul" OF the
I nltcd States. fifteen years from the date Of |
heir issue, bearing interest ,aya.,In Guar-