The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-07-14
THE OLDEN TIMES.
Early ReeolIeciions-COntinued.
Number I8.

seemed to be possessed by the evil one I
to End pleasure in training the country
boys" who came to town for the pur-
pose NJ learning trades. Many were the
occasions that the simplicity Of their |
rural trimming was taken advantage Of to |
im pose upon them come trick designed |
to humble them; but il rarely failed to
sharpen mp and naturafize them in the
way Of self protection, and they in
turn would become eager to train others.
Among leaders in these sports ] may
mention George Beeman, X. u. Cassel,
8. II. McAfee, Jonathan w. Renm, and
that class. The way it was done was
this: For instance, hoy came from the
country to learn the shoe-making bnsi-
ness, and some day while innocently
working e"Sv on the bench, taking his
first lessons in the art Of St Cri-pin, two
Of the "trainers" would step into the shop
ostensibly to get sope work done. They
would aeat themselves near their victim,
and talk seemingly very confidehtially,
and their conversation would be some
thing like this:
"Hadnt we a glorious time last
night3"
"Best time ever had in my life. ]
never had 40 good breakfast as | had
this morning."
"Yes, and the sales we made Of the
balance, brought us a cool twenty dol
lar bill apiece"
"Jusi RI, and tell you we must keep
this thing up every night, for there is
no better way Of living we'll and making
money rapidly. As long as we can'6nd
young men willing to aid Us, we can
make IL one Of the most profitable pur-
suits In the country"
BY this time, the innocent and unsus-
pecting yonng man wod!i perhaps quit
his work and listen attentively ana with
an increasing degree OF interest. But
the conspirators would continue:
"When shall We go out again and Try
our luck2"
Tonight, Of course, by all means.
II won't do to lose money by putting this
thing oH."
Agreed, we'll go out to night, and !
have no doubt we shall catch thousands
os them, and find n ready cash sale to-
morrow for all we can secure, and our
pockets will jingle with the precious
stuff"
BY this time, perhaps, the intended
victims curiosity would be excited
enough TO put in a word and ask what
il was that was 30 profitable. They
would then hesitatingly break the thing
to him, how they had been out the night
before and caught 80 many bushels OF
"Eipetretehers," mythical bird, but il
answered all the ends Of a real one and
how they had Aold 40 many and made
so much, besides having retained large
number for their own Use. II the one
for whom the conversation was intended
from any modesty failed to intrude him
self into the conversation, the "trainers'
would confdentially ask his aid, and
they, from their apparent sincere repre-.
sentations seldom failed to get it. To
prepare him all the better for the past
he was to act, two or three others in the
plot would drop in about this time and
relate the wonderful success they had ir
the same business. Before dusk, every
young man in the town was made &C
quainted with the success. Having Sc
cured the cooperation Of their victim
by thus working upon his credulity, they
would explain to him how the thinI
was done; that just outside Of tow
there were countless thousands Of thes'
little creatures roosting in the fields
but were rarely ever seen in the da,
time; that the night season was the onl,
time they could be approached; that the,
were then very yactable and could b,
driven in any direction one had minc
to. That the proper way however, Il
capture them would be for one to squa
down between two rows Of corn, o. be
tween two parallel logs, or by being sta
toned ut some crack of the fence, ant
holding bag while the others would q
back into the fields or woods and driv
the elpctretehers in; that being disturbed
they would voluntarily rush into tn
bag (Which the holder was to keep il
proper position) in order to find secur
hiding place, and when the bag was ful
the mouth could be closed, and thus
rich gathering be secured.
II il needless to say that the holdin
of the bag always fell to the lot G
greeney, while the tricksters, instead q
going after the game, would slip bac
to town to laugh and make merry owe
their success.
] recollect in the year 1886, youn
fellow by the name Of Elisha Barnes st
in with old John Will, to learn tn
shoe-making business. He was abou
~ green as it was lawful for him to b.
and the boys soon got hold Of him. Jir
Will, son Of the old man, naturall
wild and reckless, by the proper al
from outside parties, got the trick worl
cd up on "LiSha," as they called hin
They took him out into the wood lot b.
hind the old Academy. and statione
him at the fence on the west side astrid
Of large keg that had been used a.
receptacle for coal. The poor fellow r,
mained out in the cold till late at nigh
but some time towards morning foun
his way back TO town feeling very muc
disappointed. Next morning the bo,
excused themselves by representing tn,
IL was poor night for "elpetretchers
that they failed to lind .ny and wei
compelled to return home; but III,
thought the next night would be bette
SO they started again. Barnes shoulde
ing his coal keg, nearly as large az ba
rel, and of they started on a secor
trial. The weather in meantime ha
become intensely cold, bnt Barnes @,