The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-11-12
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.

Bunko-Steerlng as a Fine Art-How They
Manufacture Drunkards In New York;
A Rich Merchant Found Among the Pau
per Lunatics-A New Political Deal-The
End OF an Italian Brigand-New Stocks,
Etc.
New YORK, November S, 1881.
EDITOR CHIEF:
With telographs and telephones and
dentaphones and audiphones, and various
other means Of hearing the news-not to
montion nowspapers-it would seem that
All ordinary man with brains enough to
put in tho head Of a walking-stick
might keep clear Of tho pitfalls that be-
set tho traveller in Now York. It is a
very common error to suppose that only
fools and flats are caught, and, singular
as it may seem, the fools and flats gener-
ally escape, and the smart fellows and
knowing ones get caught. Bunko-steer-
ing is an art that can only be successfully
practiced in y large city. In the country
every man is supposed to know some
thing about his neighbors, and, as gen.
cral thing, he knows much moro about
their business than he does about his own.
In q city it is different; . man may live
next door to another for years aud hardly
know his name. Ihave been living next
door to q person for three years, and
Ii ave never exchanged q word with him,
and don't expect to for three years to
come. There are thousands of visitors
coming and going every day. A man
feels more lonesome III u large city than
he would in the midst Of wilderness.
He walks up Broadway, along the Fifth
Avenue, and through the Park, and he
peers into the thousands of faces that
pass him, but meets no sign of recogni-
ton; he secs no one that he has ever
seen before, and he grows homesick and
lonesome, and wishes himself back in
Iowa or Minnesota. This is the bunko-
steerer's golden opportunity. You may
ask how lie knows his victim. Why, it's
his business-I.might say his profession,
and he is not ofton in the wrong. There
| arc two distinct classes of bunko-nlen !;
ono morely sets upon tho game, and the
other brings it down. Don't picture to
yourself . vulgar thief, with brass
breastpin, red necktio, q yellow vest,
a green coat, drab CATERS, and bogus
watch-chain. Nothing Of the sort! The
latest edition of bnnko-steerer is as fine
d gentleman as YOU would meet in days
! walk. Brooks makes his clothes, Knoa
his hats, Benkert his boots; his manners
arc smooth, subdued and polished he
speaks French like native Of Paris, and
can give you an apt quotation from Hor-
acc or Juvenal whenever the occasion
demands it. You might easily take him
for divinity student or a first-olass
bankers clerk; he knows all about art
and artists, and can give you all accurate
description Of the latest Millias and lie
carries in his pocket :. list of the triumphs
| of. the last salon, with the names Of oyery
artist of note. Such fine gentlemen, OF
course, mover play at small game; it
would not pay them. Consequently,
they generally contriye to trap rich men ;
aud their transactions are not carried on
in low thieves dens, but in finely fur
nished mansions; aud we'll they may lie,
for sometimes they succeed in getting
about five or ten thousand dollars in a
single day.
One day last week a distinguished
judge from Pennsylvania was walking
down Broadway, when he was approached
by a nice young man who grasped bis
hand warmly, saying, How are you,
Judge:" "You have the advantage OF
me,' said the Judge, drawing back.
"1sn't this Judge Brown:" ono, sir
my name is Sharswood." "Of," said
the young man. Philadelphia" replied
the judge. Excuse me, Judge!' said
the nice young man, ~ thought you
were my fathers uncle, Judge Brown, of
Peoria, Illinois" "No harm done,' said
the Judge; and tho nice young man
pressed his hand warmly, and said
"Good day" The judge had scarcely
got block when another nice young
mana good deal nicer than the first
rushed up, and scizing his hand, said
"Judgo Sharswood, how do you DOT
The Judge looked inquiringly at him
saying, "1 can't recall your face" 81
suppose not" said the nice young man
81 am +. A. Drexel, Jr. I've been away
several years, enjoying myself and study
ing art-by the way! brought over the
grand prize of tho last salon; Belmont
and Vanderbilt tried to get it from me
but outbil them both, and pve got il
here. Come and see it, Judge; l know
you are lover Of art, and there is no
thing like it in America" The jndge
felt hattered at being considered y judge
of art, and he thought he would like t.
SEQ the picture; besides, the Drexel:
were big nobs in Philadelphia, and wou!e
be valuable friends to him in case III
should wantoany time to cash a note
They arrived in due time in front Of a,
elegant brown stone mansion, where Mr
Drexel rung the bell; the door wa!
opened by gentlemanly man, and Mr.
Draxel intrrlucel himself and said III
had come to see his picture. Uufortu
nately the gentleman had just sent it tt