New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1882-05-24
Seeing the Giftolgia.
The Experience Of the Visitor and the showznaa
In . Chatham Street Museum

''Here are the dissolving views" said
the Snowman, with bland bow, as he
met the visitor just inside the door of the
museum, Chatham street, New York,
and guided him to a row of peep-holes.
A glance through a had lens at picture
which needed no distortion to make its
lines. wildly improbable, satisfied all
curiosity as to that branch of the ex-
hihition. The visitor started for the fur
Their end of the long, dingy hall, where
= gibbering idiotwas labeled 1.-The What
is lt?' 3OO-poupd fat woman was try.
ing to look like 600 by sitting far for
ward in stuffed chair, some young al
ligators were crawling in cage, pref
ty young woman had her hair stuck out
al ways straight, and young fellow
was performing sleight-o tricks
before an assembly Of seventeen per-
( ''Step this way" said the Snowman.
taking the visitor by the arm, ''and see
the Giftolgia.'' ui.
1.-THE what?''
''The Giftolgia, sir. This way, if you
please"
The visitor let himself be led into a
small room, which had been partitioned
of in q corner. There was glass case
on counter, holding a lot of brass
jewelry, several watches, some opera
glasses, revolvers and other articles,
each numbered. The Snowman stepped
behind the counter, and fellow who
looked like countryman entered, clos
ing the door behind him. The Giftolgia>
was the gift envelope swindle, and it was
worked in the familiar old way. The
rascal behind the case put out box of
envelopes, which he said contained
numbers corresponding with those on
the articles in the case, and offered a
choice for half dollar. Then he let
the visitor draw once as an expert
ment, and the prize proved to be
watch. Next the confederate rascal, in
the guise Of q countryman, bought
chance and requested the visitor to draw
for him. The prize was an opera glass,
which. after some haggling, was bought
back for "a.
BY heavens, sir" said the Snowman
to the visitor, this must be your lucky
Saturday. Try it for yourself"
mo"
20, yes. It's only half q dollar"
The visitor laid down the coin, and
the Snowman profered the box of en-
velopes.
mo, I won't draw said the visitor.
Give given you that half dollar because
/ think I've had the worth of it. sup
pose I've seen this game worked hum
dred times. Now, of course these en-
velopes contain only the numbers call
ing for worthless prizes. What has
heretofore puzzled me was how you
managed to substitute the watch or OBJ
era glass card when ] drew for fun, or
for your stool pigeon. To know that Is
worth half dollar"
The Snowman was silent. The visitor
reached over the glass case, and lifted an
envelope from . tiny hook, which held
it fat against the back of the drop door.
The trick had been to deftly and quick
y slide the drawn envelope behind the
case, and unlock one of those contain.
ing the ticket for q valuable prize; and
this was done 50 neatly by the show
man that it hardly seemed that the first
envelope had been out of sight at all.
The Snowman pocketed the coin, but
said nothing. He seemed dazed. The
visitor left him with his Giftolgia. -NAs
York San.