Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-21
THE SMGesasLI;R DODGE.
Frank Talk by One Who Makes a Liv-
ing by it.

Frank Talk by One Who Makes a Liv-
ing by it.
While walking up Pallsade avenue yesterday
afternoon, says the Jersey city journal, a re-
porter observed a man ahead of him carrying a
suspicious-lOOking parcel. The man avoided
policemen, and peered into liquor saloons and
grocery stores. He paused at the corner of
Beacon avenue, looked up and down the street,
and finally turned up that thoroughfare. The
reporter followed him. The man accosted sew
eral people, and went into private house with
one man. When he emerged his bundle was
perceptibly smaller. There was a look of con-
tentment on his face as he carefully closed the
gate. From the interior of a saloon farther up
the avenue there We're sounds of reyelry
After moments hesitation .:le man opened the
door and entered the place, with the reporter
close on his heels. The man laid his parcel on
a table and called for glass of beer, inviting
the habtues OF the place to indulge with him.
They all INDUCED. While at the bar the re-
porter had an opportunity to study the stran-
ger He was moderately built man, with
light. curly chin beard, and was evidently of
Scotch extraction. His clothes were plain, of
English manufacture and cut, and looked as
though they had been recently made. He spoke
with strong Scotch accent. After drinking
his beer the man opened the parcel, which con-
tanned piece of corduroy piece OF linen, and
cheaply, saying that he had struggled them
from England and was very hard up.
One man bought an elegant looking
black shawl for ESQ. After the sale
the man treated again, and then tried
to dispose of the corduroy, but was unsuccess-
full. In a few moments most of the hangers-on
about the place left, leaving the reporter and
the smuggler alone. The latter. at the sugges-
ton OF the scribe. again imbbed, after which he
became lOquaciOus. He said in answer to i'll
nv n hnv- rr..f,
general thing don't need one "What part
of Europe did these things come frOm'' SWELL
as you amt going to buy, and appear to be a
reasonable sort Of fellow, I'll tell you. They
never saw Europe l buy 'em in New York the
same as every other peddler does. The only
difference between me and an ordinary peddler
is that buy glossy, shoddy goods. and realize
about one hundred percent more than the Others
Ny clothes are English. and bought as second
hand from an immigrant, for effect l generally
sell TO shOddy people who imagine that they are
swindling the government and saving money
l have travelled all over the United States on
this racket. and have made out We'll, particu-
larry in Virginia, Kentucky and Arkansas.
Jersey Is the best place, though. There are
more suckers in this state than in any other in
the country. and they can be swindled on nearly
anything. The police here are sharper than in
other places, but it is easy to dodge them. It
used to be that all that was necessary was to
ask 'em to take drink, but they've got over
L
the block when ] see one. made clear $3.50
in this state one day, and / didn't work hard
either. / calculate to spend couple of weeks
in this city and leave it with good stake.
When leave I'll go down through the state.
after which I'll strike out west with cargo of
goods. In seven years time I've played this
smuggling dodge with great success, support
ing myself and six children literally, and being
able to spend money right and left.'
"YOU PICKED THE PECANS on Onion Creek,
you say?" said an Austin reporter yesterday to a
young man on wagon filled with pecans
Yes. SIR he replied, that's where they came
FROM ''Many up there:" ''Plenty of them ~
.'Believe I'll try few" quzzed the reporter.
taking big handful of the pecans., ''Ill sell
you whole peck for fifty cents" said the man,
with swelling eyes ''Only want a few. Say,
do you know any news?" ''Not bit. sir;
everything is very duh up our way" ''Don't
you know anything:" ''Well, believe l did
hear some news yesterday" ''What was it?''
asked the reporter, cracking pecan. ''There
was man got eighteen buckshot in him near
where l live" ''Who shot him?" II did
''What did you shoot him for?" asked the re-
porter, aghast. 'For stealing some of my
pecans out of my wagon" said the countryman,
reaching under the seat for his shotgun. The
reporter hastily replaced the pecans in the
wagon, and after calling the cOuntryman Colo
mel" disappeared around the corner.-Teras
Siftings.
TEXAS is the healthiest country in the world