The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-03-03
the law has passed, when they reassemble
and continue business as before.
REcRossING THE ROAD

and continue business as before.
REcRossING THE ROAD
we stand in front Of what seems depot for
old muskets, bayonets, swords, and other ar
ticles associated with military life. Here,
too, can be purchased serviceable harness for
mere trife, as well as shot pouches, car
fridge bags, wallets, powder TASKS, etc. In
the center of the store are two small brass
cannon, said to have belonged to the French
Emperor Louis XIV.
Proceeding little further we came to
noisy group In the center of the roadway
packed SO closely together that it is almost
impossible to see what is going on inside.
We manage at last to edge our way in, and
find that IL is small roulette table. Afold-
ing board with oilcloth cover is mounted on
tripod stand; a circle has been drawn on
the cloth and is divided into about five equal
sections, each painted different color; in
the center is a small hole which receives the
pivot of a pointed iron indicator, which Is
set spinning around; pence are deposited on
any of the colors, and the section over which
the indicator stops is the winning one. The
owners of the coins resting thereon receiving
prize Of about six times the value of the
money speculated. The unsuccessful coins
are swept off into the owners capacious
pocket. This is repeated time after time,
the proprietor of the affair appropriating
most Of the plunder. The anxious looks of
the lads who are hazarding their few pence
tell very plainly that they can i'll afford to
lose even such triiing sums, and they are al
most certain to lose if they persist in trying
their luck. All at once we hear the old ex-
clamation of "heads |" and the table Is fold
ed up and the game suspended until the
stalwart policeman has disappeared, when
play is resumed as eagerly as before. We
leave them to their folly and continue our OBJ
servations. Here we have quite an array of
coffee stalls, and as dinner-time is approach
ing many of the passers-by halt for minute
or two to refresh the inner man; a great
many others are doing likewise at a promi-
nent bar house at the opposite corner which
has just opened its doors, the law compel
ling them to close for a greater part of the
Sunday. We are now In
PETTIcoAT LANE PROPER,
although the name is applied to the whole
district when referring to the scenes we have
been witnessing. II is narrow, dirty thor
oughfare, with dingy courts and alleys
branching off to right and left. The road
way is completely blocked with stalls and
barrows, leaving only narrow footway on
each side for the crowds TO pass to and fro.
We make our way through with difficulty,
and have to 60 with the tide, as there is no
chance of turning back. We see here such
a miscellaneous assortment of goods that
one scarcely knows how to enumerate them:
piles of mechanics tools, musical instru-
ments, framed pictures, fancy vases, second
hand books, heaps of renovated umbrellas,
right is a venerable old patriarch with skull
cap, presiding over pair of jewelers. scales
and weighing out his plated articles as care
fully as If they were of the purest gold. A
little further on is a stall devoted to cheap
photos of actresses and other celebrities, GO
ing as near the bounds of indecency as they
possibly can without being rendered liable to
action at law. The proprietor is also dis.
posing Of books which have been suppressed
by Government OH account of their infamous
teachings, but this has TO be done In secret
manner, as the police are continually passing
| to and fro. Here is long table covered with
| piles of cheap drapery, which is being rapid
ly disposed of by several foulmouthed He
brews, who are loud i'm their ribaldry and
profanity. We are next met by string OF
foreign sailors who have just come up from
the docks; tall, dusky individuals, with tur-
bans round their heads and gay-colored scarfs
protecting their throats. They are said to
be Malays and are spoken of as dangerous
opponents If interfered with, as they have an
awkward habit of using the knife. We have
also met John Chlnaman with his fiat fea-
lures and dull, vacant look. He passes
steadily on without needing the chaif which
is levelled at him and is soon lost in the
crowd.
THREE CARD MONTE.