The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-03-03
FROM OVER THE SEA.


III.
PETTIcoAT LANE.
tConcluded)
LONDON, February II, 1881
As we are now passing into the struggling
crowd 1t would be well to
"BUTToN UP"
and make everything secure, else we shall
probably be favored with the attentions OF
those iight-fingered gentry who are ever on
the alert TO secure prize and are always
busiest where the crowd Is most dense. Out
side we find the crowd more numerous and
the tumult greater than that we have just
left, and have difficulty In making our way
through the throngs of men and lads who are
pushing about In all directions. There are
thousands crowding The roadways and pave
ments, and enterprising Israelites are dart
ing bither and thither, offering to supply good
clothes for nothing and attempting TO draw
attention to their large stock of goods sus-
pended In all directions. The center Of the
roadway Is occupied by temporary stands or
tables, the broad open spaces on either side
being occupied by the restless multitude.
Here we have the venders of cordial drinks,
quinine, prize boxes, toysof all descriptions,
cheap jewelry, live tortoises, and the hun
dreds of articles which can only ba included
under the term /" indescribables." An ener-
getic cheap Jack Is doing brisk trade In
cheap cutlery, which is eagerly bought up by
those around him. In side street to the
right we observe thick cluster of men and
bows intent on something which Is going on
amongst them, and make our way In with
the Others. Here Is the exponent Of the
GREAT PURSE TRICK.
He Is q big, burly fellow with bulldog
features and quick, restless eyes; In his lcf
hand is common leather purse and In BIZ
right are three shilling pieces. He throws
the coins one after the other into the oper
purse with dexterity which betrays Ions
practice, shuts 1t up with q snap, jingles thu
coin inside, and offers 1t for shilling, bu
he receives no bids. He takes the none,
again and goes through precisely the sam'
process; this Is continued several times; .
last he gets simple-looking individual Y
hold Ii for him, and banters him most un
mercifully at being afraid to speculate ate
seeing him place the money inside. ~
takes IL from him again, gives the magic jim
Gle, aud lets him feel the coins inside th
| leather. This settles the question, and To
timid one parts with his shilling readily. "
ouening the purse he discovers three hall
pence only, and is greeted with the derisis
laughter of those around, 20 be b glad 70 sc
away out Of sight and reminder Of bis folly
Fresh spectators soon arrive and the pre-
cess IL repeated with the same success. y
4 sleieht-o of.hand trick and isperformed WI
such dexterity as can easily account for y
many victims who fall into the trap. In
L operator OF course takes care 70 victimia
only those smaller and weaker than himseI
or he might stand chance Of some ratns
rough handling. But be has also made pr
vision for such contingency; he has
number of confcderates close - hsnd, ~
keep ! watch for the police and ssrve =
sort of body guard n the event of hcstil
I ties breaking out. Suddenly there Y : y
III i heads and ne party breaks Up n
4 txos and threes until itbe representative