The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-07-30
HOT SPRINGS.
A Peculiar Law Against Drumming is
IN Force and Works an
Injustice.


people Of Hot Springs considerable trouble
and working injustice. 1t aims TO suppress
all kinds Of drumming" or soliciting for
any kind Of business and any person or per-
sons detected in the act are prosecuted to the
fullest extent Of the law. II this legislation
was properly carried out it might perhaps be
benefit to the city, as drummers are generally
a necessary nuisance, but as il is at present
enforced, it is huge fraud, and ought to be
abolished.
Let me explain how this law affected
stranger few days since. Whether the case
was planned TO entrap the stranger or an acct
dental injustice | leave the reader to deter
mine.
This visitor, who was quite an old man,
was accosted one day on the street by a
stranger who asked to be directed to some
good physician, and TO be recon mended to a
good bath house. The old man was entirely
ignorant Of the existence Of the drumming
law, and even II he had been acquainted with
it, it is questionable il he could have avoided
the difficulty. The old man recommended
the stranger to the same physician who was
treating him, from mere friendship to the
physician, or perhaps because he knew Of no
other thathe could at that time recommend. As
regards the bath house, he led the stranger a
short distance, calling his attention to the
many springs along the side Of the creek, and
explaining as best he could their different
properties. Arriving at one bath house he
used, the old man stopped and said that was
very good place. The stranger
thanked him, departed, and the old man
went 10 his hotel. lie had. not gone very far,
however, before he was tapped on the should
err by an officer and informed that he was
wanted at headquarters. The old man was
Immediately taken to the Police court, won
dering all the way what crime he could have
been guilty Of. On arriving at the station he
was informed that he stood charged with vio-
luting the drumming law At the trial the
old man proved clearly by the physician and
others that he was innocent OF drumming, but
the evidence Of the stranger, whom he tried
to befriend, proved him guilty in the eyes of
the law, and he was fined $2S. He is to-day
the most ignorant man you ever met. He
does not know thing, not even the name of
the hotel where he is staying.
As a result of this law a stranger can gain
but very little information. Citizens and Wis
itors are alike afraid TO open their mouths
for fear their tongues may get them into
trouble.
The unsuspecting visitor will soon regret
his visit 10 Hot Springs il he should chance
to fall into the hands Of the professional
steerer. Therefore l would suggest to any
one anticipating visit to the Springs to fully
post themselves before they arrive here. In
doing this they cannot be too careful. For
instance, at Malvern, which is distance of
IS miles from Hot Springs, reached by
Diamond Joe's narrow gauge road, and at
other places there are stationed
picked steerers who are operating
in tine interests of questionable hotels
and boarding houses at Hot Springs. The
veteran is here met by gentee looking man,
who by his impressive and seductive way soon
engages in conversation and is directed by this
newly discovered friend 10 the place to pro-
cure his ticket and to first class house that he
1.-THE steerer) stopped at, when he was at Hot
Springs, and where he received perfect salts
faction, and by the way he tells the victim
while he was going there he would confer on
him (the steerer)-a never to-be-forgotten
favor-by delivering this letter to my sister,
cousin or aunt, as the case may be, at the said
house, giving some plausible excuse for not
mailing it. The object of this letter scheme is
clear. After promising to deliver this letter he
is obliged to 60 to this particular house. There
he is expected to secure board, paying for
the same week or two, or more, invariably
in advance. In this way he is trapped and he
soon learns that he must either put up with
what he can get or lose his money. Often the
victims resort to the latter for fear of some
other dastardly trick. He then keeps quiet
because ii it were known how he was taken in
after his many boastings at home, when he
proudly says no danger OF any one selling
me, ETC., ETC., it would make him the laugh
ing stock of his people. Therefore these
people are Tree to carry on their nefarious
trade with impunity.
1t is the old story of the spider and the fly,
except that the victim occasionally enters the
trap without receiving an invitation. To those
whu are obliged by circumstances to visit the
| Springs, and to pleasure seekers, would
| say be on your guard before Won come and