The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-07-09
"Bunco" Among Travellers.
Phila. Ledger

Phlla. Ledger
A warning to the confding travler,
urging him not to be too explicit as to
the contents of his trunks with the bag
gage express agent on the trains, is pub
1ished by a contemporary. The article
goes so far as to state that when the
baggage transfer man asks close ques-
tions about your trunks, where they
came from and any other information
beyond the mere business of taking
down their destination, or when he ex-
hibts any curiosity beyond these neces-
sary points, you may be on your guard
lest he is going to give such lntorma-
ton to the bunco man, who Will pres
emily meet you on the street and call
you by name. 1t would hardly be
worth referring to the probabilities" or
indications" concerning the transfer
men, who are likely to be honest as any
passenger on the train, were it not for
the free tongues that many men and
women too, carry with them on jour-
ney, respecting their private affairs. 1t
would be quite as likely that the bunco
confederate would be found among the
passengers, entering into easy conver-
sation with indiscreet travellers and get
ting name, residence. business and even
the contents of trunks from their owner.
And it is just as well, since nobody
knows the disguise of "road agents
in the East, for travellers to keep Their
own counsel when anybody whether in
uniform or private garb begins to ask
impertinent questions-that IS, questions
not pertinent to the occasion. Weak
minded persons may be gratified by i'm
ploring the baggage man to take es
pecial charge of that piece OF baggage
since it is so valuable; but just as un
doubtedly this particular bit of infor
nation would not have the slightes
effect on one Of the officials addressed
! He will deliver basket trunk full o!
! soiled linen for the laundry, or "Sara
toga" that hides a small fortune il
yelvets and laces with equal impartiality
i Or if he might have shrewd guess a
! the contents of an unusually heavy box
he would be quite as likely to suppos
that it held books (that are among tn
heaviest of baggage as silverware o
, iron-bound trays for "Jewelry." Al
the same, you cannot know who is ovel
. hearing the talk over the baggage,
you do talk; so why talk at all abou
/ it?
i And, for that matter, why does hu
: man nature so constantly give itsel
away" to the first idle questioner? 70
: may have read for years in your news
4 payers how Mr.. Cool Hand and MI
> Sharpest have each in turn been accos
' ed in the street as White and Blacl
3 They have not only not answered
! these names, but each has immediatel
! volunteered and stated his own.
h seems about as natural as breathiu
' when called by some other patronymi
( to say at once, "My name is Green.
= There is little need to say that you couI
4 always outwit a game of this kind
: volunteering "Brown you mean sir
! Then you will have the pleasure, at Il
e next street corner probably to have som
i body come up and address you
y Brown. There is no compulsi0n wha
a ever to give your name to the til
stranger who speaks to you in the stree
a but as a rule you do. 1t may be tn
% the bunco man is on his travels and tn
re he will find out on the cars just VII
i. your business is and what amount
at yaluables are in your luggage, your oE
"A or belonging 20 the house you are tray
Ie ing for. Probably not one warning n
.is q dozen as to the danger OF trayellll
81 condolences would keep the way-fari
81 man or woman from such frankness.
M Among tAe number of distinguish
e. Philadelphians ~ho were induced by t
= sson of their old friead" So-and-So to
- and see a picture or book, or lotte
$ drawing, nothing is more certa
n than that every man had read beft
"a hand in his daily newspaper how su
H. tricks we're played, Consequently
~ will take numerous warnings, now Il
Is the travelling season has begun,
,ot impress it upon pleasure travellers
be the first place-that valuables are b
- left behind, and, in the second pla
~ that personal details are out Of pli
-. between accidental travelling comp
- lions. Women who are travelling ale
'de are so accustomed to meet with court
! from fellow passengers, that they n
- not aIWays reflect that civility calls
- civiIity and thanks IN return-but
er for personal history. It IS not necessI
4 to imagine that every pleasant fell
~ who offers to lift the children or
- satchels out at the station miscres
~ because Of his politenes. But i IS
~ as well to keep ones business matter
~ oneself, and not make personal co
~ dences too freely to chance fellow |
InW seneers. Becky Jones when once
- her guard Is IS uncommunicatlve q
esa- Ssh: but even this phenomenal pei
ieh talks tosrepol teEs and OthAr persons on
81 Conrt. The trouble is that few ira
sst- Iers apply the Jones motto don't e
ene TO the right subjects namely: q