The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-03-15
How COunfrymen are Taken I'm by
New York Sharpers.

are taken in by the sharpers who inves
the metropolis in such large numbers
Let us suppose, he says, that one of th'
strangers was walking up Broadway
dazed with the hustle and confused By
the clatter. He is missing naught o
what goes on around him. Suddenly
the man in front of him stoops dowr
and picks up something. 1t is a glove.
The countryman looks at him to SEE
what he picked up.
"Hello" says the man; "here's q
ring in this finger. By jove! it's q
bang-up gold ring. Some lady has
slipped her ring off without noticing il
in taking off her glove, and she has
dropped her glove"
The countryman looks at the ring.
fit his Saliie's finger. Blame III Why
does he never pick up anything?
"Look a-here young feller," says the
city man, 'here's gold ring. I'm
poor as church mouse; haven't got a
cent. The stores are all closed and
can't sell this. Gimme fl dollars for
it and say no more.''
Done-and the countryman has got a
brass ring.
On the next block another very SIM
PfGddiHgg 5f5 djdRifHiggsnt a2tG 2geaEs a eeuntryman is
hunks into man who has stopped to
pick up something. It's big fat wal
let. The countryman can see by the
expression on the others face that the
wallet is full of bills, though he doesn't
happen to see the bills.
''By George !" says the lucky finder,
"some countryman's in hole. Lost
his pocket book and big hunk ofmon-
ey. It's too bad-too bad and I've
got just ten minutes to catch the boat
at the Battery. The poor fellow ought
to have his money. Tell you what I'll
do. Give me $40 and keep the wallet
till you see to-morrow's Herald, then
you give it to the man that's lost it.
He'll advertise it sure, and you will get
$40, or may be $50, reward.
Done-and the countryman has got
a wad of paper rolled up in one-dol-
lar greenback.
Perhaps the next countryman among
our guests drops into Bowery muse
um. Why shouldn't he? He never
saw band of real Popocolopet canni-
balls from Patagonia, or fat woman
weighing 600 pounds, or boy who
can do with his feet what ever others do
with their hands-and all this can be
seen for ten cents. So in he goes.
Soon a very genial gentleman, with a
voice like fog-horn, invites the coun-
tryman to see what another gentleman
has Just drawn for fifty cents. There is
case full of silver-plated ware and
gold chain, gold watch, a diamond
pin, and l don't know what all, and the
other gentleman has drawn ticket thir-
there yet.
"Take an envelope out for fun and
see how your luck is running. Itwon't
cost you anything. What, 1903 Why
that's the gold chain. Take try in
earnest only fifty cents"
The countryman pays fifty cents.
He draws out an envelope. Perhaps it
is one that sticks out little; perhaps
it is one that he accidentally saw the
gentleman pull out to show bystander
in order to prove that the number on
the gold watch was really in one of the
envelopes. If he pulls out either OF
those he will find blank in his envel-
ope. If he is stupid and pulls out an
other one, the gentleman who presides
will seize it with an "Ah, now let's see
what you get," and will change it SO
deftly that you won't see him do it and
the countryman gets a blank. If ne
tries again and again he will spend 81
or S. to carry off seventy-five-cent
butter dish, perhaps. But maybe the
next countryman is shy of the envelope
game. That doesn't matter. Our city
people can please any taste or interest
any form of curiosity.
Doubtless many of the strangers find
themselves in pleasant converse with a
man who adroitly sounds them to find out
whether they play cards for money or
not. The pleasant bumpers are gam
bling house "cappers. They get a
percentage on the winnings from who
soever they bring to the tables. They
are not violent. They do not drug a
man or carry man by force, nor dc
they urge man to play if he says he
does not understand cards. That's all
the talk of those who do not know what
they are preaching about. The cappel
is the least offensive variety OF city
sharks. He asks you to come around
to the "the club,' and then takes yol
to ahell where splayeda a ''brace" game
l never staked cent in gambling
house in my life, but l have often beer
in those places, and once l saw cap
per bring in jolly, half,tipsy countr.
merchant with roll of notes as big a
a woman's fist. l saw him lose S4o'
and then offer to treat the house. Ih'
boss gambler would not permit this bu
set up the wine himself. Then the mar
sat down to play again, and the gam
bier would not let him do SO, but sen
a capper out of the house with him t
see him safe to his hotel. Perhaps yo
think this was highly moral. Well, l
was morality of the highest gamblin
house standard.
"Why did you not let him keep o
playing?" 1 inquired of the gambler
"Oh" he replied, "he had nothin
but small bills left. No use cleanin
him out and having him complain t
the police. AS it is, he has gone ava
feeling good toward the house"
p@One more observation-disclosures
Ca widow of considerable personal a
tractions)-T want to tell you some
thing, Tommy. You saw that gentle
man talking to grandmamma in II
other room. Well he's going to /
your new papa. Mammals going
marry him." Tommy (who recollec
something of the life his old papa ust
. to lead )-"D-d-does he know it ye
, mamma?"
p@~Together they were looking ov