, 1885-03-11
POKER-sHARPS AT SEA
FLEEcINe UNsoPHlsTlcATED TRAY
ELERs ON OCEAN STEAMSHIPS.


New York PapcrJ
recent Lond ON cablegram said there was
4 revival OF the cutlery against gambling on
the Atlantic steamships, and many letters
had bson published giving instances Of pas
sengeTs being ieecsd by card-sharps Two
Of thess sharpars ara slender, ~bright-syed
girls. who ara familiar 10. ocean ira yelers in
the summer season Not long ago the
writer saw them board q fast steamer for
one OF their periodical round trips, and they
appeared very pleasant to the eye. They
were simply yet richly dressed In becoming
travelling suits. One of them had an ALI
gator tourists bag siung over her shoulder.
and the other, with equal grace and archness,
carried u pair Of marine glasses. The small,
snug. gray hats that surmountsd their
pretty heads of neatly done-up hair. their
lose itting jackets. and strong yet shapely
shoes all bespoke experienced Travellers As
they stood at the steamers rail watching the
busy, jostling crowd. they were the cynosure
Of all eyes. They were not unattended
Looming up in the background with a bland
face was the male guardian Of the pretty
pair. As the younger men who were going
10 be their fellow passengers eyed them with
Ill concealed admiration, the gray mu
tached chaperon frowned in a manner that
was discouraging TO the audacious.
As the reporter gazsd at the picture he
was startled by feeling a huge red hand
upon his shoulder. and hearing a voice in his
ear that sounded as IL it came from this
depths OF tho sea- II said;
"Well, old man.
Turning around, the reporter saw the
rotund form of the jolly chief officer Of the
steamer, the flagship of the line.
what, are you looking at those girls, chr
@Yes. l wonder who they ars-English
girls going home with papa after doing the
states, l suppose; or, may be, they're Boston
bellies abandoning their crude and barbarous
native landf They're pretty girls, anyhow,
and | feel jealous already OF that gaunt,
rounded ID ouldered dude who Is making up
to the fair-haired one In spits OF her fathers
scowl.r
The jolly officer burst into a peal Of laugh
tor, which reached the ears OF the beauties at
the rail. They turned, looked at him, Grim
soned with resentment, and haughtily left
the rail to go below or get out OF the way OF
the officers eyes.
English swells or Boston bellies, chi That's
your reckoning of it, is itln laughed the jolly
tar. why. my lear fellow, you're all of.
Those are the three cleverest swindlsrs that
work the herring pond. l presume you've
heard Of the card-sharps and confidence OPP
orators who spend their time during the
summer months between New York and
Liverpool fleeing their fellow-passengers-
| ntnt luhlH tut oAlGkc1l lllO III tuo Bu1AAoa1-
I've had 'em twice on this ship, and on the
second voyage they got so deep into the
pockets of two young Englishmen westward
lound that the skipper got 'thwart Of their
hawse and confined them TO their
state room for the rest OF the passage. You
see, they book as a father and two
daughters, and as soon as the ships in blue
water they begin to throw out signals.
First one and then another greenhorn runs
alongside and make fast Then they sound
him. II he is clever or on short allowance
they sheer off and let him alone. But IL
hea what you Yankee call we'll fixed they
make last to him, n.rt with him, drink fzz
and brandy and soda with him, smoke cigar
cites with him. and in due time play poker,
or nap, or baccarat wit him. the poor
dupe think they are too awfuliy nice for
anything. All the other lady passengers
ars below, or off the wind, and he thinks
it a charming American characteristic,
this freedom. and audacity. and good
fellowship. The cover-that's the old
sharp-he makes a p~retense Of shortening
sail once IN a while, hut it's only a blind, my
by. Then the first thing you know, just as
you make the lightship, Mr.. Greenhorn is
cleaned out OF every shilling, and may have
chu 'ked In a half a dozsn checks or promls-
sorry notes besides.
They're the harde t class Of frauds to
tackle, because no skipper likes to run afoul
OF lady passengers. Suppose be should max
q mistake and order a young lady whose
worst fanlt is that she is a little gay TO keet
to her state room, a. he can under British
lawl Why. she might make it as hot as old
Harry for the company; for such an action
would be false imprisonment of the worst
kind y