The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-07-29
LAFAYETTE FAKIRS.
Scenes as Bad as the
Soups at Pine Street and
Johnston Avenue.
SELLING GALyANIC BELTS
Low Songs and Jests-Young Peo-
pie Corrupted-The Beer End
of 1t,

\
Three individuals of carefully conceal
ed identity are running a fake svariety
show in Lafayette. The show is conduct
ed for the purpose of facilitating the sale
of so-called electric and magnetic
belts. An office has been secured in the
Lafayette House, where the ''doctor'' and
the professor" as they are termed, ped
die the belts to the poor dupes, who listen
to thel oily descriptions Of the various
healing and remedial qualities they
possess.
Every night crowd of from six to nine
hundred people of all sizes, sexes and
social conditions congregate in the open
lots at Johnston avenue and Pine street.
There theylisten to the suggestive jokes
wretched baio solos of the "Song- and
Dance Man," the third member of the
combination.
This is the most popular portion of the
programme. Next in favor is the dra W.
ing of teeth "by ozone," as it is termed,
in which the Doctor extracts the
molars for slight consideration, apply
Ing laughing gas.
PEOPLE INDIGNANT.
Some time ago the citizens of this Sec
ton rose up in arms and drove a travel
ling Snowman wko had located a stand of
swings here, out of the district. The
reas on given for this was that the main
tenance of the swings rendered to degrade
the morals OF the young people. 1t
was said at the time that girls aud young
men congregated at the swings aud made
free with each other and with the pro-
pr1etor i'll manner disgraceful and
shameless.
Here the congregation is greater. the
conduct less marked by conventionaiity,
and although the owners Of the
any more than has been shown,
rice flourishes more freely and with less
disguise than before. Yet the people of
the section, though they do not hesitate
to declare against the nuisance in con-
vrrsation, nave not made any concerted
move so far.
The show is generally condemned, only
one or two houses in the neighborhool
speak we'll of it aud these are all saloons
OF course the proprietors OF the
Lafayette House are satisfied, for
they reap some benefit from the
building. Another house whose
owner is very much in favor of conEinu-
ance of the show is that occupied by
Jacob Appel, and situated on the opposite
corner. On the ground floor of this mouse
is Mr.. Apgels saloon, which does Il thriv-
ing business every evening 1t is only
his bartender should approve of it.
A LOW DOWN CIRCUS.
On the observation of this latter person
that the show was pretty good" | paid
it visit one night recently. The scene,
despite its unpleasant features. was un-
doubtedly picturesque and attractive. 1t
was lit up by four haring gasoline lamps
placed at the corner of the minia-
ture stage or platform. On this
were seated the three fakirs. Before it a
sea of faces gaZed at the "Song and
Dance Man" do his turn. Fully five
hundred. probably more, people were
present, now all intent on the doings and
sayings OF the clown upon the stage.
There seemed to be nothing wrong here
unless the songs and jokes of the banjo
player be brought into question.
Later on the doctor" found more
difficulty than his partner in holding the
attention of his audience. Then the
more Objectionable features of the affair
cept the older members, began to frolic
and jest. Such jests were heard
as might create a laugh among rum
besotten crowds in a barroom. Jokes
that would bring tears to q mothers eyes
and curses from a fathers lips.
Girls of tender age gave listening ear,
blushing the while because they were not
yet familiar with the whispered syllables.
THE SALOON END OF IT.
On the opposite corner Appel does a
howiiug business in beer, rum aud cigars
The bartender is a merry wight. To at
tract some of rowing thrsters within his
open doors, he displays this bulletin:
Here's the place to get your Jenuine
Electric Beer and Galvanic Jake's
Cigars" He Is dong a roaring trade, is
GaIvanic Jake, and Electric Beer has
faculty for causing the imbiber 10 return
for ''jusr anozyer." 1t is not queer, is 1T,
that Jake thinks the show "pretty good"s
But what of the other residents? Can
they stand this sort of thing very long?
Apparently not. Yesterday citizen.
speaking OF the nuisance, characterized
iC as a disgrace to the eighborhood, and
II menace to morals of the youngstecs."
''Then why" asked. "do you not take
the lead in some action to route them
out"
"Oh, suppose they must earn their
bread and butter" he replied.
What an auswerl The theory which
prompts it seems to be that no honest
hand must strike at vice for fear of vio-
lating the rule Of "live and let i've" It
is to be hoped that this opinion is not
shared by all or Jersey City would soon
become hot-beu of infamy.
1t is expected that the police will do
something. 1t IS also likely that the
clergy will take the matter up. Only the
condemnation of the whole affair from
the church pulpit can stop the matter
where it stands.