New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-14
VICE IND TCLGIRTTY ar 4 FAIR.
UNWORTHY FEATURES OF THE SOMERSET
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

UNWORTHY FEATURES OF THE SOMERSET
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SHOW.
Somervlle. " j.. sept. 10 (speciaD.-"Come, gents.
walk right up and see the 'Couchee-Couchee Dance.
For gents only. remember; no ladies' allowed
The harsh tones OF the frowsy gent who made
this announcement were waited on the clear. pure,
cool air at the Somerset County Fair grounds YES
terday afternoon. through the windows OF IN" IA
vilIon a few feet away. in which were exhibited
the specimens Of needle and fancy work from the
clever hands OF Somerset maidens and matrons.
These same maldens and matrons were out In force
and heard the harsh tones OF the announcer. lie
stood on "A platform on which a cheap circular
screen had been erected Just high enough To Dis
play the heads and shoulders Of two vomen inside
the screen and hide the rest OF their bodies from
view. one OF the women was whlte-where the
paint was rubbed Off. The other was black. over
head big sign informing the visitors that the
women behind the screen danced for the entertain
rnent Of gentlemen" only The blatant announcer
told the staring crowd that the dancers were tho
ones who had been suppress by DR.. Parkhur't
In New-York only a few months ago. Many OF the
country women stared curlously at the screen.
Some OF the men went up on thv platform AMI paid
10 cents each t. look over the top.
Not far away gambler with one % the many
familiar skin" games WAS rakng in nicke.s dimes,
quarters arl occasionally bills Of larger drnomina-
tons. one young farmer wCn -aslly-at hrst. lie
so ahead. Then he began To lose HIS iriehis
tried to induce him TO come away when he was
out s. so. -
I'm bat I'm yet" he retort-d vlclously. He
lost again His friends ~-p-atrd their efforts. The
ara ishtd out leather wallet. tnwinding long
leather strap with feyerish hast" he pulled Dnt II
small rJil o: bills. lie placed S. On the table ana
lost lie repeated the operation, until thc reporter
him lo-.. so Then h. went away mat was
all he had. Tho gambler chuckled.
He was game h. said ,,
\ litt. further on was another gambler pying
nearly everybody was thinking OF going home and
each OF the gamblers had good Pill" OF money
before him. slim young man went up ana tapped
OF them on tn" arm.
Jim all h. said.
Jim understood. for he Immediately took up
tn. OclOih which tackled down before him,
pocketel the money and other implements. and
was soon lost In thu. crowd
The reporter became Interested and followed
the slim young - IN" next gambling table.
Just one word In mysterious manner a tap on
tn. shoulder ana this man stopped business as
suddenly a. the other had done. and mixed with
the crowd also. The reporter tried TO IND out
what 4 was all about. but the best he could do
Was to discover = rumor that the Sheriff was on
ON the road 10 TIE town "thimbl"- rgger was
making Il hard effort to secure what the gamblers
inside had left 10 the victims
Not far from tn" dairy house on IN" grounds TWO
half dressed women. wearing rel tights. stood on a
box 10 allow ~" crowd 10 gap" AT them. Ih"y
were ADVERTISE 10 do the "Parsian dance be-
hind screen fo spectators 10 cents head.
were chickens and oh hens. ducks and geese. big
pl,s and little pigs. horses anP cows fruit ana
vegetables. but there were not many OF these
things nor were they I'm conspicuous places.