The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-09-20

and the technology that it knows is a
vain thing. This is one of the reasons
that a gambler reaps such a rich har-
vest in the vicinity of an exhibition.
1t is too often concluded by the blase
citizen that the victims of these sharks
are tempted by cupidity. In the ma
jorfty of cases, writing of the unsophis-
ticated countrymen, it is nothing of
the kind. 1t is the excitement that
tempts him; the something bizarre in
the whirring of the machines and the
bewildering phraseology of those learn
ed in the wiles of BLACK and red; he
''planks down" his five cents, ten cents,
a dollar; finally, the contents of his
purse; and only when he has lost his
hard Learned savings does he recognize
that he is not only a fool, but that he
has lost, for the time being at least, his
honor. This is one of the most cogent
reasons why those in authority should
protect him from himself.
Apart from actual vice, however,
there are some 'stand-bys" of these
fairs who almost deserve liberation by
reason of their amusing audacity.
Such, for instance, is the Yankee who
sells paste to sharpen knives and ra-
zors; a paste that probably would
sharpen nothing ION land or sea-" To
attract the visitor he places two hats
upon the ground, and in one of these he
sets box. ''You'se people" he says,
may think that l puts the box up my
sleeve; nothing of the kind. 1t faint
nothink of the kind. The box is under
the first hat. Draw closer. l makes
few passes, like this, and the box is I'M
der the second hat" The magician
pauses, and the crowd by this time be-
comes excited. He recommences, But
this amt the hardest part of this 'ere
trick; the 'ardest part is to get it back
again; l makes a few passes and there
we're are; there amt no deception" OF
course, everyone recognizes that the
box has never left the first hat; at least
one may hope so; and who could fail,
after such exquisite audacity, to pur-
chase packet of "sharpener"
Then there is the man who sells a ce-
ment that Will stick any old broken
thing together, better than new, for
ten cents. Of course everybody has
bought this kind of cement, has seen
how effective it is in the hands of the
tout, and has reflected afterward, when
he has tried to apply it to cup or sau-
GER or the like, to what a weary world
he belongs. But this does not daunt
him in the presence of eloquence: he
listens, he becomes convinced, he makes
a purchase; and only afterward, for
there is usually an afterward, does he
recognize that all the jays do not
live more than a hundred miles from
the spot he calls home
There is one phase of these side
shows which the cosmopolitan might
well envy, and that is the undis guised
open-m outhed interest with which the
country visitor views a panorama, a
Punch and Judy show or wax works
Years ago most of us took an interest
in these things, but the world has got
upon our nerves; the street cars, cleo
trfcity, the telephone, and especially
Roentgen rays, have exhausted our en-
thusiasms; and only in a reflected way,
by the expressive enjoyment of our ru-
raj brothers, can we renew the innocent
entertainment of our youth
! In the pleasures of childhood, how
ever, the oldest may become young
again. Some of the special attractions
may have seemed inane indeed to you,
mother and father; but when you have
heard your child crow aloud with glee
at the poor antics of the fool and the
clownery that appeals to you now not
at all, you recall the easy pleasures of
your young days, and recognize, as
| Shakespeare says, in effect, that there
are more things than come within the
scope of your latter-day philosophy
Montreal Witness.