Evening star., 1901-07-20

is pitifully shown by the scores of cases of
young chaps who are going to states
prison here every month for the crime Of
theft directly traceabIe to gambling.
saratoga Is just about opening up for
its season. You can fall against any old
pubic game up there, from craps to fy-loo,
because the folks UP that way want the
gambling business, and soon we shall be
RECALLED with stories of how this or that
peroxided soubrette has gone broke or
broken one or other of the banks. Yet
you will observe that when the police of
this state set out at this season the
trail of a thief they first repair to Sara
toga, and they generally nab him there
without going any farther.
That old gag. The United States and
New Jersey" ought to be erased and for
gotten. There is nothing the matter with
Jersey.
Worked the Barkeeper.
If you have a gold brick or line of
green goods that you desire to dispose of
at profit bring the same over to Greater
New York. It's easy.
Two winsome youths who needed the
money for laundry bills and cigarettes and
soft-shell crabs and things strolled into
the bar room Of a Broadway hotel the
other afternoon and engaged the barkeep,
one Of the most notable and experienced
mixers of the alley in pleasant conver-
sation. They purchased a couple of times,
ana then they began to talk with each
other with reference to the tricks which
the human imagination plays.
Why, see here said one of the amable
youths, essaying to prove his contention,
we only know what were drinking be-
cause we see what it is. We imagine the
rest. I'll wager you anything you like that
If l blindfold you you can't tell the differ
ence between beer whisky, brandy, gin
or rum. no matter how often you taste
EN-. It's the same thing as a man not
being able to enjoy smoke in dark
ROOM
The other youth wouldn't quite go SO far
as to admit this. and he wagered that he
couldn't be blindfolded SO tightly that he
couldn't distinguish any liquor manufac-
tured by it's taste. So it was arranged.
handkerchief was tightly wrapped around
the young disputants eyes. and five glasses,
containing, respectively. beer, whisky,
brandy. gin and rum, were placed on the
bar. The blindfolded youth stretched forth
his hand, got hold Of the beer glass, slipped
it, and said:
That's gin, Of course"
You lose" said the other youth. mer-
rily. taking the bandage off the others
eyes.
"Aw. say put IN the wise barkeep. "Tll
bet you as far as you want to go that l
can get next to the name of any kind o.
booze that was ever made by the taste of
it with me head in bag"
Bet You can't said the youth, who
had expressed his belief in the superlative
powers of the human Imagination, and so
who happened to be alone on watch-Was
blindfolded.
Now" said the two youths, together.
Caught by an Old Game.
The barkeep reached forth his hand, af-
ter the glasses had been juggied about.
and picked up the glass of whisky. He
slipped it. smacking his lips.
That" said he, lis whisky"
There was no reply.
We'll. amt it? inquired the barkeep.
No reply.
''Of course it's whisky" said the bar
tender. You can't fool me on the taste
Of that old stuff, Handled too much of
Silence.
Il win in a walk. of course" said tho
barkeep. removing the handkerchief and
staring about him.
The bar room %aS empty. 4 little mat
ter of 500 IN bills, securely wrapped around
with rubber bands. that had reposed on a
shelf back Of the bar was absent The
bartender raced into the garish light of
day and gazed ZIP and down Broadway.
but he only saw the usual knot of actors
out of work, telling each other how great
they were. and the customary peripatetic
resting soubrettes with the very high
French heels.
And me-" groaned the barkeep, "a-woik-
IN along Main street in this town since
Hickory Jim was pup"
In view Of all of which, IL you possess a
gold brick. etc, etc. For New York is
real childish, so 1t Is.
He Guessed Right.
1t must be said that the deductions Of
the New York detectives quite frequently
fetch them out on top. Washington prob
ably read last week Of the case Of the al
legged British naval officer who ''squealed'
over his losfngs in gambling game on the
steamer that brought him to this side and
who was oStraciZed by the other paSsen-
gers for playing the baby act When the
chief of the New York detectives read Of
this case he summoned one of his detec-
ttves.
Follow that fellow up" he said. "and
you may make a killing. He's either a
simple or a con. man. If he's a simple the
con. men who've read about him will be on
his trail and you can nab few Of them.
or if he's crook himself he'll need some
watching"
The detective thus adiured shadowed the
alleged British naval officer. although the
fellow. OF course, didn't know it, and q
couple Of days later tucked the English
visitor under his arm and carried him
along to headquarters. The man who had
"squealed" on the steamer over his losings
had justified one OF the opinions Of the de-
tective chief-the worst one. He began
kiting checks soon as he got ashore,
and when he was arrested he confessed
that he had come over to New York to
pick up, as he thought little easy
money. he gave MS real name. una now
he languishes in real murky. unpleasant
cell. waiting for the tipstaff to prod him
into the right corner wherefrom to face
the Judge.
Why 1t Does Not Succeed.
That public houseboat. OF floating hotel.
which makes overnight trips down to the
Hook for the purpose OF cooling OF pa
irons. is reported to be earning but little
more than the price Of the coal. The rea-
son is said to be that no liquor Is sold on
board, nor is any liquor allowed to be car
ried on board by any OF the guests.
The floating hotel employs a Well-organ-
lied nstabulary, each of whom answers,
in a way, to the master alarms on a man.
o'-war, and these fellows are empowered
to yank to the glory hole or brig any man
who dares to fetch nip along with him.
No enterprise Of this character. 1t seems.
can pay in or around New York without
the liquor feature, and it is likely that
the floating hotel, which is really lux
uriously appointed affair. and upon which
a lot of money has been spent, will soon
float dismantled at a dock.
More Trouble for Ocean yoyagers.
1t Is said that two Of the big steamship