davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-12

On its part. the management agrees
to harbor and transport this precious
gang OF workers.; to cap their game in
every possible underhand non-commit-
tai way; to afford them every facility
to rob the patrons Of the show; to con-
oeal them and cover their tracks and
TO aid them in escaping punishment, so
far as all these things can be done with
out serious hazard of being nabbed as an
accessory. The boss fakir agrees to turn
over to the management a stipulated por-
ton of the swag-usuaIly from 50 to 90
per cent-and is supposed to live up to
this contract in the most edifying and
honorable style.
The "squarer." -. .
The most important lieutenant in the
nomadic campaign OF plumber outlined Is
the genius known as the 'Squarer,' and
in all the accomplishments of first-class
confidence man he is an expert. Not
only is he we'll hammered, informed, and
dressed, as affable as an office seeker, as
plausible as an auctioneer, as shrewd as
an Old Bailey lawyer, and a capital
judge of human nature, but supplied with
imperturbable nerve. He slides into town
in advance of the show, and IL the off,
Gals are not old-time friends and con-
federates soon learns more about the true
inwardness of the city marshal or chief
of police. the mayor and the sheriff than
the voters will ever know.
TO this list he also adds the attorney
generally identified with bringing suits
against shows including those of the
'shakedown' order. If he finds these
parties open to conviction. he puts money.
presents. and 'coniplimentaries' where
they will do the most good, and sets
the fair weather signal II he cannot
square all the parties likely to make
trouble the game is of
In fact. skillful and experienced fakirs
will not operate unless assured protec-
tion, and so well does the 'Squarer' do
his work that the cases in which fakirs
have been sent TO prison for any length
of time can be counted on the ringers of
one hand. although some of these sharp
ers have been on the road for from thir-
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-12

kicks strong and. loud enough. he gets
his money, or a part of IL, back.
Another favorite device is the roulette
wheel, so arranged that touching a spring
regulates the stopping of the ball
still another profitable and easy
worked swindIe Is the envelope game.
The player against this is privileged to
draw an envelope from a pile containing
numbers corresponding to those on
articles of jewelry, etc, in a glass case.
He Is often permitted to win small
prize, and almost Invariably inveigled In
to losing all the money he has.
These, and sometimes other games.
are played on the show lot or in the
side show, and sometimes the card ana
shell sharps go several miles into, the
country to meet some previously SeIect-
ed victim on his way to town.
What is known as the short ehange
dodge is common and dangerous
swindle, easily practiced and requiring
no confederate This is worked by doun-
ling one bill among three or four ana
counting 1t so that the two enos VIII
appear to belong to seperate niIls.
Requesting paper money IN eAona aIitS'
for silver is another scheihe ia Wineu
the operator generally steals % cents OUT
of each az He does this by conspicuous
~ counting either dimes, quarters, OF
half dollars from the right hand 10 the
left. and when he hands over tne cnanse
.nalrns' as much of 1t as ne thinks sate.
ssoeser,nq small bills for big one opens
so onotber chance to palm on a smaller
M, For the one received, with the remark:
.ssa here Mister, that was only i've
vi, gave me; not twenty! Unless the
nredsstined victim has more SAND than
tbe thief gives him credit for-and the
latter does not often misjudge his imam
ha is iollied or bluffed out of his money.
az people will patronize the shows
which harbor these scoundrels they should
Of least steer clear of all games OF
hcance, never extend a financial accom-
mediation to any stranger, and have the
exact change for whatever they buy. Hut
thew won't; for there is fool born every
minute. and the boldest kind of swindlers
will always attract shoals of them.
Tent fakirs would soon starve If the
authorities would require every suspected
or unknown show to produce satisfactory
evidence of good character before grant
ing it a. license to exhibit. This may
come some day, and so many the mtllen-
mum.
when | first went into the show bust
ness I was not much taller than a guy
stake. and it was a much harder ana
rougher life than 1t Is now; but every
manager / knew or worked for was as
straight as a centre pole. both with MS
people and the public. The breed mas
not run out, and 1t may be that the evils
referred to have their origin more IN tns
lowering Of the general standard OF cnar-
acter and In the immense increase IN tne
number of second-class, irresponsible
shows than in the Generalization OF the
Individual"
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-12

No enc but my eonfesser 10 accustomed
to cali me BY my Christian name. and
whenever hear tt remember that II
have TO say thirteen pstsrno s, e. :
name for me. They named me Rosina,
ana am pale as 'moonshine. This nsrne
would apply much better. to you. who
eu ~ to Be- Blanca. what do you say
to our, exchanging names? You shall call
me Blanca. and I win call YOU Rosina.'
Blanca thought this proposition go funny
that 1t made her laugh. ana woman VINO
laughs can but acaniesce.-
I'VE can now tax a, kinds . 81 nom ons
is listening or spying. And It Is well for
you to know this, Rosina. All your do
mestics, without exception, are PAID
spies. Even your porter and his wife Keep
record of all who go out and all VINO
come in: Of whom You receive, and VINO
sends up hts card. Your servant reports
TO the porter where you drive. where you
direct the carriage to be stopped to whom nom
you speak, and whom You visit. The
chambermaid reads all the letters you
receive and those you send away and
searches the pockets OF your dresses.
The gardener notices what flowers you
prefer. for flowers also have their Ian
guage. Do not. on any account, buy
parrot. for even he would be used as
spy"
said the Princess confidently, while she
served the tea II have no secrets"
"a woman ought not to say this OF
herself. thank you Do you smoke?
TOO bad. can not drink tea without
cigar. Luckily. I have provided some,
With your permission, 1t il true they
will smell the cigar smoke tomorrow in
this room. and IL will cause much rum
ming about and questioning. The cham
berinaid will inquire OF the valet, and the
valet of the porter. as to who has been
here. But that will only amuse you. for
they will not be able to guess who II
was"
But your last visit was almost be-
trayed by this"
CTo be Continued.)
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-12

valet, thinking that hts mistress had fever
again.
No. Bring me a mandolin from the In
strument-makers."
The valet was very much astonished. A
strange sickness which is cured by the
use OF a mandolin!
The weather rem, tined damp and cold
all day. In the evening she took her man.
dolin In her hands and played some
chords; The next moment sappno an.
knocked at the Iron plate Of the chimney.
The phoenix asceaded. and through the
opening thus created stepped the heau-
tiful Cyrene. She was now in her. visit
Ing toilet. with waving hair hanging in
curls, and a rose mantua over her rose
colored dress. below which were shown
ner little feet squeezed into nign ntf,cst
DO you wish to go out?' asked Blanca.
ITO visit you"
Ibid you fnow that / expected your
Why. that you expected me at tins
ater."
Did you know that?'
Il knsw L. because your servants TOOK
mine with them; In the whole upper story
o. this palace there is no living being ex-
cept ourselves"
The consciousness Of being alone in a
large home unites the two women in a
bond of mystery-a feeling in which the
shuddcr of fear Is blended with the graf
ification of joy.
Blanca took the hat and mantua from
her guest. and, while she kindled a fire
in the CRATE the Marchioness took the
mandolin and sang romance by Alfred
de Musset. pervaded by southern ardor.
Blanca invited her to take tea. and
asked her at the same time what her
Christian name was.
The Marquise laughed.
'IIa. ha: You have often heard 1t. Ny
name Is Cyrene.''
mo. that is not your real name; you
were not given that name at your bap-
tism."
but know myself only by that name.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-12

ty to forty years.
by a preconcerted signal, If any VIC
tim complains to the authorities, tho
gamblers are notified and vanish. II it
is found necessary to make an arrest II
possible the wrong party is pabbed. and
of course is acquitted.
"Straw Bail"
should the guilty party happen to be
captured, straw bail Is accepted. or he
is lei off upon making restitution. in part
or whole. This Is compromising a felony
and Gaping one crime with another. but
that don't count, and is a preventive
against the repetition of the offense for
who would dare to rob when sternly
confrC nted with the possibility of being
compelled to disgorge some of the plum
der?
1.-THE kind of work referred to is mainly
confined to towns of 10000 inhabitants
and less, and 1t would horrify their wor-
thy burghers to know how generally
their officials are implicated in the
schemes to rob them. Often-very often
the chief of police doubles mis- salary by
going directly to the manager and stat
ing the specific sum for which the gang
will be permitted to work the town.
know of ore instance in which one of
these trusted guardians approached a
reputable Snowman and said: 1T will
cost you $3.50 to work this town.
81 carry no thieves and l never pay
for the privilege of robbing my patrons
the manager replied.
''The 'Squarer' receives from $15o to
$500 a week salary sometimes a percent
age in addition. besides whatever he can
make on the outside. He comes high but
he does his work so well that 1t is almost
impossible for the guilty to help escap-
Ing. ...
Playing the Game.
THE most lucrative ard common swim
dies perpetrated are the games known as
'three-card-monte and the shells They
are similar in character. in on case three
marked cards being used and in the other
three shells and pea. In one the trick
is to guess the right card and in the oth-
CT under which shell the pea is hid.
1.-THE marks on the cards are deftly
changed so as to mislead- the victim In
the she'll game there is no pea under any
of the shells. The manipulation palms
it under the base of the little finger Oh
the right hand, and after the bettor loses
drops it in one of the shells.
I'm these games the operator generalN
plays the role of greenhorn, VINO nav
ing been victimized, has learned the
trick. and to prove 1t handles the carGs
and shells with a conspicuous clumsi-
ness calculated to make any fool bite
The 'capper' to the game usually plays
the role Of dignified Judge, an unsophis-
tIcated farmer, or swell young man.
Assuming him TO ape the judge. he has
not money enough to make the required
bet and ropes the victim IN to make ur
the dedcieney. He is overwhelmed with
s,ief and remorse at the inevitable result
and taking the kicking victim one side
drovns HIM in tears and overwhelms him
with protestations. winding up by giving
him a note at sixty days. which upon his
judicial honor win be met. II the victim
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-12
SMALL CIRCUS FRAUDS.
Some Swindling Games Practiced in
Country Towns.

New York Times.
The efforts of officials Of a western
town, as reported a day or two ago, TO
cleanse circus of its fakirs." before
it was allowed to exhibit there, excited
the contempt of an old circus man In
this city.
THE most dangerous and sneaking
beasts of prey" said he, connected with
many of the smaller circuses and mena-
geries. and one or two of the more pre-
tentious ones, are not confined in cages,
but prowl under the tents. upon the
show grounds. and about town, fostered
and protected by the circus management
and covering into its treasury a specified
percentage of their stealings. People do
not begin to realize the extent of this
villainous organization, the character of
the various schemes 1t employs, and the
amount of plumber it obtains.
ITO begin at the beginning: In the
very organization, as we'll as in the rum
ming. of the kind of shows referred to,
the license to rob the public and their
patrons is listed as the most valuable
privilege they have to dispose Of. and
is the one upon which the majority of
such concerns mainly, and sometimes en-
tirely, rely for profit. the show proper Of
ten being run at an actual and antici-
pated dead loss so far as legitimate re-
ceipts at the big tent and side show doors
and from the concert and candy stands
sales are concerned. In this scheme il
is taken for granted that there is enough
honor among thieves to warrant the en-
terprising, and generally totally irrespon-
sible, management in bargaining for a
division of the spells with the boss
scoundrel in a gang of expert fakirs.
which professional slang term is sum
GENTLY elastic to include blacklegs cap
pers. sneak thieves. pickpockets, pilferinl
candy butchers. ticket sellers and sllef
scalawags of every kind and degree
and is Sometimes stretched to embra>'
even burglars and footpads
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-12
WHY PHYSICIANS FAIL
TO Cure Many Cases of Female Ills.
Some Sensible Lessons Why Mrs.
Pinkham is More Successful Than
Many Family Doctors.

peculiar her fast develop
ing in her goes family physician and tells him
story, but not the whole story.
She holds back something loses her head becomes agtate forgs
what have told
and this completely Inystfes the DOCTOR
Is wonders therefore, that fails the disease?
Still cannot blame the it embarrassing TO detail
some Of the symptoms OF her suffering to her family physician
This Is the why hundreds
in with Mrs Pinka Mass To her they
s in of facts from her with the patient
than the physician possibly obtain through interview
Following publish showing Of
correspondence with Mrs Pmkham An
absoutely confidential Pfnkha published
h manner without the writing the patient
ham and her medicine have been able
only publishing their letters write asking that this be
who suffer
exueri ~ 5 + II ! q
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-12
INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON
Copyright, Davis W. Clarke

Save for my daily range
Among the pleasant fields of Holy Writ,
l might despair. -Tennyson.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-12

length this movable commonwealth, this
pilgrim nation. took up its march, COM
pacted and defended by such an ethico-
religious constitution as had never been
dreamed of before.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-12

II a woman has a good man. she should
appreciate him; there are some mightE
tough ones.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-12
sTere Is Proof Of the Value Of Mrs pnkhams Advice

PROOF PInknam1'S
medicine for two
advice concerning it.
troubled with
head which develops into almost
taken
critical
Illness
bilious affection
nensruaon
advised to take Lydia f. vegetable
Mocha, Sheridan, Mont. april 81 19ool
testify greatly
medicine After taking four bottles felt better
testimonies
believed that had and while after when
convinced OF the
like and sleep we'll
appreciate much - Mrs FRANCES MccREA
Mont
%hHHh find that the
mhsio
New-York tribune., 1902-02-23

entertained at several Ne,v-York clubs When hs
got home they asked him what sort Of a time rs
had. Wall" he answered. Il never had better,
nor I don't. presume likely 1 ever shall We didn
have 20 20 up To no bar when wanted a drink
We JUS sot down 90 table and some man pushed
the electric iUeurlator-
Hamilton Wright MJhie another OF the story
telIers Three Americans New-forker, a Chi
cc-o man and r citizen OF NCW-JerSey-Were. M
said. discussing he fast expresses ot their locaUies
The Empire state express E1eS so fast tina
NeU-Y Yorker said. THAT tle tsieSraph poles rush-
ing by give the effect of a Gue tooth comb
Charles B-r-eU l-ooullS. when bis turn came said
would ne for children Ir was al Irish fairy story.
3Cd went something llSe this
'DuCt there a woman Wll finger nails OF golts
and her that JeroJitul that it dOped you
The poor wIut To the g.dy and asked her fur ths
uarlu's Of her nails Sl,5re she would give thin
win they COON aroun- AMI would they COON aroun
livery tnooStdy Wnlu ~-" 2tr't ll-In- 30. the poor
COON trCuu' livery Cbuusiay and sold the partuS 10
the iOolrv But day thr l0idy forgot 10
Tare THIN gold nails and he poor had nothin' %
they kiIJ the kind oity Then her nails didn't
grOw more. and they wor sorry fur what they
So they wiut after searchin' tur "a Ioidy sill
Yer nails. and they found her. and her face wore
that beootiful that ~ made YOU rlStleSS- And she
said she pared her silver uIiis livery CbOOsday and
coon IrOun' IEcry CbO1-llg and sold the partu 4
to the ioory bsI be- didn't give thin
-raltv foolrv mon, But Cloosday the lOidy
forgot % udrC nails. and Tire poor wore that
nad they kilt her. Thin her nails didu grow no
more. and the poor wote sorry
So thev hunted fur "a IoiIy with tin duger nails.
ARD they found her and uCr face wore that oe Sotf-
tcl il had an swim eoiorS OF tAe rainbow and Two
ChoosGUy and would give the partn 70 the poor
So tEcy COON arvID on ChOosCIy but they couldn :
tin finger nails. fur Shuor the loldy nad sos
her hand into TIE chopp-a iEachine ana she na0
y-fy
New-York tribune., 1902-02-23
SEEKING FAVOR OF DEBTORS

Assembymen Prince and Sanders. of Ncw-york
have introduced almost identical bills to- prevent
people from being sent 20 jail for small debts,
which each one claims the otner copied from HIS
At hearing the bills before the Assembly Com
mittee on Codes the other day. both men appeared
and earnestly pleaded for the favorable report on
his bill. The committee naturally was considerably
perDiexed, and, a last extremity, decided TO re-
port both bills and then let the TWO light il out
the floor OF the Assembly.
The two bills accordingly came up for debate at
the session a Monday night. The Prince bin was
the first on the calendar. ana as the clerk was
running the bills off at highly gearcd speed and
with much momentum that be could hardly stop
himself the Prince bin was advanced TO the order
Of final passage. When the Sanders bill was
reached one conscieutious legislator from an Adj
rOudack district. who for some reason had COM
pared the bills. moved 10 send the bill back 10
committee. he said there was no need Of two
tails 10 such legislative cat Assemblyman Prince
eagerly agreed 10 such plan. and already foresaw
the downfall OF his rival, when Mr.. Sanders arose
and told how many labor people wanted his bill
Mr. Prince Immediately sprang 70 his feet and told
how many labor unions he represented. whereupon
the two men grapped in debate which threatened
take up the entire evening.
The discussion had Just reached "a point where
Mr. Prince said that fools never changed their
minds wnen Assem- Lyman Davis Of Eew-Y ork,
arose and said with considerable emotion:
Il 4 point Of order l think that this ought
New-York tribune., 1902-02-23

9f the 2II1lth District New-York to mis- ne.ghbor
Assem- plyman Bradley. OF Buffalo. who sits across
the aisle.
But when the roll called both Seymour and
Bradley voted for the bill.
FINDS THERE IS SOMETHING IN a NAME
Assemblyman Cotton OF Kings, was sitting in
one of the reporters chairs just under the gavel Of
the Speaker. last Wednesday. when John J. Sloane
Of Yonkers. the only Democratic Representative
from Westchester County. happened to pass by.
Why hello. Sloanei" exclaimed the Brooklyn
Assemblyman- What's the matter with you?
Can't you recognize one Of your friends?"
Mr.. Sloane turned around abruptly at this and
in Il somewhat condescending manner said
Mr.. Cotton, fear not. Since I have come into
possession Of box at the Metropolitan opera
House. and Prince Henry mas agreed to have the
use OF II as my host. 1 am not speaking to Tom,
Dick and Harry any more"
Mr.. Cotton was stll struggling with his feelings
when the Yonkers statesman added:
IF you don't believe Just look at this article
which I have clipped from a New York news paper
It is headed, you see Owners Of the Grand
Royal Box The owners, besides myself arc J.
Pierpont Morgan Mrs. Thomas Hitchcock. Joseph
Stickney and Adrian Iselin, jr. We five, with a few
New-York tribune., 1902-02-23

No thank you" said the Senator from Roches-
ter. 'I always smoke pipe and, so saying. he
pulled straight stemmed brarwood pipe and
began TO fill the bowl.
You like a ppe2" said the Chautauqua mem
Der in tone which was half affirmative and half
interToxative
81 have smoked a pipe for the last-wen. ever
since began studying law. was the reply. and
that you know. some time ago. II ism I
necessary TO say that like pipe Here Senator
Lewis paused a moment, and, after blowing out a
big cloud OF smoke, he said
II inclined think that my fondness for the
pipe is fact which has become appreciated BY the
from New-YOrk. Only yesterday found little
package in my mall and opening it found a
oiminutive pipe. ABOUT two inches long, and some
but they something Ike this:
Better than home. better than wife,
Better than many dear joys Of life,
Yes best Of all. my years grow ripe
Ts the smoking bowl OF my corncob pipe
The representative from Rochester took another
long pun. and then he added:
And below the poetry signed the name OF
Thomas z. Grady
Senator Higgins Iaugned heartily at this unex-
pected entrance Of the Tammany leader into the
field Of verse. and followed his companion 20 The
cloakroom-
As far as appearances go TO the eye Of a stranger
Senator Higgins represents the aristocrauc. where
as Senator Lewis typifes the democratic, elements
If the Senate. At bottom both piainspokeu. af-
fable. big hearted who view their fellows
without regard 10 class caste.