Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-26
,RoUND ABOUT NEW York.
RippIes on the Current OF Life in the
r MetrOpoIis.


has no station there. the fact is conceded
without bulletins that the locality is the
warmest spot on the continent outside OF
Arizona or Mojave. Here all the midway
freaks OF a generation are gathered, as
we'll as the spielers and bankers Of a con-
tinent. In recent years many changes for
the better have been wrought by police
pressure. yet Coney is old Coney still. In
the evening. after the better element Of
humanity has departed. it is still necessary
to keep your watch out Of sight and your
hand on your pocketbook.
In the language of the people. the ma
tive only knows the game. He tells you
that "a wise man is one who has oft been
fooled" and that his wisdom cost him
money. II you gain his good graces, he
will a~cquaint you with some of the tricks
of the island, some of the gratis" as he
calls them, and add, as a arewell salute.
Keep your hand on your watch, and don't
take any bad money"
The other day a man was held up In
broad daylight and relieved Of his watch
and $50. There was no ceremony about
1t whatever. He dropped into a resort to
| quench his thirst and was persuaded to
hand over his valuables before departing.
Everything new in the line Of popular
amusements lie tried at Coney Island. There
is q market and plenty Of money to launch
a novelty. As an instance, the proprietor
of one Of the largest amusement gardens
is paying a bandmaster ST. 600 a day for a
lengthy season at a resort further down
the coast. Persons who professed to know
said he would never get 1t back, but the
proprietor has made many fortunes at
Coney Island and knows his business.
The barkers at Coney Island. those de-
monstrative individuals who pose outside
Of all shows and praise the quality Of the
entertainment. within, form an interesting
study in themselves. Competition is keen
and they juggle the truth at will, in all cases
there's more on the billposters than inside
the tent, but that's a trade secret.
Charles A. Pomeroy, a New York business
man, is the owner Of a bill issued by the
United States government that perhaps could
not be duplicated. II he should pass 1t over
a counter the man in charge would give him
change for $40 II one side were UP, and $40
If the other side were exposed to view. 1t
is a pefcetly made and printed government
note, except that the back calls for vice
the value of the front.
1t is said that four such bills were issued
from Uncle Sans presses before the error
was discovered. Three OF them were caught
in time and destroyed, but the fourth began
its career in the commercial world; but how
far It went, or what experiences II passed
through no one knew until 1t fell into the
hands Of Charles S. Upton Of Rochester. who
recognized it's value as a CURIOSITY and took
it in out Of the cold. On his death he willed
1t to Mr.. PomeToy. He was offered $50 for
1t by the government and has refused 1900
from p private Individual,
This note was issued in January. 1861, by
the Second National bank Of Springfield,
Mass. There Is no doubt as to its genuine
ness. A test was made some time ago by
soaking 1t for two days in water, the state
ment having been advanced that 1t was
really two bills pasted together.
In this day Of Spanish in Eleven Les
sons at 40 Cents" and Every Man his
own Trainer it is not surprising to learn
that New York can boast of two establish
ments which will turn out fully equipped
maEicians at-bargain rates. One is located
on sixthcavenue, the other on the Bowery,
and both reach out for the trade OF
amateurs as we'll as professionals. Here
may be purchased tricks at prices ranging
from 10 cents to 81, 900. Here also is sup
piled the apparatus. for many we'll known
conjurers, for there are few who, like the
late Hermann and Kellar, can afford
private workshops. The store presents a
commonplace appearance and it's shelves
are stacked with tricks as are patent
medicines in a drug store or canned goods
In a grocery. The trick asked for will be
taken down and explained by the salesman
with ali the nonchalance OF the dry goods
clerk d~ilating on the good points of a ready
--,do ,,Gt Thas1 krfcLa ara for the most
part on familiar patterns, vases with false
tops, boxes with deceptive bottoms, or per-
haps such ambitious bits Of mechanism
as the sword with which a magician stabs
a deck OF cards and lmpales selected paste
boards. Here, too, may be bought the
glass handkerchief box In its old form,
and the familiar ball that will stop on a
string at the word of command. Some bits
of apparatus, heavily plated, cost as much
as $25 or even $50, within a mile or the
fashionable theater district Is a trick store
whose proprietors are decidedly averse to
advertising Of any sort. The firm denies
connection with any other concern, and
the less the general public knows or Its
wares, the more 1t is pleased. A new
purchaser must be vouched for by some
old customer. The concern deals in states
and other means employed by mediums"
One may have the choice Of half a dozen
modes Of slatewriting, or purchase the
hlmy wrappings with which the neshy
spirits clothe themselves. Devices for
table-rapping and other demonstration are
included In the stock offered. and, of the
three concerns mentioned, It must be ad-
mitted tina in proportion to its size and
capital, the last named firm does the most
profitable business. The more the dear
public is fooled, the larger price 1t is WILL
ing to pay for the experience.
There was a young woman in New
York who was warned against marrying
a man whom she was inclined to favor,
on the ground that he was Of unsteady
habits; but, on the other hand, he was
like the young man told Of in the Scrip
tures-he was very rich.
I'll risk him." she said. He will
never go too far when I am around-thai
is, not for the second time"
When they had been married for SIX
months. there came a time when he ar
rived home one night in considerable doubt
as to the location OF the keyhole.
h wife helped him hnd 1t, and with
much labor steered him into the bath
room and deposited him in the bathtub