The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-26
LIVE TOPICS ABOUT TOWN.

IOEl0S HDOtA lOVN
An unsophisticated person who hap
pened to drop into pugilistic circles these
days might easily guess that there were
more prizefghts being held in and around
New York than ever before. Tickets for
such events nay be obtained for almost
any night In the week at the usual places.
II may be stated positively, however, that
few OF these events violate the law. They
are merely fake fights that are part Of an
elaborate swindling scheme. This Is the
way that they are run: The tip IL cirou-
lated that there Is to be a fight in a certain
hall and that tickets for II are now on sale.
Every one who buys a ticket is sworn TO
secrecy and impressed with the conse-
quences II the police should discover II.
When the crowd is assembled and the
fighters are just ready to enter the ring
one Of the fakirs raises the cry; Police,
and a stampede follows which leaves be-
hind only the fighters and their confederates
and the money paid by their dupes TO see
the mill. There have been scores OF such
fakes worked successfully and the promo
tiers Of them have found the scheme very
profitable.
The story Of W. ID. Howells's belated reply
to Carter Harrison's request for his auto
graph made twenty years ago and Mr..
Howells's story in connection with il of the
boy who was sent for an armful Of wood
and who ran away 20 sea, returning fifteen
years later with the wood, must sugges
10 old newspaper mel In this town another
similar story. The hero was looked upon
as one OF the best reporters in New FORK
about twent y-fiye years ago. but he had
one conspicuous failing. He was convivial.
The city editor of his paper sent him over
10 Hoboken 10 interview the captain OF a
steamship that was To sail late in the after
moor for a South American port. The
ranOrfaT and fha pQntain found each other
80 congenial that they celebrated the fortu-
tous meeting by drinking each others
health, and the subsequent proceedings
were OF no immediate interest 10 the res
porter. When he awoke the next morning
in a comfortable stateroom he was many
miles from Sandy Hook bound for South
America, and the captain said that he was
glad OF IL. The reporter spent nearly a
year In South America and returned TO
New York. just twelve months from the
day hat he had been sent over 10 Hoboken
he walked into the Office of his old news
paper. The same city editor was sitting
al his desk. Walking up To him briskly
the reporter said:
Hoboken story, and there Is nothing in it,
The city editor looked at him sharply
and then replied: AN right. Here il some
thing that we may want 70 print. and the
incident was closed.
The signalling that was done on Saturday
night by the ships Of Admiral Evans's fleet
OF Tompkinsville reminded some of the
men Who were Watching for the Princes
arrival OF the experiences they had with
this kind of signalling during the Santiago
blockade.
Il noticed" said one of them, after
we had left our newspaper dispatches with
the commanding officer to be censored,
49, d. 4. 1. .-aa a III shara mae ItataallU
a lot OF signalling from his ship. We thoughs
at first that IL was merely the routine sig
Mailing. One night as we were on the deck
Of our despatch boat watching the chang
ing red and white lights we decided to learn
what all this signalling was about The
ode Is simple. We made a record OF the
signals displayed and when we d~eciphered
them we were surprised that the com
manding officer was telling all the fleet OF
the news In the dispatches which we had
Of this news we thought hat we had ex-
clusively. and 1t was rather boring TO hnd
II published to all Of the fleet
Az one Of the best-known Of the city res
taurants a supper was given during the past
week by a person who had frequently en-
tertained there extensively in the past.
The guests were late in leaving and it was
nearly 3 o'clock when the first Of them
started to go home. The pioneers were
soon followed by others.
As the guests departed after a supper
that had cost hundreds OF dollars, a group
Of walters stood waiting 10 help them with
awaited any contributions that the party
might care TO give. But this was not the
only intimation that anything additional was
expected. -,
one waiter posing insolently did not
assist his colleagues in their labors. He
was helping them in another way. With
one hand In his pocket. he constantly
clinked some silver change in his pocket.
He intended that the hint of the saucer
should not be forgotten.
Il should like 70 see that man attempt
such a thing anywhere else in the world
said one OF the guests who had lived abroad
much. He would not be tolerated for a
moment. But Americans are good natured
enough TO let him alone whereas he
would be ordered out Of the room in any
other country