Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-17
TRICKS IN ALL TRADES.
How Street Fakir Drew Crowd and
Got Money from It.

A small, active and enterprising
vendor of the itinerant variety was
standing near the corner of School
and Washington streets the other even
ing, loudly expatiating on the con-
tents of sealed envelope which he
held in one hand, while with the other
he shook a small, gaudy covered pam
phlet in the faces OF the "rubbering'
crowd.
Get together, gentlemen, get to-
gether," he exclaimed with Chelsean
dialect, and an expressive sweep OF
the pamphlet to the goodly crowd that
lowered near.
us that all we get?" inquired tall,
lanky chap, with sleepy face and a
moist mustache.
The vendor pretended unconscious
ness and the crowd snickered.
The street merchant continued.
Now, gentlemen, m selling you this
envelope for nickel, half dime. s
cents, and I'm giving you this book,
at the same time. The book Is adver-
Using, but to place it in your hands /
must sell you this envelope"
whats the matter with selling the
book and giving the envelope away?'
queried the lanky chap, clearing his
throat noisily.
The answer was scornful glance.
whats in the envelope?' asked an
interested spectator.
"IIa, hal" laughed the man Of the
sleepy face, and the crowd echoed him.
The vendor looked fierce for mo-
ment and then said: For the benefit
of those who have just arrived, will
open one" And he opened the ordi-
nary manila pay envelope and took out
five plain white cards. Hold them
up to the light, gentlemen, that's all
That's all"
And guess it'll be enough"
vouchsafed the lanky chap, with a
queer grin.
A smile ran through the crowd,
while number loudly laughed at the
suppressed anger OF the little man in
the plaid suit.
Gentlemen. these cards are trans
parencies. One is called The Dancer,
another The Bather,' another Through
the Keyhole,' the fourth one is The
VISION and the title of the fifth one
wouldn't dare to say, but l think
you will readily recognize in it the
features of the smart Aleck who is try
ing to make monkey Of me and injure
my business" And he looked hard at
the tall chap.
This witty drive at the talkative man
pleased the crowd immensely, and they
Immediately sided with the vendor.
who, for few minutes, had quite a
brisk trade.
Then the lanky chap spoke. Cheese
it, the cop"
Gentlemen, my business is perfectly
legitimate. II l wasn't here l would
be managing a railroad, Or"
"Or in JAIL" interrupted the tall
man with prolonged groan and a
funny cookie of laugh.
The crowd, which was increasing
every minute, roared with laughter
and a patrolman, who was on the out
skirts, grinned and quietly disappeared
up School street.
Gentlemen" piped the merchant as
he made couple of quick sales, "Im
sorry for this unavoidable Interrupt
ton. This insulting loafer, instead of
being at home with his starving wife
and children or trying to earn an hon
est dollar to keep them from the poor
house, buns enough drinks to make
him foolish, and then tempts fate by
trying to take the bread and butte!
out of my mouth"
who's fate?" quered the lanky
chap.
II am" was the answer.
Thought your name was Green?"
you IDIOT" said the street vendor
fiercely. do you want to fight?"
Moo; but I'll take chew of tobac-
cy if you have 1t handy"
The merchant shook his fist at him
and then turned to the laughing
crowd. "As was saying, gentlemen,
the book is an advertisement, but the
envelope" a..
as a fake"
And when the crowd recovered from
their fit of laughter the lanky man had
disappeared in the darkness.
But the crowd was a huge one by
this time and in the best Of humor,
and until the last envelope was dis
posed of the street merchant had lit
tie time to do else but sell.
An hour later the writer saw the
vendor and the lanky chap convivially
discussing two large glasses Of amber
oolored fluid in a North End saloon
Verify. there are tricks in every trade
-BOStOn Herald