Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-29
A RINGER.
CONTINUED from page ~

games All kinds of them have been run
ming. have been running conSpicuouSiy,
too. There have been shell games and
games of all kinds for the purp ose of eX-
tracing coin from the pockets 'of the gull
lble. Most of them have the sure thing
appearance to the onlooker ana lhat Is
what they are. The trouble Is that the
sure thing is for the operator and not
the PLAYER A large nW nber of the peo'
pie in attendance at the show, TO-DAY,
have found this out
ONLY one case of peck cit picking has
been reported and that was one of the
BOYS engaged in selling sc ere cards, VINO
had 10 cents taken from hi : pocket.
Spoaking of the score cardi calls to mind
that it is much changed . from previous
years. having more the apl earance of a
theatre program than Il race meet score
card The price has been advanced. 1t
costs YOU 10 cents now, whereas 1t used
to be but five The reason fort this is sup
lnoscd to be that the mercha ats who adj
yertisa in it are given the space free, SO
l1hat those who use the cards have to pay
for giving the merchants an opportunity
to advertise.
There has lcen more drunkenness about
the grounds. today, than any time this
week. and it has been said t1at several
places have been selling straig mt lager in
the guise of Uno
"Hod" Nelson, christened Charles H.,
of Waterville, is very much In evidence
at the fair, this year. Not that there
| is anything especially new in that, for
Hold has been conspicuous at every
| fair in Bangor for ever so 1n@iny years
past and it would, indeed, seem strange
not to see him striding up end down
the stretch. during the afternoon and
| calling up advice to the Judges in the
stand or else making sarcastic remarks
at the decisions which Were announced
or at someone's style of driving. All
these things the WaterEillc man has
done this week and 50, when, on yester-
day afternoon, he announced that the
owner OF Norh r. was either crooked
or foolish, it provoked a laugh. Mr..
| Nelson then went on to explain that he
meant that if the mans horse was not
a ringer he was a fool to drive her
so fast in a race of that kind and mark
her so low, for 50 small Il sized purse.
while if he was working in a. ringer
{ he certainly must be crooked.
| Mr.. Nelson is just the same, appar-
emily. as he was a dozen years ago.
Full of life and gruff. hearty friendli-
ness, always saying what he thinks,
| even though it does hurt someone's
1 feelings, at the same time ready to do
any a kindness when it is in his power.
1t is to be hoped that "Hol' will con-
| tinue for many years to come, to be q
! feature of the show.
TITS surprising the rapidity with
which some youngsters have grown
mustacies and goatees this week. 1t
| is equally strange that these facial
adornments are all of then same color
and style. 1t is that, until you take
The second look and then you under
stand the whole scheme. One of the
fakirs on the grounds is selling false
mustaches and boards and the boys are
patronizing him with the greatest
liberalty.
They are decidedly cleverly made and
to one who has not had much expert
ence it is bit difficult to catch on to
the fact that they are not genuine. The
way they will change the appearance
of young man or boy is astonishing.
The boys are having lots of fun by
reason of this diversion and are puz-
zling their friends not a little.
A visitor at the fair, today, was Will
liam Blethen, better known as Bill
of Dover. Mr.. Blethen runs the
Blethen House in that town and IS
known from one end of Maine to the
other, by reputation, at least. Every
, travelling man who goes over the state
to any extent, knows Bill and has had
many a good meal and good time in his
hotel.
Rlethen is. to the stranger, about the
gruffest man that ever took charge OF a
hotel. Get acquainted with him and he
{; has got a heart as big as an OK and the