The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-06-24
IN NEW YORK

New YORK, June Z4.-AtCf6cC ACCen.
ton! Get q crowd! Stunts. novelty,
trickery-anything to grab off q
transient penny! Strange people en-.
gagged in strange antics!
Such is the song of the side streets
in midtown Manhattan.
At q fireplug a fellow stops for q
moment and pretends to tinker with
the top. Soon he has a small crowd
around him. They all gawk like stage
yokels. A capper keeps a keen eye
rowing the outskirts for a copper. Soon
the fellows has whipped out q bit Of
felt and some polish. He begins to
shine up the brass top Of the n.y.
drant. He's selling something. In
dividuals in the crowd look foolish.
They've been taken in.
+ =
Down the street another fellow
dressed like q musical comedy
Frenchman-few Frenchmen really
look like ~that-stops you and asks q
polite question. He pretends not to
understand your answer. He begins
to argue in bad English. Suddenly he
whips an envelope from his pocket
and In the best, or worst, Of Brooklyn
English tries to sell you some dirty
French postcards. You knew-at
least I did-that he was a phoney
from the moment he walked up. But
I was curious about his racket.
Milling in the crowd on the Grand
Central station floor-a furtive eyed,
excited-looking fellow who rushes up
with the information that he has left
his purse at home. Oh, no 80. no in
deed. he doesn't want to beg q single
nickel. He happens to have a few
bits of jewelry on him. He vas going
to sell them. anyhow. But he'll give
you a fine bargain. All because he
needs railroad fare.
I find myself wondering II there's
anyone SO sappy as to be deceived.
And the fellow who plays q similar
game at nightfall, particularly II he
finds you walking In . mean neigh
borhood. He darts out from q door,
way and whispers that he has some
swell jewelry-never mind how he
got p! The insinuation Is, Of course,
that he committed q theft. He has to
unload, because the dicks are
watching him. Anything-give him
what you want and you can have .
swell ring!
Oh well. maybe I do look like q guy
who would conspire with q crook!
In the mid. Forties, the fellow with
the much-labeled suitcase. most
Of the labels from South American
ports-who yanks you into q door
way to show you the elegant Pana-
mas he can sell you cheap because he
didn't have to pay duty.
And two fellows who play a similar
game. but try to sell you genuine
coronas'' "sneaked in" by friends on
q boat.
Always the intimation Of some petty
crookeryl
How DO they get away with it?
The wise binnbo who thought up .
scheme for dodging the auto parking
regulations. In Manhattan there's an
hour limit on parking. He takes .
territory Of several blocks and works"
the busy men Of the office buildings.
For fifty cents Q day he sees to it that
your car Is moved 1t regular intervals
and Is back where It started by the
end Of the day. With ten or more Gus
toners he can make his Is : day with
out working.
What . Worldl
4 j,
The fellow dressed in sailor toys
who. displays : pair Of trick parokeets.
They perform 60 amazingly, you're In
trisued into buying them. But when
you get home you find that. some-'
how or other. he switched cages on
you. The birds you bought can't do .
darn thing but aquawk. Oh well. I
come by It honestlyl Ny grandfather
bought one Of the first gold bricks.
GILBERT SWAN
(Copyri9ht. lo2o. NEA Service. Incl