THE GLIB-TONGUED.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 14, 17 January 1913, Page 2

THE GLIB-TONGUED.

HOLIDAY CONFIDENCE MAN

FIGHTING THE POLICE

MANY EXTINCT SPECIES

"Blackie" Daw; and "Colonel" Wallingford had their ingenious effective methods of "trimming a boob." The Australian magsman has his way of "getting a mug's sugar," but what a world of difference! Probably because he has a different class of people to do his confidential work among, or is it because he is not as glibtongued as those two now almost historical gentlemen? Certainly the covered carpet-tack stunt would not find favor in this city, although the many unwary have time and again been "magged" into more ridiculous schemes by infinitely less crude methods, and with far more rapidity. SUN-DIALS NOT FOR SALE. Bounteous seasons acted as a stimulant to our rural out^backers to spend holiday-tide and their hard-earned gold in Sydney, and they came in veritable droves. What a harvest it must mean for the confidence man! Probably he'.h&s been bringing his cunningness to bear in the busiest quarters of the metropolis, despite the fact that the police and detective force are engaged in grim battle against the evil. . Undoubtedly the authorities have succeeded in ridding the country of the great majority of the men who consider themselves your friend for life, but the lucrative profession is still rampant, albeit strips of Centennial Park^ the Domain, and Hyde Park are now universally considered Government property, and the sun-dial is known the world over as part and parcel of the Botanic Gardens.

THE MAN WITH A TIP

"Hulloa, my friend!" The man from the country looks across the racecourse tram compartment to the seat opposite, to be confronted by a well-dressed, reverend-looking gentleman. It seems compulsory to clasp the outstretched hand.

"I've got something really good " he whispers into the all-absorbing ear 'But I can't tell you here, the others will hear. Wait till we're on the course." Then they fall to talking of country life, and matters topical,.and by the time the racecourse gates are reached they are old friends, willing to drink with each other. The farmer's new-found friend may be fortunate enough, and only too pleased to win a pound at even money ™F hlf, new acquaintance on the first. Then a plunge is suggested. The parasite is handed, perhaps, ten pounds, and pocketing the money makes himself scarce till the horses are coming round the bend. Then he rushes to his client's side and yells excitedly, "Look, the mare! The mare wins ! Into the straight they come, and he makes certain "the mare" is out of the hunt. "Look, she's dropped back to fourth. That young dog on her must be up to his old dodges again ! 5J &

They pass the post, and "the mare' 1 finishes last.

But he is entrusted again, and by the "second last" the man with the money begins to get wise to himself, and the "gun" makes a hurried departure, pernaps to bag something just as lucrative. The pity of it is such incidents are not reported to the police. The plucked are generally too hard hit and sensitive to make public their unwariness."

OTHER SPECIES.

The species who talks his friend into a good thing" and ends up by persuading him to cash a cheque or hand over a bank-note or two is fast disappearing, although he crops up here and there occasionally, and the class who have sold strips of Centennial' Park, and Domain, and Hyde Park and who have pocketed a few pounds over the sale of the sun-dial in the Botanic Gardens will soon be extinct. The "hotel barber" cuts hair and trims beards and moustaches with as much fervor as ever, and the spieler who has a razor to sell is still -fine same pest as he was in years gone by. ■-, . c P^te gentleman predominates this festive season. A few days ago a lady visitor, carrying a baby in her arms, and surrounded by luggage was standing outside a city hotel wondering where she would get lodgings for herself and husband, when a pleasant voice greeted her ears. "I'll mind your luggage while,you go inside and look for lodgings, madam, -nl°\r SV A grateful look and Oh thank you!" and the woman bustled inside. Out she came smiling and then, "Good heavens! My lusgage!" It had gone. & Goodness only knows where, but madam surely must have been a selected bird the minute she stepped off the tram.

The rich uncle scheme and "Advance me £50 till I settle all preliminaries m connection with my legacy" tale appears to have petered out

HOW HE ENDS

The best of the tale-tellers must exhaust his supply of confidential, and he ends m one of what may be termed branches of the confidence profession. The thimble and the nimble pea, and the three-card trick generally satisfy his brain for a time, but has exchequer is not what it was, and the next scene in his life is probably the dock of the Central Criminal where he has been arraigned for a burglary of a big description.— Sydney Sun.