SNIDE SIDE-SHOWS

NZ Truth, Issue 1200, 29 November 1928, Page 6

SNIDE SIDE-SHOWS

On every showground throughout the Dominion, the sideshow man and cheapjack hold sway. They are there either to amuse or to sell gold watches at give-away prices. Eight opposite a stall where a perspiring gentleman is persuading the crowd to part up its half-crowns for fountain pens that are liot toys, but writing instruments that millionaires would be glad to own, there are dingy circuses the main attractions of which are young persons m. tawdry spangles.

THERE is also the man who per--1 forms tricks that the world's best magicians have endeavored by offers of countless thousands of pounds to wrest from him. And we must not forget our old friends of Chocolate Alley. ' ■ These folk are all right m their way. They realize that while the public does not mind being . fooled m an amazing manner, it does not like to be swindled. Therefore, they work their respective shows with an honesty that is a credit to them. There are, however, black sheep m every fold. And a large number of this type operated at the recent show m Christchurch. • The ordinary mortal will ask: "What about the police?" But the snide showman always is on the look-out for detectives and constables. If a stranger hovers about for a shqrt period, all he can see is a perfectly innocent game m progress. One stunt at Christchurch was a masterpiece of swindling. A man, obviously a laborer from the country, was outside a stall devoted to the gentle art of tossing darts. He was having a little controversy with the stallholder about a dart landing on a line. A rough-looking diamond strolled up, and also started wrangling with the showman. In a few seconds a large audience gathered. The rough person, m a loud voice, demanded a go. There was money on the game and he lost. He threw half a crown on the table. The showman appealed to the countryman, as a gent and a sport, not to lose the opportunity. The bet went up to ten shillings and, true philanthropist that he was, the showman tossed m a gold watch, 15 jewels and hunter case,' to go to the winner. The man from the country threw. Then the talkative "yegg" leaned right pver the table to, within an inch or two

of the board, stuck — not threw — the darts into high numbers, called the showman a few names and, gathering up the watch and silver, departed into the night. "Truth's" man returned an hour later, and there, m another section of the same .stall, stood the man who had won the gold watch. In another competition, the spruiker of the outfit loudly demanded "another player at sixpence" to make the game complete. After some persuasion, a man standing by was induced to play. With the skill that comes of practice he threw, m the most deliberate manner, the highest possible score. This might Have passed, but he walked away without his prize — an action that gave the show away, and which met with some terse comment from the disappointed players. Another man working with an accomplice, also at a dart stall, made up a pool of several shillings. A passerby was induced to play. He stuck a dart into No. 3. The showman said: "You lose" and passed the stakis over to the other man who did not throw a dart at all and who did not have the sense to walk away with his winnings. Instead, the accomplice stood by for the next. There's a mug born every minute. Such pariahs make a nasty impression, which remains, and puts the shrewd but honest showman m bad odour. Many showmen pay out like good . sports and conduct their games of chance along unquestionable lines, indeed, it was noticed that, when one woman— who €00. not know she had won — was walking away without her prize, the showman saw that she fcot it. It is up to ShoAv authorities to pass the fine comb over all applications for stalls, and weed out those whoao r«* cords do not show too favorably