Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 July 1889 — Swindling at Calais. [ARTICLE]

Swindling at Calais.

There was one fellow in particular whose roguery impressed me by its sheer boldness and nerve. - He was a tall, gaunt ruffian, with a broken nose and a goiture like an Italian Swiss, | His hat was a dingy old English derby, i his shabby dress showed not even--the [ faintest notion of imitating a uniform, and he spoke only a few words of English. Yet he was going around and I collecting from all the passengers | Whom observation showed knew no French, the sum of 6d. for each piece 1 of luggage they had brought over on the steamer. In this he was aided by ail the porters, who.because they spoke English, had been employed to carry this luggage. These thieves having satisfied themselves that the ir particular patron knew no French, would beckon to this chief swindler, and then say: “This is'the agent of the steamship company. You must pay him 6d. each for nine pieces of luggage.” Of course this sweeping fraud would now and again strike a snag. Some passenger who retained his senses in the tumult and crush! would explain that he was not born yesterday. Then the tout would make a pretense of looking at this wise man’s luggage ticket, and, with unabashed-effrontery, say: “Oh, I see you paid on the other side.” To talk to the station-master or train officials about this impudent rascality would be like whistling to the moon. They are all leagued together, from the top to the and they . the cheekiest crew of villains to be found at the present moment anywhere outside a prison.—Cor. New York Times.