Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-08-11
Street Amusements in New York.

The New Workers., in 1852, appear 10 De
very anxious to ascertain whether they
come up with the standard of their lore.
fathers, in point of size and weight and
ingenuity. Our streets exhibit the success
of their endeavors. If you pass up the
Bowery, on Saturday evening, you will
observe an elevated frame work, the upper
portion surrounded by bright steel di i
with traversing index. Suspended fir {,
this is very cozy armchair, where the
public are requested to be seated and weigh
ed by the averdupoise standard. 1t is really
quite surprising what quantity of persons
present themselves nightly, and are weigh
ed to the intense satisfaction of an admlrns
crowd, who are not at all backward in indulg-
ing in remarks upon those who place them
selves in the scales, while the proprietor OF
the concern keeps up perpetual sohclta-
ton of customers, intermingled with an
nouncements of the weighty subjects he
deals with
"Walk up, gentlemen, walk up On'y e
penny weight. Don't be afraid, my lad, Il
wont break down with you-ninety-sev"
en-! Step in, sir. l guess the chairs big
huff! Two hundred and eight AGery
respectable sized gen leman; ought to charge
you double, sir. Hope you wont lose any
flesh this warm weather. Only a penny
Now marin, admit you better let me weigh
you ?-wont charge you any more for your
market basket. Step out of the way, now
don't agitate the lady-hund'ed and ten,
including the market basket. Bill turn on
a little more of that gas. Get out the way,
niger. We don't weigh no wool here"
Close by this amusing spectacle may be
seen curious machine for testing the
weight of blow which person can strike.
1t consists of low frame work. supporting
a round object of about foot in diameter
and two feet IN length, one end of which is
elevated at a considerable angle. This end
is covered with stuffed cap-piece of rcd
morocco, and you are at loss to conceive
whether the apparatus is newly invented
mortar, modern telescope, or a repeating
cannon. You are soon appraised of ITS char
acter. A weazen faced man approach 3
and, rolling up his sleeves, squares o.
and hits the red cap violent blow. "Foul
pound-one penny, sir" exclaims the pro
prietor of the opposition.
"Come on, gentlemen, don't be afraid
This ere can't hit you back. Strike a:
ard as you can. That's right, sonny
you're regular bruiser. Ten pound
Come on p
''What's that 'ere?" asks tall brawny
big-6sted fellow.
"Tell how ard blow you can strike
for only penny, and wont it you back.
''No, nor you nuther, less yer want t'
get yer head broke Only one penny, ole
teller, eh?"
sony one penny"
The new applicant makes desperate
assault upon the red morocco, as if it wa
the head of some particular enemy, mucl
to the amusement Of the crowd, who en-
courage hiIn to ego in and address hin
as ''old top, understood to be a compli
: mentary cognomen. After a protractet
round he demands the result, but is told h,
, must strike but one blow. Very much dis
, satisfied, he threatens to smash the ma
chine and the proprietor, but is finally pa
, cited, and goes off, with the firm convic
ton that he has been done fer.
The next apparatus is for testing tht
, strength OF the lungs, which, at first sight
: strikes you as being cheap coffee stand
It consists of round vessel, of some kin'
r of metal, placed upon stand several fee
from the ground. Attached to the vesse
are several tubes, with mouth pieces, which
are inserted into the mouth. The victim
is then requested to blow. As he does so
an inner vessel rises up until the blower:
wind is exhausted when small register
marks the weight raised & tests the strength
of the lungs. The operation is an extreme
ly unpleasant one, and quite injurious te
people with weak lungs.
These are a few of our street amuse.
ments; and the persons who thus enable
the million to prove their powers of strength
and weight, really do very profitable Blu,
siness, and derive very good revenue from
their several Brother Jonathan