Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-10-01
SKETCHES OF Low LIFE.
The Ragpicker,l Wrddin-

We were passing in a certain street. located
somewhere in the upper part of the fourth dis
trlct, or the lower part Of Jefferson city-we
don't wish to be too precise in our designation
OF the elocality-when we noticed a bridal party
emerging from church. A wedding is sure
TO attract the attention and arouse the curiosi-
ty of the most Indifferent On this occasion,
we could hardly help noticing the party for
we were near the church door and naturally
stepped aside to let the crowd pass; and hayinp
taken the wall side of the bsnquette instead Of
the gutter side. we had to wait till all passed
First came the bride and bridegroom; they
we're young and looked happy, as people gem
orally do on such an occasion. The youthful
and pretty bride was tastefully dressed and
the new Benedict was attired in a very becom-
ing manner, bearing his new honors with the
aylaBtJ of a man Of the world. Immediately
after the couple marched another of mature
age, evidently the parents-a portly old gem
tleman, in black coat and pants, with erayat
YES; and kid gloves of spotless white, patent
leather pumps and heavy gold chain, escorting
a respectHble-lOOkiDg matrOn in black, silk,
whose jeveled hand twinkled with the fires of
several diamonds she passed under the light
Surely we know these two faces, thought We;
we have seen this old gentleman before but
where and on what occasion! This smoothly
shaved chin, glossy hat and fashionable garb
puts Us off the scent, but we surely know him
That old lady, too, has familiar face She
spoke as she passed, and we recognize even her
voice. W ho can they be!
Another and another couple pass US, and we
recognize more faces. We can't attach a name
to any Of them. but we know those features
well; only, it seems to us rs if they were all in
disguise We begin to feel interested and peer
scrutinizingly into every face as il passes; this
may seem rude, but our curiosity was too much
engrOssed for US to reflect. We certainly know
that sallow face with the Jewish cast so strong
ly marked we have seen this old Frenchmsn
a. Aaa- III
last groups are leaving the church; man steps
forward, alone All, can it be? Yes there is
no mistaking this one; that's old Jacob, the
Tagman, whom we protected one day from the
attacks of fierce dog. Why, how fine be looks
10 that black coat and stiff cravatI He has
recognized us and bows; let US not be bashful
if We want to crafty our curiosity. We take
old jacobs arm. and inquire who il is has lust
got married. lie tells US Nina, the daughter
of old Fritz, the rag-picker, with Ernest, the
son Of Wilhelm, the rich rag merchant. We
look at old Jacob, wondering whether he is
trying to quiz us-rich rag -pieker-rag-mer
chant-we don't well understand how those
terms can be connected. We ask old Jacob 10
explain; does he pretend To say these young
folks we have seen pass. looking 50 genteel and
fashionable, are rsg-piekers! The old man
smiles; since he pulled his leg from between
tae dog ; faugs, old jacob looks upon us as
friend, and many rs the time have stopped
20 have a chat with him, early in the morning
at some street corner. "COme with me, - SAYS
be, - III tell you about it, and if you want to
come to the house, you will be welcome"
We follow the gay procession, listening to
the old fellows revelations. Every man and
woman in the party was connected with the
rag business. Wilhelm. the pOTtly old gentle
nan wGOm we noticed, following immediately
the married. couple. is the richest r1g-IaAn in
the city; he has long abandoned the hook and
even the car. and keeps a wholesale, depot.
buying from the piekers and csrters, and SELL
ing - the manufacturers. lie is empha.ically
the king If the ragmen, being the eieoi ed chief
who presides over and directs thst Mysterious
people. But Wilhelm is withal q democratic
sort Of king and has not hesitatcd in letting
HIS son Ernest marry the girl Of his choice,
the beautiful Nina, the daughter Of hoDest,
b1t poor Fritz. lie gives his son 3 fine house to
live IN and Eve p.0usand dollars to start in
business, Tor Ernest has received an excellent
saue au00 and has been for some years past
nead clerk IN one of our commereiaf houses
NINA In neTseif IA q treasure; IL old sFritz has
Temained poor IT is beesuse he has laxisbe ed all
the money he made upon his darling daughter;
she has studied IN one Of our best educaiional
Institutions, Is an excellent musician, sipgs ad-
mirable and paints with much taste besid,s
oeing skniea n All the arts necessary to make
There are gatious branches in the rag busi--
ness. OF, rather, fagmen are divided into sev-
eral classes, between whom the social dist;nc.
,ions Of raul are as marked as in those we ind
in society ~ large. Rags have also their ari,-
tocrscy. The ragpicker proper--the primitive
rsgpIcker, Who is to he found all over the
woFld-is thss dirty, foriorn looking m On or
woman whom you see at day-bfeak, armed