Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-08-09
The Kew YORK sAoo-Blaess.
fFFom the New York World I


There are in this city and in Brooklyn
eight hundred shoe-blacks. Disorganized
and individual IS these shoe-blacks appear to
be, they work upon a fixed principle, and
have their affairs as well understood as any
Of the trades Unions. The fixed price for
blackening pair OF boots has been for the
past two years ten cents. Any shoe-biaek
who polshes pais of brOgats for less than
this sum, is subjected to summary punish
ment; he is kicked, cuded, chofed, and push
ed out of the community.
Two Sundays ago youth with a new pair
of brushes, a stout box and excellent black
ing, appeared opposite Trinity Church. He
was approached by a committee of young
gentlemen, whose costumes resembled that
OF amosquito chief The following state col
loquy at once ensued:
Chairman Of committee (attired in cap
with rim, and jacket tied, but not but
toned)-"Say, you got no right here; we're
the sinners for this ere curb. Go long now,
or I'll whack you on the snout."
New shoe-black-"Le' me alone. What's
the reason 1 got no right2 Didn't I buy
them ERE brushes2'
Whole Committee --"Smithy, black his
eyel" Here Smithy rushed against the new
conner, and crowded him violently.
Smithy-"Go long, or you better"
At this point Smithy applied an OpprObri-
Gus epithet to the intruder. In a surprising
ly short sentence, he cast doubt upon the au-
thenticity of his birth, then stigma upon
the humanity of his maternity, and intimat-
ed that he should walk upon all fOurs, and
keep aloof in the dog-days.
At the conclusion of this withering inTic-
tive q posse of shoe-blacks set upon the in
vader and deprived him of his working capi-
tai; his box was tossed into the street, his
brushes cast into the church and himself de-
priyed Of much Of the remnant Of his pants-
looms,
The "boss" stUs-black is a distinguished
public character of these there are nearly
200. They are shrewd, resolute, and avari-
cious young gentlemen, who supply a num-
Der Of Bohenians with the instruments OLA
Dor, and pay them stated sum per diem.-
The boss himself stands close by his en-
ployees and supetintends the labor, now ant
then making g suggestion, as:
"Bandy shine up that ere heell" ''Yor
get too much blsckin' Pluggy; spit on itl"-
"stir your stumps, Sam, here's another gen
tlemanl"
Those who step near the Park are otter
amazed TO note, when they summon boy
that half q score Of unwashsd lads crouch a
his feet watch the process curiously. These
are generally the employees Of the "bOss,
who sits among them, and they are learning
the routine OF theif profession, institddnl
self-comparison as the job proceeds Ther'
is as much ambition in polishing a pair o
boots as in writing book or enacting trag
edy.
Some Of these boys have as much as SlOC
put away. A working boy gets go cents
day from his employer and the average re
ceipts Of an industrious shoe-black are Sl.2O
The have coffee houses where the eat anC
rendezvous, and are up betimes at 3 o'clock
work oeasing at 8 p. m, except in rare cases
After that time they hold horses or sell at
ternoou papers. Most Of them are inveterat'
gamblers and toss pennies with mercenarJ
intent.