Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-11-09
The Chocolate Venders of San Fran

Long after the shades of night have
fallen over the city, and the light from
the struggling gas-jets which municipal
has provided at the
curbstone serves the belated pedestrian,
the monotonous cry of the chocolate
vender hoarsely resounds through some
of the streets which are little frequent
ed by day, and only achieve their prom
inence at night. The chocolate vender
is by no means an ugly man to look at
his figure is good, and his face, decorat-
ed with heavy moustache, is frank
and open. The white cooks cap sur
mounts his head, ard his large white
apron, caught at the chin and banded
at the waist, reaches nearly to the
ground. In one hand he carries tin
case, within which small cups and
saucers, spoons, sugar, and few dam
ties sleep in their berths until reused
for immediate use. His other hand,
half opened, rests at the side OF his
mouth, and serves as a rude speaking
trumpet to carry the words, "Choco-
late! hot chocolater' further through
the fog which has rolled up the street
in charity to cover the wickedness and
sin of the narrow street, and gradually
to condense itself into tears on the win
dow panes of the houses where excite
ment and revelry have long since
superseded happiness and peace. His
assistant walks behind-a Chinaman-
also wearing a large white apron, and
he clatters along with the half-trot,
half walk, which centuries of toll have
taught his race to be the least exhaust
i've step when bearing a burden. The
assistant has pole over his shoulders,
and from each end is pendant slzable
tin chest, the contents of which We
may discover if we ask for meal on
the sidewalk at 2 a. m. The red
glow of Goals shows through a
hole at the bottom of ore of these
chests.
On walks the chocolate vender, close
| ly followed by his Mongolian assistant.
| The Frenchman's step is firm, his car
riage upright, and there is an express
sion Of seif-satisfaction ON his counten-
ance, even while his hoarse voice con-
tinues the cry, 4" Chocolate Hot cho-
colate p The Chinaman is the per-
sonifcation of an oppressed man, who
has turned philosopher, and discovered
the happy power of avoiding thinking.
| His head is bowed. his eyes rest on the
| pavement, and no shade of expression
is exhibited on his yellow face. He ac-
complishes his task alike without inter
est and without impatience. If he has
| thought it is concerning his six bits
| per day.
In front of a small wooden house. the
lower part of which once served for a
shop or saloon, and just under a gas
lamp, the vender stops. In place Of
bottles and assorted groceries which
once decorated the prominent, low
show-windows, two women, coarse, vul-
gar and repulsive, now occupy it. One
of these has signaled our vender. He
receives her order and proceeds to fill
it. One of the tin chests of the China
man is uncovered, and bed of bright
| Goals exhibit their surface. A lamb
| chop is taken from another compart-
ment, and is soon sizzling on the grid.
iron, is turned, seasoned and served on
q hot plate. Potatoes, nicely fried, are
discovered in another recess; a roll oi
French bread appears as if by aid of a
conjurer; the cup of chocolate is drawn
and all are spread on a little table
There the female night-bird lunch
es, with one eye on the chop and
the other on the street, watching fol
prey.
The coffee vender passes on with hi.
fdus Achates All Sin !; he will return fol
the dishes by and by. Thus the choco
late vender earns his living. From
midnight until three o'clock, sometime.
four, he wanders through streets, by
ways and lanes which other honest mer
avoid, crying Chocolate Hot choco
late p and All Sin, laden with bread
meat, fire and chocolate, trudges pa
| tientIy at his heels.