The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-12
UP IN THE ATTIC.
A Reportorial Pilgrimage.


The roar of the drays on the levee sound
ing like distant surf, the prolonged whistling
of the boats and the changing of their bells
gave notice of big day on the landing, but
this rush failed to communicate any life to
the dreary quiet of Exchange Alley. The
usual number of "old-timers" were congrega-
ted about the little tables of the cafes slipping
chocolate and discussing topics which, per-
haps thirty years ago, might have been inter-
esting in the same circle, but which to-day,
in general circles, are voted CHORES"
The sunlight had thrown the shadow of an
old hanging sign on a certain spot on the
wall, and every louDger seemed to at once re-
cognize the fact that it was half past 5 in the
afternoon, for they pointed at the shadow,
nodded their heads, and called for their
"Absinthe-Anisette" preparatory to taking
their departure A few of the grayer heads
were dreamily doing over veteran chess
boards, oblivious of everything save gambit
aud mate, and white aproned barkeepers
looked on over their shoulders, recalling the
great games seen at that table in 50.
As the shadow of the sign assembled, bare
armed women would appear at the windows
looking down on the alley and take in their
washing, and puny children would drift to-
wards the book store where bright Autographs
were temptingiy displayed
| There was evidenced on the part of the
whole neighborhood a general. disposition
to get out of doors after the days heat with
perhaps but one exception, and this excep-
ton seemed to be unsteady inclined,
for out of q garrett window a little thread
of weakly flute notes was sent out by
the lodger, who enjoyed the honor of
paying four dollars week for his lofty cham
bre garnis. He appeared to be rather senti-
mental just before the short twilight stole up
the streets. almost obliterating the alley as a
we'll defined thoroughfare, for in lugubrious,
doleful love plant he footed out some affect
ing piece of minstrelsy once popular amongst
gentlemen of the burnt cork profession.
He was sitting on the bed, his fingers rising
and falling according to the music Il require
ments of his ditty, and his whole attention
seemed to be conferred in the effort to get out
an impossible sharp note from his instrument.
Not more than thirty years of age, it would
appear that there was enough youthful energy
there to insure at least little show OF sue
cess, but nature had never intended that flute
to get up to that octave, and SO the last bar
was duly omitted. We opened his door
of blear eyed old woman down stairs and
introduced oursef as a pilgrim in search of
knowledge.
"Ah, yes" said he, laying his finite gently
down on the bed, "that's it, is it? Well, this
is just little more than bargained for, but
it's exactly in my line. Advertising is what
believe in, but our set have to do it with our
mouths. Would like to know about razor
strap, scizzor sharpeners, patent glass cutters,
and all them things, hey? I believe you've
come to the right 'pothecary shop for that,
sir, for I've been in the trade now nigh on to six
years, and I've dabbled in everything from
grease extractors to lightning calculators.
Here he opened much-abused old valise and
taking out darkly-colored meerschaum pipe,
with smack of pride deliberately filled and
commenced putting like porpoise at it.
"Theres no end of the novelties we push
in our rounds, sir, because, you see, it don't
do to run too long on one thing. Here's
case in point: Three weeks ago l had been
doing pretty fair trade in china cement that
I make out of gum shellac, when suddenly
business died out, and then / took to my
grease eradicator, and that run me through
four days. The public wasn't quite prepared
for it though, and only got fifty-fve dollars
out of it. I struck 'em then with tooth pow
der, and it's running yet. Mighty bad teeth
down here in Orleans, sir, and I'll do them a
power of good before 60. No, it don't cost
much to get it up. These two-bit boxes of
nv purely vegetable neutralizing tooth-paste
cost me about one cent
"Thats not it, sir; it isn't what thing
costs, it's the quality. You bet if my powder
takes'the deposit off the teeth the people will
buy it, and they would prefer not to know
what it is My experience is, man bankers
after a thing he don't know anything about.
T. hat oHoS ham huv I
started out in Schenectady, N. Y. with patent
humming top, the thing went off with rush
just because you couldn't see how the machine
was wound up. Scizzor sharpeners and needle
threaders for this reason don't take hold
right off Do you know talked two towns
almost dead before made needle threaders
take? they had very few sewing machines
there, but made them buy the threader so
that they could buy machine for it afterwards.
"Jehosphat my dear sir, money burns in
peoples pockets, and you'll always find
fortable living. Jim Day, with his glass
cutters, cleared $4,000 in three months
last winter, and have scooped about $500
in six weeks. You remember the German
top man, who was murdered here about three
years ago? Well, he was ahead some $500
in eight days. There is great deal OF luck
about it, and it is like running circus.
81 wouldn't care particularly about telling
you why went in the business, because, like
the old story, there is woman in it. was
clean gone on one of the sweetest little dar-
lings New York, State ever heidi" and here the
man gazed vacantly out the window over
neighboring roofs at the steeple of Christ
Church, and seemed to be dreaming of past
and better days. "But that's neither here
nor there, and we won't talk about that now, !"
said he.
| As we had no further business with the ped
dler, we wished him good evening and with
drew. The stairway creaked fearfully as We
went down. and mild flavor, suggestive of
picked cabbage, foated through the Railways
of the building. A garrulous parrot pleaded
in parrotty French for crackers over the land
lady's door, and pendant therefrom was a
futtering piece of card board with the in
scription thereon, "Chambres Garnies a
Louer" Exchange Alley seemed darker and
the lights in the cafes brighter as we passed
out, and it was pretty plain to an impartial
observer that the alley had reached another
| NJ IF ito ovictopca