The New York herald., 1879-09-30
Their Haunts, Habits, Profits and
Peculiarities.
CROSBY STREET CELLAR.
The Fine Distinction Between the "Rasman'
and the "Ragpicker."
PRACTICAL VALUE OF RAGS.

things" says famous translator, but that vulgar
is easy of treatment ia not the experience of
the man who attempts to ather facts concerning
raspickers That any diliculty should DO expert
onced i'll obtaining reliable data concerning this
class docs indeed seem strange but It's reverthe-
less true Whether it is fear that true state
ment OF the revenue derived from picking rags
would bring many recruits to the craft or whether
IT s natural reticence peculiar to the occupation
itself 1t is impossible state but that ragpckers
silent when questioned is the almost universal
rule. Those who do consent to talk of their .busi-
sort OF jargon quite unintelligible.
The speech OF the ragpicker is eclectic,
IL borrows words from the ver-
nacular Of thieves. something OF current
slang with much OF the Italian patois. Most of tho
ragpickers now in New York are Italians whose
education in English language has been obtained
among lower classes. and thus the potpourri Ian
cuage they speak is accounted for Under ordinary
circumstances the habtatons OF the Italians not
the ceanest, and when to natural affinity for dirt
the pickings from the citys cutters and ash boxes
are added. condition of filth is obtained which
even the famous lines of Coleridge concerning
Cologne would fail to perfectly describe. The ad-
Of the italian in the rag picking business is
cent. A few years ago most Of the rag picking
done by Germans, but the Germans have been driven
of the business by the men from Southern
less than the frugal, thrifty Teuton. An
odd old Irishman, who now keeps junk shop in
Crosby street. but who in years gone by used to
tramp the streets with a bag and poker, says con-
cerning the Italians. in whose neghborhood he now
is:-"Thim Oitalians kin live Almost less than
nothin'. The Chinee lives rats and roice but
thin divils git along fat beer and garlic" Even
this eccentric old character. who is said TO have
built up respectable fortune rags. bottles and
n11 hate ha {t,1,n
the secrets touching tho financial economy OF the
craft. While he quite full OF general criticism
of the people into whose hands the business has
gone he pleaded utter ignorance of how much money
could be made i'll day by an industrious deliver.
'They don't make much." said he. ''but howsom-
ever little it's pnsy for the loikes OF thim."
AN ITALIAN RAG SHOP.
Failing to get any information concerning the
grea. army from those to whom they bring thoir
stuff for sale HERALD reporter sought out the rag
pickers in their haunts. thinking that there ho
would be rewarded. Passing from the well lighted
precincts of broadway down Prince street to that
dngy lane called Crosby street. just below the stage
entrance to Niblos Garden, to which were hurrying
dozens of ballet girls and stage figures the great
spectacle now being presented at the famous old
theatre, the reporter found himself i'll one
OF the numerous Italian settlements of the
metropolis With these people. as with all
others, birds of feather flock together
Iu Sullivan street be found most of the Italian
laporcrs who work the big pipes and great
works in the upper districts; in Baxter and Null
berry streets. in the region once known the Five
Points the padronc is located, and III Crosby street.
where the reporter now found himself. dwell the
ragpickers. The profession of ragpcker is not pre-
empied to any age Men and women or all
ages. from twenty even TO seventy, are engaged i'll
tile industry, and children without numUcr help
them in many ways. Whole efanilies-grandnothers,
graIidfathcrs sons. daughters and grandchildren-
often ccvote their mutual energies 10 the
trade. 1t to such abode as this that
the reporter went, directed by local detective
who has sort OF supervision over the Italians in
the precinct. The old folks late additions
the establishment; but the head of the house, a
handsome looking Neapoltan. had boon in the coun-
try several years and spoke the peculiar lingo
forred to above In the front cellar, by flicker
ins light OF an ordinary stable lantern. he found
surrounded by tour or ivo women and several boys
and girls almost buried to tho neck in rags and
waaie papor. All hands were busy sorting out into
different heaps the stun collected during tho day.
In heap in tho corner all tho rags
piled. iicre was mound of brown wrapping paper.
there Il hlock OF white fragments. aud diversified
all about lay little congregations OF various things
bones and bootlegs, for instance. little chap
not eight years of age was diligently
separating the linen from the woollen rem
nan,s and the head of the house was examining
peculiar collection OF folded paper that had been
thrown into barrel. On the walls scound
various tally marks. made with piece of charcoal.
The Whole interior recalled to mind Dickens
picture OF tho den OF the Lord Chancellor in
''Bleak House." who let his spare rooms to littlo
Miss Flight and Nemo the law copyst.
A OF FINDS"
the man at the barrel OF papers and curious odds
Ing assured that he came only out or curious inter-
est the Italian became communicative and answered
all questions concerning his business except those
concerning profits. On this topic he was not at all
slGar- sometimes thoy mado much money and again
very little. lie wished to convey the idea that tho
ragpicking was one of the most risky businesses
III which man could embark. He further stated
that already there were too many III it. "Yes," he
thought ''if there were not 80 many It might be
pretty good business. but ut present it was very
poor All the while the reporter stood under tho
swinging lantern talking with the boss the women
though life depended on their getting through be-
just begun work. whereas they had been out in the
streets the veong day gathering the contents OF that
cellar Most of them had made as many as three
tours one in early morning. when shops and stores
we're being swept another, the thin onc' the boss
called 1t. at about and third about halfpast
were being cleaned out. While the conversation
during which this Information was impaired was
IN progress. the nosc OF loud laughter and
the stamping OF feet heard overhead and
the vgor Oh the stamping started tho old lantern
trembling violently. Whom the reporter inquired II
any work in connection with the rag business
going overhead. the boss laughed and said mo,
II is Italian boarding house." He would be
happy to show the newspaper man mp thcre II ho
had any Interest in seeing tho place. and being
sured that it would bo considered treat he led tho
way. In the room over the rag shop party OF mon
were found seated around card table. which
lighted by tallow candle stuck III tho mock ut beer
bottle. Ths table was the ony bit Of furniture in
the apartment. Tor what looked like q bureau. in
dark corner. proved to bc several hand organs piled
top OF oEe another Play Interrupted
by tho new comcrs, but fow words from
the ragnlan rea'surod the players. aud
thoy won't quite pot OF money
on the table, and after looking at tho players
long enough 10 be convinced that .hey wore organ
grinders returned from various rural districts, gam
bling their bcggings, tho four haId-oran- at lrst
regarded as bureau, were inspected. The sye hav-
lug grown used to the indifferent Light OF tho place.
IL clear to be that top of the organs
perched monkey. The tired brute fast asleep,
and now and thon he nodded like a human being.
Suddcuy another outburst OF laughter and stamp
ing such had beon heard below, broke tho car
announcing that some one had won the pot. and tho
poor monkey was startled out Of his rest. 10
opened his blcarod eyes FOR moment
Stared In the direction OF the players, and
then, after administering scratch two
his side. he returned 10 his interrupted dreams
OF land where there arc neither hurdy-gurdies
nor pennies. The boss bought an interest in Tho
game aud tho reporter left him ia the dining
with the players and tho monkey. Thus live aud
thrive the Italian ragpckers who day and night poke
Al, hoanq of rubbish 10 siich A ahop ua IA here de