Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-14
SUPPEzS IN THE STREET.
What Men Can Find to Eat Late at
Night On metropolitan Thorough.


HOT corn is q familiar cry on the streets of
New York. Long ago it became metropolitan
institution. Scattered all along the pavement
of the Bowery and its ne9hboring thorough
fares. on any of these frosty nights, may be
found perhaps dozen or more fat black kettles
swung over an alcoholic flame. Under their
covers are closely laid ears Of boiled corn, steam
Ing hot. whose best advertisement is the tooth
some odor of the steam floating out upon the
air. 1t attracts many customers, and one
vender often sells one hundred or more ears at
profit of about two dollars nightly. They
make supper at five cents an ear not dear to
the impecuaious aud bv no means despicable
10 the affluent. Yet the familiar hot corn
and the hOnOred raw oyster stand are by no
means the only methods to satisfy the I'M
timely cravings of a nOmad:c stomach for q tri-
fling consideration. The streets abound with
provisions for the poor man. il he but knew
where to look. There is the shrimp nan. Tn
known above 18th street. he is cherished friend
OF thousands below it. His Only fixture of trade
is the bushei basket containing his stock. stood
upon an empty box or coyertiy overturned ash
barrel Sometimes box of salt, another of
pepper and plate of pilot biscuit are laid be-
side the basket. Most of .he streets leading to
the downtown ferries are tenanted nightly by
the shrimp merchant, and in the markets and
along the river fronts he is pre-enlinent His
fa7orite theory is the harmessness of his deli
and lie firmly believes that a mans appetite
should be measured alone Gy the capacity of his
stomach. AKIN to the shrimp yender is the her
ring man: and indeed both offices are ofttimes
united III the one individual. their haunts being
in the same neighbOrhOods.
SELLERS OF MUFFINS AND FIAPJACKs
Everybody familiar with the night SHE of
New 1oTk life knows the muffin man. lie is
distinguished for prowling and mysterious
habits even more tnan for the sweetness and
lIghtness Of his mullins. Few patrons Ofthe pastry
have ever eaten twice from the oven OF the same
muffin man. Tlie very next night after his
cTispy luxury has been ,levoured the muffin man
may be sought in the same place. but he is never
found. The Corner is barren and desoate. Per-
hapS there is a muffin Lian the next corner.
lie has apparently the same oven and the same
nliflnS but ne Is not the same man. He never is.
However, the mullins taste the sane. And this
sense of feetness and transformers which
are their inevitable concomitant. perhaps adds
to their flavor. They can be bought for two
cents apiece. The muffin man is very unlike
his most dangerous rival. the ''hOt fiapiack''
seller. Three flarjackS for five cents would not
seem TO insure large profits, yet the fiapiack
man Is popularity supposed to have money in the
bank. Unlike the muffin man he is conSerya-
tive and fixed institution Selecting his stand
lie Is there every night until four o'clock under
any circumstances He is a well-knOwn char
acter and very much respected one. Even his
customers are in awe OF him. His great and
p"ittht"tS uiSHity; Ills sillootn. saucy lafe; Ills
chubby. red fingers: his huge Overcoat of NANCY
Astrakhan cloth. and bulky fur cap, with
eiephaHtine fur tips, are unfailing attri-
butes and do not invite confidence But
his ilapjacks are delicious. The man who has
not eaCen fapiacks hot. with butter and mOlas-
ses, on a damp plate Oh cold knees. under a
creeking awning on a snowy. clustering winters
night, that man knows not bliss The man makes
three tlapiacks in as many minutes and the way
he Hicks them on plate. dabs them with piece
of butter and u paddle of m0asses takes your
money. makes change and begins on new set
of 1apiacks. is marvel to behold. Naturally
he enjoys heavy run of custom, and often
makes $50 10 $40 week
Ii is estimated that SO, COO men will lead a
hand-tO-inOuth existence in New York this
winter. But it need not worry philanthropists,
and as long as hot corn. shrimps behring's NUT
Tins and tlapjachs are to be had, man can sup
port existence ON $50 week Meanwhile the
street victuallers will thrive and Law aWay