The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-12-21
Oompetition in Bootblacking,

Mud: fat, plump, juicy mud. Mud
that was on hand and glove terms with
the bootblacks, Mud that seized every
opportunity to take the shine out of
pedestrians boots. In short, Chicago
mud, deep, rich and black. Overhead
the sun shone brightly, but under foot
mud.
, A Herald reporter put his foot into it,
and was at once surrounded by a group
of bootblacks. The foremost of them, n
keen eyed little fellow, nimbly placed
his box on the sidewalk, hoisted the
soiled boot into position, and with few
words got to work on the leather.
One ragged little fellow, evidently a
bear, called out in u melodious cultural
voice, "Shina? Blacka 20 boota, tiva
GENITAL"
''Git, ye maccarony eatin' thief"
shouted the boy who was at work on
the boot. '.D'ye want to spile the gents
feathers wild yer moldy two-cent black
in? Sir,' to the reporter, ''these fel
lows is the curse of Ameriky. That's a
bloody Eyetalian, and he and his bilkin'
lot are the cause of the downfall OF
Amerykin labor. An honest bootblack
that puts on decent shine can't com.
pete with the Maccaronies.'
The rest set up howl of assent and
in an instant the luckless ''fiva centa"
lad was incontinentally pitched into the
gutter.
::'Have you much competition from
these Italian bootblacks?" asked the re-
porter.
''Yes, sir. There was one time, | kin
remmember it when prices was stiff, an
there was decent livin' in shinin', but
now these ducks come along an they
take the bread right out of our mouths"
this with a pious sniffie worthy the
notice of Denis Kearney. ''They
mostly shines for cents an that breaks
down the business.
''How many bootblacks of all sorts
are there in Chicago?"
Il doan know, but guess about 400.
There's nearly $50 as sleeps at tn
Home. Then there's lots as lives at
home, an lots as sleeps at the 1O-cent
lodging houses"
"How many of these are Italiansp"
asked the scribe.
"Well, nearly one-third. There's a
few Sheenies, good many Irish, only
few Norwegians, Germans, an that
class. The German fellers nearly all
lives at home. The Italians too. Most
of the Irishers live at the Home"
What is the average wages of a good
boctblack day"
''You mean now much does he makee"
Precisely" said the reporter.
'Well, right fly cove makes most
always 80 cents day, an from that up
to 80 a day. Sunday is the big day. But
then we sell papers, too, most every
day. We takes out Reralds an the Other
mornin' papers, and sells until about 8
O. clock, an then looks for shines until
the evenin' papers comes out, an then
we sells papers till nearly dark, and
then catch the theatre an ball custonS1'
''Scrape a little, just tri1e, of that
mud off the heels, my boy, before you
put on the blackin'.'
'.All right. It's a trick we has, but l
see you tumble
How about localities and stands fol
bootblacks?" asked the reporter.
''Well, we has our beats, as they call
it, but mo one kicks if you pad, all
over the city. You can do down on the
South, North, or West Side, an the
boys won't say anything, unless it's a
hhCSblOAJ. VIC lllS IllIL. NC2CIl-
orally hangs out at certain hours at
regular places, an there we get used to
the customers. Those fellows with regu.
lar stands like the hotel an barber
shops, the Board of Trade stand an
those places, of course, are more of
regular business. Wishes l had place.
The fellers as runs them makes bic
money; sometimes SS an $40 day"
just then came cry from over the
way Of '.Petey, Petey," and, with few
tlourishes of the brush across the tops
of the boots, and a rat-a-tat upon the
box with the handle of the brush, the
boy had the box jerked out from under
the scribe's feet, had caught the 10-cent
piece, and with ''Thank ye," the ex-
ponent of American labor was across
the street looking for the the next shine.
--ChicdqO Herald