The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-11-02
PROFITS or BOOTBLACKING.
Observation Of Philosophical Mcmi,cr a
tIie pr,fe.ssiOn.

the Profession.
Hello, Charley, doing good busi-
ncss now, suppose
Yes, dom first rate. Big crowds
here now, you know, and, of course,
we're working 'em purity lively"
"iss, that's true, there are a good
many strangers IN town now, and snp-
pose Won boys make good deal more
money than yon have been making for
some time. How much do you make
day.
"Oh, eight or ten dollars"
Come. come, Charley, the Bethel
Sunday school doesn't seem to do you
much good.
"Shine, boss; shine 'cm up, said
Charley, ns he ran across the street,
seeing Il man lie took for a stranger.
This dialogue took place between
reporter Of the Gdzcite and one OF the
bootblacks he meets every day near tho
arcade entrance. He had been very
hn-y shining 'cm up for q man, and
when lie got through and ran across tho
street, another ono Of the "boys' look
"a up from his work Oh pair OF No.
los, and said
THAT fellcr's guying' you. He don't
make no SO day. Never made that
much in his life in ono day. He thinks
he's doing mighty well when he makes
-, even during tho Exposition
"Iou do make -, then, some days?"
"Oh. yes. / have made that much, but
its good deal oftener ~. Yer see,
pard, its OWN to the fellers yer happen
to strike Now. il yer playin' to good
luck, yer may strike a fellow every time
than dime, and once in q while some
fellcr who'll give yer quarter. AL
right, boss.' said the boy to the man
whose boots he has finished blaeking.
"Yer one Of them newspaper fellers,
amt YER said he, addressing himself
to the reporter.
"les,' was the answer.
Il thought So / can always tell
en-" said the boy, with twinkle in his
eye. "But, as was sayin'.' he contin-
ued, there's a big difference in men
about pawn fur their shine. / can nj
ways tell when I'm going to get only q
nickel the minute man wants shine.
The feller who hollcrs out loud in or
dcrin' sort O way. slams his foot onto
the box. and then is always wantin' yer
to shine this place more, and that place
more. and tryiu' to make yer think he
knows more about shinin' shoes than
YOU 10, thcm's the fellers whatll give
yer II dime and want Il nickel change.
THEY'LL do it every time. But You take
one Of these fellows who speaks kindly
to yer. and lets yer shine EN- to suit
ycrsclf, and ten to one he'll give yer
quarter. and won't take any change.
He'll give yer dime, any way"
You seem to be very observant OF
human nature said the reporter
well. | guess We have enough ex-
pcrcnce with human nature. don't we?
tell yer. para. we boys haint no fools,
! il Mc are bootlacks. We have to be
ohscwin, so Well know what kind 'er
fellcr We got. an how to work him."
How much do YOU make, on an aver
ages"
"Oh. ahont ~ or 81 80 day."
"Iou ought ta save some money out
Of that DO amy of the boys save
moncy:"
"lcs, some Of en-. Mighty few. /
know one icllcr who's got about 800
saved up. l,r see, the boys are purity
wild. most of en-. and they shoot
craps. and throw pennies and dice, and
lose their money Then they 20 into
the gambling rooms. and play hazard
and, of course, they never win any
thing they always lose.'
Where are tho best places to get
custum9a
Most anywhere on Vine street be-
tween Fourth and the Public Library.
Around sixth and Vine. the Arcade.
and Fountain Square you can always
find hoothiark.a
The boys who frequent those places
make the most money. do they not?"
Yes. hut most Of en- sell papers in
the morning. besides shinin'. Them
iellers What do both make the most
money. Them places is where you can
get tho hest shine. too. Yer see. that's
what most people don't know. They
think any hoy can shine shoe, hut
there's something in knowing how ts
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