The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-08

ReAustsen n tAs Price sf 0hane Caassl ~
Tsrsssu Csnpstasisn-sssaa Ownsvs VIE
eeothe the MSnd ~ well as Polish Leather.

the same time walking lefSuroly along Park
row. the other day. awell-dressed. genial-look-
Ing man. with shining boots. slipped, and one
foot went plump into puddle. and mud
splashed over the mirror-like lustre Of the
leather. There was q stampede In his direc-
ton BY group OF bootblscks who had been
tossing pennies. and no was greeted with
Shine2 Put a regular patent-leather polish
on EN- for dime. mister" from half q dozen
throats. Before the stranger could speak a
nimble Irish lad was on his knees on the side
walk. the muddy boot was lifted to a foot rest
on backing box. the backing brushes were
all out. and he was scooping some backing
from tin box Of backing paste. But boy.
with ragged cap and very sharp features.
was holding up Ave fingers expressively. and
crying "shinap Fiva cents. bossp'
The effect Of this unlocked for competition
on the group Of bootblacks was like that Of q
crimson rag in front Of bull. The lad on his
knees sprang to his feet instantly and flung a
brush at the speaker. His comrades Joined In
the attack on the luckless urchin. Get out
you sneaking maccaroni. or we'll break yer
head fur YER" the assailants cried. and the
italian lad was forced to fly.
The rival gone. the boys resumed the tossing
Of pennies. and the ringleader in the attack
dropped back on his knees and began to re-
store the lustre IN his customers boots.
Them Eye-taHan 'scabs' has busted the
bootblacking bizness." he exclaimed. as he put
a finishing touch to the boots and received u
dime from well-hlled wallet. Ell it hedn't
been fur the Turin maccaroni eaters we'd or
been gettin' dime fur every shine now"
The advent of the Eye-talian" in the pol
ished circles OF bootback society is viewed
with irreconcilahlo hostility. The feud
is. one Of the most conspicuous features
OF the qyeng labor hs The rst and
ness was on account Of the reduction in the
price of shine from dime to five, cents and
competitors has never been forgiven. There
are about 500 bootblacks Of various nationali
ties X the city but the laHns are SLOWLY 1ry
weather, the location. and the outfit. Those, who
who run about with n box sung over their
shoulder seeking custom where they can The
81 day. The largest amounts are usually
earned on sunday. because the charge for
shine i often min increased to dime on that d;ay.
self very unlucky II he cannot clear ut least 81.
and does not begin to think he is doing good
more for the day. In some locations, notably
in front Of the stock Exchange and at Fulton
Ferry the bootblacks who run stands do
ceed $40 week. Those stands. however. are
worked on shares and rental has as to Dc paid
is let let out in most Of the hotels, where IN.
variablS the charge is ten cents. The owners
Of smaller stands can usually get locations
rental. The rents vary With location and size
the 'a sands % those ran by coosrea
bootbacks are very elaborate and sometimes
srs Such estabiishments are run on partner
ship shares and ar S usually called bootback
generally displayed conspicuous ut the en-
trance as sResimen Of work; and when the
ing or an evening paper 70 road. or he may ad-
M ss Sss3 sbSs E a. s s
days "a son rsads sunday sh I'm 'n
sna eonpets o SG rse bsh t90 sn 1sT
box Of backing COS. tis5; i can. can be sIang
asa can be nsed With telling on
ht IN, The Stands with 4 fhdI9 and
s and Their rPe s
duction for regular customers. and have a
regular scale Of prices. from % cents q week to
70 eSns TSs s It. sbs1s o s Rs
xiii n VET shoes ana give them : patent leaih.
steady business In all sorts Of weather, and
are able to clear from sl5 to $50 z week. A
s ye ss what was ealIed Watsrsrnof
t BY a1 use %eI p1 hsa s
r rs,;i the leather and the new backing was
Bootblacks are excellent Judges Of human
nature and can tell to nicely whether GUS
toner is ten ;center.' y who will pay dime
or me mot be
tTioas usually combine The boot polishing in,
o'clock they throw aside their brushes and box
and can cal. be seen running hither and thin
also swell their carefully guarded savings
through the moro or less profitable adjunct Of
coored bootSaek s s; are Generally the most
pert In the business. How DO / do it 2"
echoed dusky poisher. We'll. you see boot
cushion in the chair. is often worth dime in
Bbss maze BIZ pDSa 70
want to be talked to death. II they are getting
shaved let them go to sleep 4 they want TO-. II
Here the artist waved his hand toward the
you are spoken to- but 90 right on with a soft
h until you can see your face in the polish.
yoS take hsk n and the
will bring the customer around again. just as
you will come again. sir. to get a patent leather
polish. which oiiera standing reward of IS for
A great number OF the bootbacks lodge in the
lodging houses Of the Children's Aid Society
One hundred more live in the Newsboys
Lodging House in New Chambers street. They
can go, breakfast supper. and lodgings there
for eighteen cents day and receive five cents
interest on every dollar that they choose to put
in the savings bank. Any Tuesday. Wednes-
day. or Thursday evening n visitor may SEQ the
bootblacks hard at work with their books
States and pencils or pens learning to read.
cipher and write. They also have regu-
The Juvenile efforts ara carefully preserved by
the donor Of tho prizes. They are character
istic productions. and some of Thorn arc very
amusing and ingenious. Another gentleman
regularly awards, a prize to the boy who saves
the most money during stated period. Tho
competition for this prize WAS 30 lively that the
bank had to DO enlarged The bank Is u curious
affair. 1t is IL bis square box divided into
many smaller boxes. each having u
little, slit nj the top number on a
polished plate corresponding to the wardrobe
number of tho depositors The boys savings
vary from $40 to $50 Il month, and when the
boxes are opened on the first Of each month
the depositors are FREQ to do rs they choose
witt the money Some put it in savings banks.
others buy clothes. and others still spend the
money in q grand holiday and In going TO the
theatre. The closing Of the Grand Duke Opera
House is still dcplOred. On winter evenings
after study hours the gymnasium is open in
the top story, and then the bootbacks, n we'll
as the newsboys. abandon theatre-going for the