Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1883-11-22
LIVE BROADWAY STATUES.
MEN WHO MAKE A LIVING BY
ACTING AS PERAMBULATING
SIGN-BOARDS.
One Way of Advertising Boots, Hats,
Clothes, Corn Cures and Universal
Panaceas---A Keen Celestial
Who Retained his Outfit.
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What weird faces look down. upon
us. as we SAT- up the Nile. The sphinx
es what is the meaning of those sad
eyes that inquire at the chance and
change that order the movements of
the ceaseless generations of men that
pass before them? What do they
think of the pomp and pride of human
life?
But faces more pregnant of melan-
choly mystery than the sphinxes meet
one every day in walking down Broad
way. Faces that seem to embody
with the highest pictorial art the ter
rible problems of what we cali civiIi-
zation. OF these perhaps the most
marked class is composed of statues
or walking advertisements. With
what feelings do they look upon the
ebbing and flowing tide of humanity,
cf which they form so conspicuous Il
part. These men are human beings
like ourselves. Circumstances may
easily force any one of our readers to
cruelty his pride and don an outside
board shirt that shall announce to the
public where bills or hats are to be
bought or where shoes can be made
less painful. Few men are philosoph-
ical enough to think that all honest
modes of earning money are Of equal
dignity. Indeed, the pride of most
men would lead them to prefer the
quiet retreat OF the poorhouse or even
the zebra jacket of the prison to the
humiliation of offering oneself to the
public gaze rs an ambulatory sign
post. Men love to match extremes; !;
and in America one may well speak OF
statue and banker to denote the
strongest antithesis. To learn the true
inwardness and the hali,s of life Of
these bifurcated ads, to find out where
they live, what they eat, drink and
say, is no light task Difficulty is
often said to be the chief attraction Of
an entree into the best society. 1t GER
tainly is not the only mark of that. So
ciety, for with the exception of cracks
lnen, no class of men are moEe DIS
ucs. They are dead even TO that last
.infirmity of the human mind-the de-
sire OF being put into the papers.
The first effort of the writer engaged
a fine-looking gentleman who stood
near the entrance to the Park Bank.
This statue the writer had been told
to interrogate first. The poor fellow
had so much the appearance Of gen
tleman that it required the Keen eve
L
beneath the surface. He wore glossy
hat, acute pointed shoes, and heavy
gold chain, the ends Of which were
buried in two vest pockets Few of
the upper classes of society, lawyers,
parsons, or journalists could boast
such broad-cloth. "And this man."
thought the writer, is hired by jew
cler to advertise his wares on his per-
SON."
might I ask how long you have
been in this business asked the wri-
ter.
"About twenty years." replied the
statue, bowling politely.
as it not tiresome being on your
feet 50 long?''
Yes, most men would prefer Office
work, but [ don't like too much con-
finement, [ prefer the fresh air."
1ou must see a great many people
here. You have rare opportunity
for studying human nature"
YES, there is no better business in
the world than ours for that
might ask how much you are
paid for your work?"
"Well [ don't mind telling an old
friend. Last year 1 nettcd s5O,0OO' y
edo you mean to say that you are
paid $4,000 for standing as an adver-
tisement for this gold chair?"
advertisement. [ mistook you for
a friend. Sir" he fitted his eyeglass
to his leyc. 81 am member of the
Stock Exchange" he cried, turning
crimson with anger.
"Only banker! Then what do YOU
mean by wasting my time =? | thought
you were statue Good morning,
sir"
The writer turned upon his heel
savagely and continued his search in
to the manners and customs of walking
hieroglyphics.
One old man, whom death had pass.
ed by in scorn, carried the advertise
ment that the remedy for all human
ills could be found at certain drug
store on Broadway. He was followed
by tottering signboard, proclaimins
the fact that So hats could be bought
for 81 so. Soon after a Struggling bat
TALON of bifurcated ads. passed along
announcing facts of interest to men
without collars, shirts or other person:
al articles.
He was followed by man who
bore the picture of a gigantic boot
This gentleman seemed to be on speak
ing terms with a chiropodist's ad., who
passed and repassed him on his beat,
and who on meeting exchanged few
melancholy words with him. 1t was
hard to induce any of the walkin.
ads. to enter into familiar conversation,
and inquiry and answer had to be
made ON the wing. "How nue., are
! you paid day." "a dollar. Some
of the men only get seventy-fve cents
a day" Then always followed the
refrain. at is better than nothing il
one has family" This last remark
was repeated halfa dozen times by as