The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1884-09-18
IoaTUNgs I'M RAG PICKING,
rhS Prizes Found by u Pittaburgh nag.
Picker.
LPItmeprgh Leaanr.l /

Picker.
LPltlsSvrgh Loadnrl
The busi esa Of rag picker and ash
kauler, as both may DO classified undel
tllu ono head, oftontines provea very prof
liable 10 the persons engaged 10 II, owing
r. tho numerous articles OF value that arr
u haquenty found by them while searching
ald gathering into their sacks and carts
tie rags, paper and rubbish generally "a
bs found In tho baok'yards OF nearly all
ule well to'do resi- lents OF this city. One
OF tho followers of the business, whose
voice Is frequently heard by our business
man az he reads hla morning paper, shout.
lag "Rags, rags" IN conversation with a
Ledder man yesterday, told Of some very
curious articles he had found while follow
ing hi' avoca Ion OF rag gatherer Said
he's II have been Ia the busineas nigh onto
twenty years, and though l now use
a horse and wagon, aud can show
you good house and lot whlh !
now own and which purchased from the
proceeds obtained from tho sale OF hun
dreds and thousands OF pounds OF rags, lot
me tell you, my friend, started Into the
business p assessing nothing In this world
except tho bag In which carried my pa
per aud rags, and tho clio hos | had on,
which were Ilt 10 better than rags, was
working six months al the bIsnes, OF col.
lecling rags, bones aud paper, before
made what might DO called lucky ilnd.
Whom one day l was told that could have
all the paper that lay In pile In ono OF
the rooms OF tho old city treasurops oiIico
on Fourth avenue, got my bag ready,
aud willie Alllug II came across a pack
age Of bank bills, held together with a
pasted band. quIcldy placed them In my
pocket, no that the man aasla Ing mo would
not 500 th0noney, ldil not spend much
time gathering tho remainder OF tho pa.
per, as | was IN hurry TO leave that
building. On reaching my home looked
at the notes and found that the package
contained atty dollars In one-dOlIar bills.
don't know how II was lost
nor did ever inquire. After thay
l frequently found small articles Of value,
such ~ eulr'buttona, earrlngs and
'ehlnplastor' money OF various amounts.
My mex big find was about ton years ago,
when, In the finger OF badly torn kid.
glove, found diamond cluaterring
which ] afterwards learned was worth
&'b' The ring lad evidently stuck In the
glove whom the woarer took II clf, aud
aho, for II was q lady'a glove have no
doub supposed aho had lost tho valuable
jewel on tho street, probably she might
have had, but know that | sold tho ring
for very noarly itn value to a lady In
Oakland, oitor had In vain endcayored
% lni (O Tho owner" said tho rag fond
VITA a knowing smile, "I havo oontlnu.
ally heard Of other members Of my pro.
io'nion ~ making some valuable discoy.
orlos among old papers aud rubblsh, Qua
OF whom found promiaaory note for
$1,000, which the holder supposed ho had
lost Tho latter gave tho finder 500 70.
ward. ! could koep on onumorating ar.
ticloa found undor various circumstances
by us, but II might provo monotonoua
reading In your paper, so please lot what
have told you suffice" said tho man,
whom tho Parl,ians call chiironior, as hs
passed on down tho stroot