The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-03-28
MANKAro FREE Press.
FRIDAY, MARCH, 2s, 1884.
New WAY OF Closing Out Stock.

On the streets OF New York, particu-
larry the Bowery on Saturday evening,
and Broadway ut all times, a stranger
scannot help noticing the number OF
poor-looking individuals who offer for
saleysmall articles Of every description.
A few days AGO there stood near the
door'of one of the large newspaper es-
Adjustments man who appeared to
be an Italian. He wore brigandish-
looking hat, and long, black hair hung
over his shoulders. On his right arm
he carried basket containing an as
sortInent of candies, and in monoto-
nous voice he declared his willing
ness 70 part with any single object in
the basket for the small sum of one
cent. He had a sad and wearied, far
away expression on his face, as if he
hadn't made trade for some time,
and had almost given up hope. One
foot was on the street while the other
rested on the curb, and the leg thus
bent partly supported the weight of the
basket which had evidently caused the
right arm to become weary. AS he,
stood thus, picture of poverty and de-
lection, 4 group of boys collected some
ten feet to his left. They were five in
number, and u ragged. dirty and bad
looking crowd they made. In the hur-
~ and hustle of the street they were
not noticed, but they noticed every
body. At moment when the siX-foot
policeman was eScorting lady across
the street the leader of the little band
dashed at full speed past the candy
merchant, thrusting his hand into the
basket Us he passed, taking all the
candy his fist could hold. scattering
more in the street and disappearing al
most instantly in the crowd. The mer-
chants first move was to draw back
the basket until it was nearly behind
him, ut the same time muttcring some
foreign words and craning his neck
to catch Il glimpse of the young high
wayman. While in this position, and
in less time than it takes to think about
it, the remaining four rushed past be-
tween him and the street. Four little
dirty hands were dipped into the basket
in quick succession, and four ragged
forms disappeared like magic among
the people that hurried 10 and fro.
The look that ovcrspread the face of
the Italian was ono of horror. His bas-
ket was empty. What the little raid
crs had lett was scattered in the mud
at his feet. His eyes started almost
out of their sockets and he scarcely ap-
pcared TO realize what had happened.
Financial ruin and meeting of the
creditors seemed to stare him in the
face. But the people, who moment
before seemed blind to all except the
rush of business, noticed the look of
dismay that overspread the poor mans
countcnance. Several business men
stepped little out of their way and
handed him dimes and nickles. Each
dime represented ten of the little Jumps
of sweet that the naughty boys had
robbed him of, and as each naughty
boy could only take about three pieces
at grab, it will rcadily-be seen that
very few donations more than made
good the loss which 4 moment before
seemed about to swamp an important
industry. \ few moments after the
Itahau, with Il smile OF contentment on
his face, was making his way towards
his stumble home, while young man,
who saw the whole performance, grin
ned broadly rs he remarked to 4 COM
panion, I'm bowed If L didn't see
that same man work that same racket
on the Bowery night before last. It's
Il new way OF closing out stock at more
than cost