Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1885-11-19
THE PINHOOKER.
u LIFE-LIKE PORTRAIT OF THE
FESTIVE CREATURE.
Some Of tho Shrcwd Little Games
Which ho Plays With the Innocent
Granger.
BY CHARLOTTE"
For THE Sentinel.

BY CHARLOTTE.
For TIE Sentinel.
What is q Pinhooker?
Doubtless the question has been OF.
ten asked, as the questioner would very
readily "take'' to the euphonious name,
the "Pinhooker' may be defined az
the tricky man" of the great tobacco
trade, the actor who does all his act
ing behind the scenes, who differs
from the majority Of actors, III prefer
ing no audience to full house, for
when the Curtain is raised" and the
"play" (sale,) begins, there is "nary"
Pinhooker to be seen, he has to all
appearances "gone where the wood
bine twineth,' in palmer terms, a man
who buys tobacco privately from the
farmer and who generally practices
all the cunning and trickery of his
tribe, is termed Pinhooker
The average Pinhooker fully real
izes the truth Of the old adage that
the "early bird catches the worm,"
and just as the "god of day" makes
his appearance in the East, he may
be seen with eager eyes and dilated
nostrils walking with railroad speed to
the nearest warehouse, where he has
already scented the fragrant weed, !"
and where in vivid imagination he
sees the white topped wagon and the
innocent and unassuming farmer
waiting to be "pinhooked" &. e.) (tok-
ea IN There is a decided air of "I
tvr1 do a
him." and with face as innocent as a
new born babes, he enters the arena
armed eap-o-pie for the contest; the
fight is long and hard; underneath
the farmers innocent smiling counte-
nance there is great deal of shrewd-
ness which the wary Pinhooker has to
contend with; but "oh ye whales,
and little fshes!" if it were the illus
trious, Caesar, who had brought to-
bacco to town, he would "tackle" him
with the same astounding confidence.
The Pinhooker generally prefers to
play clone hand if he finds that
the farmer will catch on readily to
the various romances he gently insin-
uates to him, and then he will reap
the golden harsests all himself, but II
he finds that he has a hard customer
to deal with, he confdentially whis-
pers his plan in the ears of three or
four Pinhookers under the idea that
"in union there is strength" and with
we'll planned strategy, the operation
begins. Pinhooker No. 1 goes up to
farmer, offers to buy his tobacco at a
certain price. The farmer declines
with thanks. While No. l is using
all his magnetism on the unsuspecting
farmer, Pinhooker No 2 meanaers up,
offers to take his tobacco at a loWe,
figure than No. l offered. The farmer
with grim satisfaction tells him he has
been offered more No. 2 turns on
his heel with disgust portrayed in ev.
cry feature Of his expressive face, and
the parting injunction, you'd better
take him up, it's morn I'd give" Be
fore the farmer has time to recover
from the shock, Pinhooker No. 8
swaggers up and commencing a little
game of sbull-dozing" offers still less
| than No 2. This is too much for the
| farmer, he Immediately "caves IN,
the bargain is made, the trade is clos
ed, and Pinhooker No, l walks of
| prouder than was Alexander when he
called for more kingdoms to conquer
| After holding a mutual admiration
society, the Pinhookers distribute
themselves generally and with anxious
expectancy await the result. The die
| is cast, the crisis has come, the bill il
handed over and each plotting intrig
ner has in his pocket 25 centsin silver
in honest "Uncle Sans" currency
| yes there is no mistake about it, lt's
there, pure and unadulterated.
To make successful Pinhooker, Il
requires large amount of "brass, al
equal proportion of magnetism, an in
nocent and child-like countenance
light pants and an abbreviated coat
Possessing these requisites you ear
have the proud consciousness OF know
ing that you can make twenty-five
cents most any day and though your
name may not be handed down to fut
ure generations as an ilL,tstfious man
Pinhooker, my son, in whose foot
steps you must endeavor to follow, Il
you can,) still you may rest. satisfied
that you will have the respect of al
the Dudes and "sich like and whel
pinhooking has become thing of thu
past and no more is heard the plain
tive cry Of
"Old man, cid man, want your tobaccer, :.
Twenty-Five cents and dollar to back her.
we will inscribe,-"Peace to hi
| ashes"
WG,aston, ". C.