The Opelousas courier., 1885-09-12
EPARADISE OF PEDDLERS.
various Vendors Found in
inc Streets of New York.
Rha Metropolitan Thoroughfares as Ware
rooms and Counters

New 0rk Is a paradise OF peddlers.
There are all sorts and kinds of
street vendors who offer at small
profit peanuts. fruit, carriers, suspend
ers, cravats, eyeglasses, dogs, parrots,
jumping jacks, mechanical mice, bal
loon whistles, flowers and periodicals.
AIT all times of the year peddlers -four
ish. At certain times particular kinds
appear and others retire. but the streets
are always well filled with them, and
they make a great deal of money.
Take as an illustration the flower
trade. In addition to half a hundred
flower stores of greater or less preten-
sions, New York supports hundreds of
men, women. boys and girls who have
no stores, but carry their stock of flow
ers In hand or basket Oh tray. They
haunt the ferry entrances and the al"
road steps. They jump on and off
street cars. They infest theatre Hobbies
and ~promenades. Some have regular
stands at paid for corners, but a ma
iority are content with specified beats.
a Fulton street boy would not dare
touch Broadway. A Fourteenth street
seller knows that Twenty-third street
III not for him. The lad who whistles.
God Save the King" on Fifth avenue
il safe from the intrusion of the lass
who sings ''Who'll buy my f1owers?'
ID Thirty-fourth street, and SO on.
Precisely where the army of little
chaps find their daily supplies was
long a mystery to purchasers. The
fact is the city is divided into districts.
Four florists monopolize the flower
trade in general. They hire boys and
girls by the score and give to each a
trayful or a handful Of roses or what
ever else is in season, with instruc-
lions to turn in so much money. OF
course the little fellows add a trife
and turn a lively penny from good
natured patrons, III addition to the
percentage allowed them by their NJ
ployers. In no other way could the
good humored rivalry that character
izes the sellers who make our public
places noisy with shouts and offerings
be accounted for. It would be inter-
esting to catalogue the why's and
wherefores Of the purchases made in
the street by belated husbands, anxious
fathers, tender lovers, fond brothers
and devoted sons. This bunch will be
worn by the wife at dinner; that by
the little girl as she goes to school;
this will cheer a sick room; that will
stand In Il boudoir vase; this will be
flung aside with a "Poolli' that will be
kissed and treasured with gratitude.
The street trade in dogs is consider
aba and liourishes on the Astor House
curb, Fourteenth street, between Fifth
and Sixth avenues; Twenty-third street
between Broadway and Sixth avenue;
on the Hoffman House curb, and at
several ferry entrances. Nature seems
te have turned a somersault in the
eise of these dog sellers, who look less
like human beings than the animals
they carry OF hold by chain or strap.
Now and then a really well trained.
carefully bred dog be found In
these extempoIe marts, but generally
The poor things are mongrel and not to
the genteel manner born. Policemen
say that strangers are often badly sold.
paying high prices for dogs who are
bleached and curled and '.ixed UP
Stylish Parrots have always been
favorites with queer people. The par
rot market is supplied from South
America. Sailors buy them there,
train them on the voyage and sell
them To street vendors, who in turn,
after much furnishing, sell them to
~ancIcrs for what they can get.
Eyeglasses are sold t'by the cord" so
To speak. Every junk shop has its
tray, every chief street it's peripatetic
yender. Blue glass, gray glass, smok-
ed glass, plain glass and glass OF differ
emit thicknesses can be had for a mere
song. Peanuts are a choice article OF
popular diet. The average peanut
manipulation halls from sunny Italy.
Ills outfit consists of a cart, an oven,
q bushel Of peanuts and patience.
These combined make the commonest
FI0rentine ", althy and often swell
tie accommodations of the humblest
Venetian beyond the dream of avarice.
Between roasted peanuts and mechan-
ical mice there would seem to be no
room FOR normal rivalry. but the fact
II that wherever peanuts aredisplay ed
mechanical mice insist upon running.
Gountrymen purchase both articles in
large quantities. The peanuts they
crack while the mice are on exhibition,
and between the fragrant ~appetizing
of the one and the destinations Of the
other they attract the rural eye and
daplete the suburban wallet.
Peddlers, like poets. to no age belong.
%A II ntr X II MM@.S aa3IA-@ 80 mwa