Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-01-06
MEx WHO ANNOY WOMEN.
Mashers, Balloon. sellers, nnd Transps WI
Are Nulsances In Gotham;

Mashers, Balloons Sellers, mnd Trantpx VIII
Are Nulsances In Gotham.
Few men are aware OF the petty an
noyances to which women are sub
jected at times, in New York. Men O
various conditions and positions in lf
have come to regard the women VIII
venture out alone as legitimate object
of annoyance. A young woman OF de
cidedly modest and retiring habits
with . fresh and pretty face. Will,
speaking OF the subject, said:
"There are certain men WHO do moth
ing but walk up and down Broadwa,
and endeavor to stare women out o
countenanco. They have been at i
constantly for ten or twelve years, fol
l remember them when ] was a schoo
girl l don't know why they should b,
called Washers, for most of them are
extremely common in appearance, nnt
seldom well dressed, but they seem t.
have great regulations for their con
quests of feminine hearts. One easil,
gets used to them in time, but at firs'
they are extremely annoying. After Q
year or two they become familiar, and
as they are notably harmless, there i.
no feeling Of uneasiness on meeting
them.
"A nuisance OF the most pestifcrous
sort, and n who clings tenaciously
to o victim, is q balloon man. started
to take my little niece down Broadway
one day last week, and q balloon man
approached us at Thirteenth street.
he bounced the balloons up and down
in front Of the child's eyes until she
became perfectly crazy to possess n
and it was oil l could do to drag her
along the street. She would not be
satisfied, despite my hest endeavors.
but whispered and whined all the way
down to Seventeenth street. Mean
while the balloon man had followed us
every step OF the way, and the child
was quite crazy for q balloon. / had
been intimidated into buying the toys
in this way several times. but I made
up my mind that l wouldn't give in
again. At Fourteenth street, however,
my patience gave out, and / compro-
missed by turning to the man, giving
him 10 cents, and begging him to go
away with his balloons. as I would not
buy one under any circumstance. He
seemed profoundly grateful, grabbed
the III cents, and hurried across the
street. / dragged the child along until
the balloons were out OF sight, and her
crying settled down into a feeble whim-
per. But on our a back I found the
balloon man waiting for me ct Seven
teenth street, and as soon as he saw me
he strolled across Broadwa with a
silly affectation Of carelossness, and
the baby caught sight of the balloons
again. l had another dreadful time up
ut Twenty-third street, and then l gave
IN completely and bought q balloon OF
the wretch.
"Flower boys and girls are very
shrewd, too. One who loves flowers
as | do cannot help a glance OF admira-
ton as they catch the eye. The result
is / often find myself staring at the
dower-boards OF the men and boys on
Iwenty-third street, and, what is worse,
hey catch me staring at their wares.
| have had them follow me for two
blocks, importuning me to buy. But
lar the worst of all the trials that an
unattended woman must endure in the
streets of New York, arc the tramps.
don't think tramps have any particu-
mr. antipathy to me. and I'm sure |
lon't know why they should, but they
pursue me with uncrring vjndictive-
less. They never do anything that
hey can be arrested for, but they know
low to be Just ugly enough to make u
so that she will give
lnything she has in her purse to get
id OF them. They crowd up alongside
the ladies, press against them, leer
n their faces, and whisper in their
'ars. They will, ut times, walk the
whole length of q deserted block beg
ting for money. and soiling ones skirts
With their ragged and dirty garments.
I is all we'll enough to say that one
honldn't give them anything, but free
lom from such on annoyance is a great
'oon, and there are very few women in
,ew YORK who will not purchase it at
cost OF any spare change they may
in their purse."-NeW York sun.