Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-01-07
apUbErns-1x.e
rhc Kaaants aud Habits Of a Pecua
Iiar New YORK Hnstitufion.

From Canal street to Chatham the south |
tide of Baxter street is lined with cloth
ny stores. Each establishment has its
.'puller.i i'm standing in front Of the door,
whose business il is to allow nobody to |
lnlss along the street without getting |
them into the store. The sidewalk is
and all but about four feet is
blocked with mass of hanging over
coats and full suits of clothing mounted
on dummies. The "puller-in" is thus
ableto block the sidewalk and turn the
steam of pedestrians into the store. It
is the ambition Of every ''puller-in" to
let nobody pass him. II the man has
escaped from the store above q special
effort is made to grab him. At first the
enterprising agents politely ask their
victims TO look ut their stock, but If I'M
attempt is made to get by, force is used.
The ''pullers-in" are big, muscular men,
and il is seldom TINT my one escapes
them. No natter how much resistance
is made. the man is landed in the store
and held there until the salesman gets
his hands on him. This sort Of per-
suasion has recently made trouble for the
''pullers-in,n and several of them have
been brought before the courts.
They are no respectors of persons and
now and then seize upon man who com-
plains of them. A short time ago Justice
Duffy was Fastening along Baxter street
when he was captured. He was hustled
into store and shown several suits of
clothes which he was forced to examine.
He escaped by buying some suspenders
and collar buttons. The next daya man
named Charles Harris complained to the
, Justice of having been knocked about on
| Baxter street and asked for warrant for
| his assailants arrest. When the man was
| brought before him Justice Duffy recog-
| nized him as Abraham Friedman of No. 3
Baxter street, who had pulled him into
| his store only the day before.
The persistent clothiers on Baxter
street have paid no attention to the
order of Justice Duffy and burly
puller-in patrols the curb in front of
eyery!store. They pulled and hauled as
usual and landed the passers-by inside
their respective establishments. During
the afternoon Edward Mullen of No. 81
Monroe street, strayed of from the
Bowery and soon found himself among
the pullers-in. He told the men that he
was not in need of clothing, but agreed
to 90 inside and look at the stock. After
he had gone through the performance
three or four times he had enough. But
the pullers-in still insisted on his taking
look at the goods. Mullen got angry
and tried to pass, but man in front OF
!. No. AZ grabbed him by the arms and
pushed him into the store. Then lie shut
} the door and put his back against it until
the clerk appeared. Mullen was lead to
, the rear of the store. His oyercoat was
, taken off and half Il dozen coats Were
put on one after another. He was but
toned up and the wrinkles patted dowr
and glass thrust before him. Muller
did not need an oyercoat, so the persistent
| clerk compelled him to try on severa
suits of clothing.
The same thing was repeated ut mum
5 Der of stores. A man named Lawrence
. seized him and pulled him into No. 6.
t Baxter street. This was a boot and shO,
Y store. The proprietor told him TO 81
5 down, took of his shoes and fitted hin
b with we'll .polished second hand pair
], The shoes did not suit, so new pair wa
4 produced. Mullen thought that he In,
Q bothered enough and made up his mini
{ to have his turn on the puller-in. Wit
b Jump he snatched the new shoes am
n started out of the store to test the one
}, on his feet. He ran down the street wit
s Lawrence after him and was caught by
!, friendly ''puller-in," who held him for
l. policeman. Mullen was marched of
d the station-house and locked up on
h charge Of larceny.
d As the reporter left the crowd in frol
it of the shoe store, he was seized by
D. 'puller-inn for hat store. The ma
| took him by his arms and pushed hi
Of into the store. A clerk closed the doc
lie and standing between it an the reporte
y politely took off the latter's hat and sal
h, 'Burke" as he looked at the name insid
1 "What kind of hat do you want
the man asked, still holding the Int.
81 don't want anything to day"
"You don't mean that
81 tell you don't want anything here
a. "Don't you want n 10 dollar COL
piece ~ inquired the clerk, MS he to,
down half n dozen hats from shelf.
IA "That's different thing"
~ "Well, you'd take that, wouldn't 20,
~ Then how do know but you wanta ha
~ You don't know what you want"
10 The man laid out an assortment of la
~. and named the prices finally making
=. reduction on all of them. lie tried
90 one hat after another and called attenti
ha to the great bargains offered Duri
~ this time he held the reporters hat in L
rd hand and refused TO give it up. AT l,
ha the reporter made known his erran
be when the man explained that he "
ne forced to keep .puller-in" on accou
of the competition. He said il cost Ii
go 75 cents day for his "helper,n who
"a tended ito the outside part of the bu
ness"
al All along Baxter street the same syst
90 of forcing trade is practised No sa
in are made by the men on the sidewalk, |
No it is their duty TO see that no one
on allowed to escape from the store.
Low several occasions persons were caught
MO the doorway and forced back again il
~ the store. Now and then II fight occ
~ in the stores, when tue .puller-in'
~ summoned to take care of the man. /
LA frequent occurrence for n man to hi
III. his collar and nocktie or the buttons
ds his coat torn oil while struggling oav
lii trying on clothing. The whole busin
M, is carried ON by persuasion at first
'ras then by force. The traders rely NJ
nm impressing their victims with the che
IN ness of the goods, and after putting
On clothes ON them refuse to give back
g ;f old suit, and in this way brighten a q
two many people into buying what they ne
orl,, needed or wanted. .5...= --.
roc The custom of 'pulling-inn is not {
III, fined to Baxter street nor to men ale
~ The same business methods are practi
H.. with great success in Division street {
ii, = hers the players in the game are woi
,to;1 and they work for milliuers. The wi
~ east side of the long block betW
~, Cutharine street and Market is giyer
~ almost entirely to bonnet-makers,
,in,t every door has its "puller-in" befor
greediLy seeking what she may devon
They are a curious. looking set, Il
female 'pullers-in.h They repre-
almost every age and nationality III
the sun. The woman who walks n
and through Division street must hnv
In strong mind and IL stronger arm to r.
the powers of these "pullers-in." '
few pass through the gauntlet wit
", u, leaving some of their money in the sl
o,,t This business has been so long establi
foi that it hus been reduced to n scie
MAJ, Many of the women have grown gri
&c "a the service, but there are always on ha
=, ~ number of little girls in training, |,
- n ing the tricks of the trade.
80, In front of one door, half way III
',.,,oJ street, child, who could hardly
,rba been more than II years old stood o
and the cold all day yesterday and atta
frock the p''sseLh-ny N u innniier Wlici
Fol further up another little girl stood 81
4 ore ing beside her companion, who was g
baio her lessons in the business.
LII Before another door an old woman
The 1al resls!tt lhG Ihllcelhehts OF
ghtly ;M s SIM ueio" f. wGs iouHly