The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-01-19
The Departed Chimney-sweeps,

The following interview with one of
Boston's old-time chimney-sweeps will
be of interest to our young folks at
this time:
How long is it since the practice of
sending BOYS up the chimneVs was dis
continued IN this cityP" asked the re-
porter.
''Oh, over thirty years. ! guess. The
last boy | had was James IL. johnson.
| got him from New York He lives
in Richmond street, He can tell you
more about that kind of chimney
sweeping than anybody else in Boston,
The reporter was fortunate in find
ing Mr., johnson at home. Mr.. John
son is a well-preserved man. verging
on to sixty years of age. On learning
the object of the reporters visit, he
announced his willingness to furnish
all the information in his power.
Yes, Sir" said Mr.. johnson, Il was
| the last boy who climbed chimney in
Boston, and that was thirty-six years
| ago, and the chimney was the kitchen
| chimney of the fremont House. 1t
was early in the morning. The cook
| told me he had only half an hour to
start Il fire and get breakfast. / start
| ed up that rh mncy with the scraper
| in one hand and the brush in the 9TH
er, taking two sides of the fiue at once.
The cook started upstairs just as |
| started up the flue, and when e.reach~
ed the roof | put out my head and sung
line or two from the old song, Dam
div Jim from Carolina We had to
sing verse after reaching the top of
chimney to let folks know we was up"
By the way, Mr.. Johnson's statement
about the singing explains one of the
stanzas found in Mr.. Scarlet's adver-
tising poem:
On top of chimney hear the song so clear
When sweep o mounts aloft in airy scat,
Chanting Sweet Home" sung out like chan
| ticleer.
From gloom to glory bursting out SO sweet.
II started down the tiue," continued
Mr.. johnson, 'staking the othor two
sides, and was at the bottom as quick
as the cook. He was so pleased with
my expedition that he gave me splen-
did breakfast and some money for my
self besides. | never went up chm
ney after. Scarlet was paying me
S1.25 week and l wanted $1.50 He
said he could not pay it, So | left"
"Where did you learn the business?"
''1n Philadelphia. began by going
up and down the chimney of my moth
er's house. Then l was put out as an
apprentice to master. The principal
chimney-sweeper in Philadelphia then
was Nancy Jeems, colored woman,
She had quite Il number OF boys and
she had lot of business. She was
strict Methodist and wouldn't allow
her boys TO sing anything but hymns
when they reached the top of the CHM
uey. In those days it was no uucom-
mon thing to see early in the morning
a black head stuck out of chimney
pot and hear a voice coming from it,
singing:
| Hasten, sinner. to returni
| Stay not for the morrow's sun,
| Lest the lamp should fail to burn,
Ere salvatfon's work is done.
81 used to slug mostly old Dan
Tucker and Dandy Jim from Caro-
lima The first chimney ever swept
for money was in Villa street, Phila-
delphia. / gave it such a thorough
cleaning that the lady gave me an II
penny bit extra for the work"
Were you ever stuck in chimney?"
mo. | knew too much for that |
found out that l could go anywhere
where my shoulders would 20 through,
and when couldn't get my shoulders
easily into Il tlue wouldn't exter it,
d..