The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-22
A NEW WAY TO GET OLD FUN.
Firms who Employ "Holy Joe" tc
Show Customers the Elephant.

| Firms who Employ "Holy Joe" to
Show Customers the Elephant.
NEW YORK, Oct 20-lt is not, l think,
generally known that there are men in New
York who make living by taking drinks
for other men who cannot afford to drink
for themselves.
A prominent Broadway cloth merchant
when asked if this was true, said:
at certainly is, and l regard it as a great
evil, although | avail myself of the fact
My partner is strict church member and
know it troubles him even more than it does
me, but he shuts his eyes to it, knowing as
well as do that we could not hold our posi-
tion in the trade. 1t always has been the
custom in our trade, as in most others, to
treat our customers.
"In former times, when every salesman
controlled his own trade, Independently of
the firm that employed him, salesmen
themselves used to go on sprees with their
customers when the latter came to the city.
He would foot the bills and draw the money
from tie firm either for expenses or in the
shape of increased commissions Then; of
course, the countryman would have to re-
pay the firm in the price of his goods. AS
business competition grew keener business
men began to realize that there was "a tre-
mendous evil in all this. Many of the
country merchants realized that it was ex-
pensive dissipation, and so to some extent
the custom has decayed. On the other hand,
We found that our statesmen were suffering.
Very many men were utterly ruined, and
gradually it came about that the best sales
men would no longer devote themselves to
the entertainment Of customers outside of
business hours.
'Still there remained the business necess-
ity of looking after the trade OF those men
who still expected to be amused when they
came to the city. But you have probably
noticed that civilization. like nature, abhors
a vacuum. Whenever there is a necessity
for class or an individual that necessity is
supplied. We soon fell into the habit of
employing private detectives to steer and
guard the rural customer who wanted TO
see life, and then we got to employing pro-
fessional FOUNDERS.
A little search among some OF the bar
rooms Of Sixth avenue resulted in finding
man who followed this curious calling, and
very little persuasion ana sugar in glass
were enough TO mako him talk.
1.-THE boys call me Holy joe" he said in
reply to the first question 'Iguess that's
good enough name for your purpose. Yes, l
make a very good thing of it, steering men
around who want to see the sights, and
good part of my business comes from some
of the big downtown firms that want their
customers TAKEN. care OF. now ulu RoL luJO
the businessi Well, drifted into It, l
happened TO save rich man one night from
a couple OF crooks that were going to do
him, and he managed to remember me next
day He hadn't had his jag out, and he
asked me 10 go with him. Then after that
he introduced me to two or three other par
ties that wanted to see the sights, and that
led to other excursions, and now | mako
sort of business of IL. / ran through all
the money | had some time ago, but man
age to pick up. q living somehow, mostly
that way.
"How did come TO interfere with the
crooksl Well, now, don't make any bloom
ing error about me. Pm not a crook and
never was one. IL / were / wouldn't get
along In the business, and at the same time
/ wouldn't be any good IL l didn't know
most OF them. / am simply man with a
fair education, big capacity for drinking
and decided disinclination TO work. who
came TO New York with some money, and
| got rid OF it in the usual way. l can't
say admire the business, but its easier
than working, and pm not troubled with
ambition.
III couldn't say whether there are many
or few men in tho same line. know three
or four who do something at IT, and be-
lieve there are number OF others, but
never inquired I'm told that In Chicago
men are engaged at regular salary by
some Of the big firms thsro, but don't
know Of any that are hired that way in
New York. ] get odd jobs altogether. Ny