Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-10-18
RAGS AND RAG PICKERS.
WHERE WORN RUBBERS, OLD TINS,
RAGS AND WHAT NOT GO.

WHGnC WOhIN nOOOcnO, OIO ZINC
RAGS AND WHAT NOT GO.
Visit to a Warehouse Heaped with Pick
ines of All KiHds-Sorters and Thei
Deftness-A Pile Of Old RuI bers ant
Arctics.
Twas in my golden age of childhood
that there lived, Ii. indeed. she does no
yet, a bent and withered woman. wrinklet
as China crepe and merry as lark's song
Methinks tbs as far back as the third time
the pussy willows purred for me wher
first heard her shrill, CHEEKY call, "Raks
raksr From then till | was quite biz
gerl. missey." old Mary was a welcome
arrival upon the domestic scene was
reminded Of old, Mary the other day by
seeing a woman walking briskly under 9
heavy sack of rags It was sunny. was
stroIling insensibly and followed her She
entered a warehouse heaped with pickings
of all kinds, after hesitating a moment
did the same Things seemed novel, SC
when the proprietor looked at me in rather
add TO my slim stock of information re-
BdfuillS rags tIlu rag PlChtrS w uercdt
tie clerk inquired interestedly. Are you
the woman who writes9" and rag peddler
who had just dropped in leaned up against
the wall and gazed at me fixedly, and with
much the same expression as he would
wear in viewing a freak in the dime
museum.
"Oh. it's great business" he remarked
i mean the proprietor-as he glanced
over some letters before conducting me
over the establishment, IF it weren't for
rags there would be no paper. you would
have no Bible. no romance. no-love let
ters." he added in quite courtly manner.
OF all the queer places. that warehousel
! clambered over the foot hills of rags.
separated by valleys rich with old iron,
zinc sheets. lead piping. brass wire, and
my eye rested upon Arctic mountains in
the background. perhaps | should say
mountains of arctics. 1t seemed touched
rudely upon professional pride when
asked If that immense bulk and the many
bales for shipping were brought in by rag
pickers was informed that rag pickers
are those that 60 about the streets and
alleys or beg rags. which they usually sell
to small merchants Then there are rag
peddlers who own wagons and go about
among houses buying what they wish;
merchants buying from both these classes.
and himself. buying mostly from them.
| asked the proprietor what under the
canopy he does with all this truck. and
was told he had contracts with large fac
tories all over the country Old metals
are returned to foundries; paper and rags
to paper mills. and also ropes. which are
used. for MANILA paper; vinegar and oil
barrels to be reSlled; bits of leather and
old boots to soap factories. where the
grease is extracted for soap for my elegant
ladies' white hands; old bones to sugar
where, calcined, they purify
sugar and syrup. or bones may be shipped
for fertilizing Old bottles are returned
to brewers. ETC., new cloth rags from
tailors back to cloth factories, and rubber,
gums" as the Anglomaniacs term them,
10 the factory in Massachusetts,.
That pile Of rubbers and arctics reach
ng to the ceiling did look odd There
were tiny baby arctics and large scows
stranded side by side; those exasperating
run down at the heel rubbers which peo-
pie had lost IN the street and plenty which
lad sprung leak and been abandoned.
You've walked from many directions.
through many paths, upon feet shod in
righteousness and those taking hold on
lell. haven't your They present a good
Illustration of reincarnation doctrines,
hey will be rid of the useless parts and
he impurity and their best parts sent to
he factory. whence they will shortly is
'ue again. shining and new
| always used to depPecate throwing
Irctics. ETC.. into the alleys. but now I
hall do all in my power to assist these
ag pickers to plentiful spring crop.
They receive four cents pound for them;
'esides. quite number of boys and girls
ret employment in cutting off the rubber.
is queer. baling them. Hundreds of
hem are flung into huge box lined with
'urlap Then a man on each side pumps
N a windlass-this may not be clear
nough. but that's what it looks like. When |
he box was opened. | saw the rubbers |
ad been pressed out of all semblance.
The proprietor took me to another ware
ouse where the rags were being sorted.
long room was bordered with deep |
oxes. In shape and size like tables. with
ottoms Of sieves for the dirt to sift |
hrough. On either side stood women
apidly sorting them, and unerringly
inging the rags into various barrels
ound about They wore calico gowns
eaching to their feet, and kerchiefs on
heir heads. to protect themselves from
be dust. They didn't seem to be paying
ny attention to whether rags were linen,
'oolen. mixed. what not. asked one Of
hem how she tells by the feeling.
We scarcely ever stop to tear it. We get
, that we can tell anything by touching
!, even with our eyes shut"
EASY learnt3 Well, for those as has
he knack Some girls pick it up in a
ouple of weeks. some never can learn it.
b. it isn't disagreeable work when you're
sed to it. Nest rags is pretty clean.
ome, she pointed TO bin. 1t gave new
eaning TO mems righteousness being
ke filthy rags. "A. E. p" in Pioneer
ress.