The Washington critic., 1888-08-06
SOMETHING OF CITY LEE.
How some Washington People Make
Living by Their wits.


Living by Their Wits.
To Washington drift the queer reniuses
from all parts of the country. The cmnks
seem to iin1 the climate Of this Federal CAPT
tai particularly congenial. Hero NAV be
| found characters 10 be found nowhere else I'm
all this broad land. The deGpondent, the san
| guinc, the visionary, the hopeful, the aspiring
| inventor the hopeful ollice-seel<cr, the de-
| cayed politiciaD--all and many other types
| arc to be seen on every hand-and the WAYS I'm
which men make a livelihood are as various
| aud MS numerous. soldiers of fortuneas they
are termed are almost as plentiful as those
wearing Uncle Sans livery OF blue and gold.
There is certain keen old man wlo ire-
quents one OF the uptown hotels who has made
quite fortune Oft his wits. Back in the DAYS
OF the "Wah' lie conceived the idco of corner.
ing the market on hand-carts. lie bought
hired and begged all that he could lie Sc
cured broken-dOwn carts whose owners had
long since discarded. These he renovated and
induced TO condition of stability that they
would not come apart. His carts he rented
out TO colorcd men and others who would
take them at the moderate rent Of fifty cents q
week. When It is recollected what prices
were paid during those times for moderate
services, IT can be seen that every cart
man with any kind Of business
could rent cart, and, after paying bis
weekly stipend, make good thing for
himself. The system became very popular.
The old man coined money hand over fist. lie
was inoNorablc with his debtors on whom he
kept vigilant eve. Glanced he to spy one
who had not paid him for the previous week
he would rush out into the street and seize the
cart and compel the human motive power to
disgorge before he allowed him to proceed.
lie had ltnack for investing his profits and
the consequence is that he now owns several
brick houses and has balance In bank. lie
has long since abandoned the cart business
and can be seen almost any night with a big
tray full of cut flowers which he peddles
about the streets and with persuasive tongue
induces many man TO buy.
There Is one well-known character about
town whose fortune is In his tireess and mex
haustble memory. 1t was his good luck TO
have participated in several capacities in the
civil war, and he has turned his experiences
INTO many hard piece of silver He is well
known about newspaper offices. With q tai
cnt for application and regular work he would
long since have made mark; but he lives
only In the present. A stirmish written up
in his characteristic, breezy, graphic style
means good dinner or two drinks; siege
Will bring three hearty meals; battle will
produce night with the boys, and cam
paign is good for weeks board.
On the north side Of p street, Just before
one comes to the Rock Creek Bridge is
spring of bubbling water, rooted over with stone
aud brick. During the last day or two the
qiickwitted boys Of the ncighborhood have
been making many a penny out of this spring.
They urn themselves with tin pals and buckets
holding about pint, fiji them with the spring
water and wait for the strcet-cars. "Have
some water, mister 2' "Ilave n drink of
spring water ~ They question In turn every
one on the car, and when the car is full sew
eral Of the boys succeed in emptying their
pals. While the passenger drinks the
cooling draught, the boy secures place on
the steps and rides along, or if it is too crowd
ed he runs alongside. The cars slow up in go
ing over the bridge and also in ascending the
hill so that fine opportunity is given for OBJ
tanning II refreshing drink. There are many
thirsty ones who patronize the boys. One
urchin made fifty cents the other day and
others nearly as much. A drink costs what
one is willing to give for it. He is expected
to give two cents. Sometimes one gives a
nickel and refuses the change.