davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21
ODD CITY TRADES.
INTERESTING VOCATIONs CAR
RIED ON IN NEW YORK.
How Many New Workers Earn an
Honest Living-The Ragpicker
Society Men to Hire
Poems to Order, Etc.

Passing along any of the city's old
thoroughfares from the Battery to Union
Square, says james j. Clancy, in the New
York World, sharp-eyed observer may
note signs that indicate singular pursuits
and processes. In dingy streets he will
come across curious little d-fashioned
stores and shops, which wear lethargic
air, as if no business were ever transacted
in them, yet which in reality are the
habtats of lucrative specialties. Glanc-
ing at stories higher up he will doubtless
wonder how the goods they produce can
ever find market. But trade and COM
merce have many almost invisible chan
nels through which rich argosies may
feat to the sea. Nesting away up near
the roofs of dilapidated buildings may
often be found the laboratories and dens
of alchemists and wizards whose brains
have laid the foundations of huge fac
tories and whose inventions penetrate to
the remotest corners of the continent.
The precious stones displayed lin the
gorgeous windows of your jeweler may
have been handled and mounted in a
dusty loft; the perfume that exhales
from my lady's handkerchief was prob
ably distilled, bottled and packed in a
grimy atmosphere hundred feet above
the sidewalk.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21

been easily built up. Two firms act as
general purveyors Of leeches to the hos
pitfalls and drug stores, and at one Of
these houses you can also have a balloon
built for you. In Thirty-secOnd street a
pair of enterprising partners hang out
their shingle as 'Cuppers and Leechers. !"
Several artifcers live comfortably by
virtue of their skill in mending broken
china or bric-a-brac- One firm cultivates
the specially of designing and laying
mosaic floors. Three numismatists reap
a profit in selling or exchanging rare
coins. In this age of steel pens, gold
pens and fountain pens of every variety,
some conservatives will he pleased to
learn that one house still ships the old
fashioned quill Of our grandfathcrs by
the gross. An enterprising man in
Thompson street has a virtual monopoly
of the preparation of popcorn. Another
firm has no local competitors in tortoise
shelf work. Thimble making keeps four
establishments busy. Eight master
sweeps, with their assistants and the in
incidental aid of numerous fires, suffice
to look after the chimneys of the town.
Should you have penehant for dogs,
birds, cats or beast or reptile OF any kind.
there are places here where your taste
can be grstiied and your pets nursed
and cared for in your absence or their
sickness. You can purchase monkey,
q parrot, an alligator or an elephant; can
stock an S4uarium or an aviary Of any
dimensions, and can have it regularly
attended to fora stipulated fee. Should
you want old issues of newspapers,
''Back Number Buddn will supply them
out Of his store. should you desire to
advertise on fences. you can find here a
bill-poster who will make contract for
the whole continent orany part thereof.
Brokerage is a vast and varied business.
New York has brokers that deal not only
in stocks, bonds. real estate, foreign ex-
change. loans, ships and provisions. but
in every marketable commodity. from
arrack and ivory to whSlebone and wool.
There are even brokers who deal in
sausages, and there are seven merchants
who accumulate shekels by furnishing
the community with tripc. Five citizens
pocket comfortable incomes by purveying
Croton water TO shipping at this port.
Three individuals in the big city have
the temeIity TO proclaim themselves
tuners Of accord;ons.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21

Professor Leyasseur, the eminent stat
istician, has recently prepared for the
International Statistical Institute an
elaborate series of tables on the popula-
ton Of the various continents and coun-
tries. IN estimating the worlds popu-
latioG, Gays the New York Sun, the
tendency has doubtless been 10 exagger-
ate the number of inhabitants in uncivil-
lied regions, and in countries like China
and Japan, where the census methods
are inadequate. For the greater part Of
Africa and many islands Of the Pacific
statisticians have only the data afforded
by travellers. For many years explorers
have been urged to use great care in coll
lecting facts upon which estimates Of the
density Of populations might be based.
OF late years this interesting subject has
received more attention than formerly,
and much new material, particularly in
equatorial Africa, has been gathered. Pro
fessor Levasseur estimates the population
Of the world at /, 4s4. 900, 900. He has
faith in the substantial accuracy OF the
recent estimates Of the population OF
China and Japan, based upon the latest
official reports. There has been consid-
erable controversy with regard to the
population of these countries, and the
opinion Of Sir II. Alcock, Sir Rawson
Rawson, and other siatisticians that
China contains about 400, 900, 900 Of
people will derive considerable weight
from the fact that Professor Leyasseu
has reached the same conclusion.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21

New York and Boston have been train
ing some excellent cutters of diamonds.
Apropos of these costly carbons. there
are dozens of men in New York who buy,
sell ard exchange diamonds without
having any fixed place of business. They
carry their offices in their hats, their
stock in their pockets.
The occupation OF gold d-beater is q
rather isolated one. Its votaries may be
found in out-of-the way corners and
stuffy little shops, energetically pound
ing away at the grains of yellow metal in
bags Of tough parchment until a dollar
is fattened out to such infnitesimal
thickness or thinness that you may car
pet an acre with it if the wind does not
blow it away.
In queer corners, too, reached, by mar
row aud tortuous stairs, you generally
find specialists who fashion mathemati-
cal, nautical and philosophical instru-
ments. Some Of them earn good deal
OF money by working the ideas of invent
oTs into models.
Rising from the material to the ideal
field, the city harbors many laureates,
who produce alleged poetry TO order.
No mute, inglorious Millions are they, but
always wound up to q normal pitch Of
inspiration. Drop your cash into the
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21

Have you struck it rich in pork or
mines or some other speculation and wish
to solidly establish yourself on this
crowded isle of Manhattan If so. you
can find here experts VINO will instruct
you how to furnish your house, who will
90 with you to select the articles, or will
order them for a commission; who will
teach your wife and daughters how to
dress, will supervise the purchase Of
your tableware and give you lessons in
etiquette. More than this; you can en-
gage the services OF a specialist to make
everything go smoothly at your first
formal dinners, served by fashionable
caterer; and if your acquaintance is
limited, you can secure weil-dressed and
vivacious gentlemen to sit at your hos
pitable board, drive away ennui by their
bright conversation and dance gracefully
at your receptions. This system of pro-
viding iirepIoachable guess to till vacant
spaces was the felicitous thought Of q
clever sexton recently deceased. The
system survives and fills long felt want.
Moreover, If you wish it, you can for a
suitable sum mortgage a professional
hurnorist TO entertain your guests during
the evening, or can tempt an alert man
about town to corral some lion of the
hour and exhibit him in your dining
room.
It takes a metropolis TO support a
painter Of black eyes. In q less populous
OF less bellicose community his vocation
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21

Smokers will lie interested to know
hat near Albany there is u firm which
makes large quantities of paper for the
purpose OF beng manufactured into
igars. The plan Of operation is said to
,e this: The paper, on reaching the to-
,acco warehouse, is repeatedly soaked in
strong dee c;ion OF the plant. 1t is
hen cut up and pressed in molds, which
.ive to each sheet the imitation of the
,enuine leat tobacco. So close is the
imitation that expert tobacco men and
labitual smokers have been deceived.
At a recent gathering in New York,
:igars made from this paper tobacco were
passed around and declared excellent.
Hany of those present declared the cigars
we're made from rare brands, and so well
was the imitation carried out that one
nan actually insisted that there could be
10 mistake about the cigars being gen.
line tobacco.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21
SUBSCRIPTIONS:
(AI,oays in Aduance.)

A bill has been introduced in the
United States Senate by Senator Dawes,
of Massachusetts,, to impose license tax
of 81, 600 Per aGnum upon manufacturers
of adulterated lard, $500 upon wholesale
dealers in the same, and $50 upon retail.
dealers. The bill provides that adulter-
ated lard shall be sold only in packages
branded and labeled, so that all pur.
chasers may know what they are buying
A tax of one cent per pound is levied
upon all domestic adulterated lard, and
a duty of two cents per pound on i'm
ported adulterated Lard. Penalties are
provided for violations of the provisions
of the law
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21

rers BY being unable to visit the great
bazaars of trade and do their shopping
themselves. However, if they are not
content to buy their goods by sample,
they can procure anything they need or
desire through the medium of purchas-
ing agencies in New York, which will
guarantee to forward any article, from
an anchor to a needle, or to match any
shade of dress goods, and will obtain in
formation on any conceivable subject.
Some agents make daily, tri-weekly or
weekly trips to the city from outlying
districts and fill all orders consigned to
them.
That the corn cropis booming may be
inferred from the fact that New York
City supports two score chiropedic estab-
lishments, in many Of which there ara
several operators, usually of the gentler
sex, as are the majority of patrons or pa
tients. Either lovely woman sQueezes
her foot more tightly than man does his.
or else the angelic half of creation is less
able to endure the torture of cOrns. The
manicure establishments are less numer-
Gus than the chiropedic, and for obvious
reasons. Nevertheless upward of fifty
experts find employment in caring for
the hands and finger-nails of male as well
as female fashionables. Some of them
make their visits on stated DAYS like
physicians and exact large fees.
Five firms manufacture and import az
titicial human eyes, while several Others
provide the cheaper semblances of eyes
that taxidermists insert in the faces of
birds or beasts. The taxidermist's call
ing is no longer a novelty. but he is
daily required TO execute startling orders
for the stufiug or burial Of household
pets.
No less than nine establishments pro-
duce artificial limbs. The havoc of our
civil war gave a tremendous impetus to
inventiveness in that direction, and our
artificial limbs are unequaled in the
world. A considerable export trade has
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21
THE
Charlotte Messenger
IS PUBLISHED
Every Saturday,
AT
CHARLOTTE, N. c.
In the Interests of the Colored People
of the Country.
THE
CHARLOTTE, N. c.

In the Interests of the Colored People
of the Country.
Able and well-known writers will contrib
ute to its columns from different parts of the
country, and it will contain the::latest Gen.
eral News of the day.
TIE MESSENGER is flrst-class newspaper
and will not allow personal abuse in its col
umns. tits not sectarian or partisan but
ndependent-dealing fairly by ALL 1t re-
serves the right to criticise the shortcomings
of all public officials-commending the
worthy, and recommending for election such
meu as in its opinion are best suited to serve
the interests of the people
1t is intended to supply the long felt need
OF a newspaper to advocate the rights and
defend the inter SITS of the Negro-American,
especially in the Piedmont section of the
Carolinas.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21

Tha. many of our most polished and
giided swells are agents employed to
popularize certain brands of champagne
is fact that scarcely needs iteration
even in list of odd trades. They receive
handsome salaries, with large margin
for expenses.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21

Speaking of the queer trades of New
York, of course the ragpicker is one of
the first images to spring before the
mental vision. The business is now
almost wholly in the hands of Italians,
who "district" this and neighboring
cities in fashion to suit themselves.
1t is no uncommon thing to see woman
of that nationality swinging onward
with free, elastic step, while on her coil
of glistening black hair is poised sack
as two feather beds. ] atterly many of
them have come to own or hire hand
carts, and the voice of the erstwhile RANT
junkman is less loud in the land Oh
viously there cannot be very large
profit for most of those who scoop up
fragments of paper or textile fabrics
from cutters and ash barrels; still some
of them have grown wealthy in it, and
strange tales are told among them of
lucky ones who have stumbled on bonan-
zas, by finding rings or bank notes or
purses in the course Of their perambu-
lations The ragpicker who knows his
business invariably keeps sharp eye on
the verge of the curbstone during his
early morning rounds.
At almost any of the hotels you can
hire the services of gentleman who
knows the town like a book, and who
will undertake, for specified considera-
tion, to show you the sights-a phrase
which is generally interpreted to mean
the neither side of Gotham. The student
of sociology is expected to foot all the
bills-how moderate or extrayagant they
will be depends on his own wish and
taste--and he will be assured Of safe
return to his hotel under the pilotage of
his cool and vigilant cicerone.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21

mouth of their purses aud. like one of
those patent weighing contrivances, the
machinery is set in motion. They viii
grind you out fervid love poem, an
acrostic, sentiment for an album or an
obituary dirge with neatness and de-
spatch. Some of them advertise exten-
sively and ply Lucrative business
Ladies' living in small towns and vii
lagos miss much of the pleasure that
makes life worth living to their city sis
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21
Categorical.

Teacher" John, what are your boots
made Oft"
Boy" OF leather"
"Where does the leather come FRONT"
'From the hide of the OK"
"What animal, therefore, supplies you
with boots and gives you meat to eatl"
my father. ~ Washington Critic.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21
A SeYere Test.

"1f 1 should tell you, dear" he said,
"that my love for you had grown cold
that had ceased TO care for you, and
that the happy time when shall claim
you as my ownest own will never, never
be. would it really be trial to you,
darlingl'
'.Ycs. George, shyly admitted the girl,
'it would be breach OF promise trial. ~
-Nelc York Sun.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21
wouldn't do IL.

"No; don't ask Robinson to say a
good word for me. He wouldn't do il. y
doesn't he like your"
No, he has owed me ten dollars bor-
rowed money for more than six months. I"
-Epoci.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21
lie Conldn,t Afford II.

A mother was urging her son to pur-
chase an overcoat, and he was insisting
that he could not afford one
"Very well, thcn,' said she, "you
will get pneumonia; see if you don't"
mo" said he, al won't get that
either; ] can't afford anything now.n
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21

NEWLY ARRIVED ESGLIsHMAN Ito
newsbOy). "a How marvelously cheap
newspapers are in New York to be sure.
We have TO pay more than double the
price in London
NEwsRoY extending his hand d)-"You
can pay dou5 e the price now, sir, if it
will make you feel any more at home,
sir. "-TszGs Siftin0s.
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21
Turkish Woman.

Hon. S. S. Cox, Minister to Turkey,
SAYS in his latest work on that country
that the Turkish ladies are decidedly
conversational among themselves. Their
wells constantly grow thinner, and they
gaze with interest upon Paris fashions.
The Turkish dress of thirty years ago is
almost obsolete. The women of the
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21

harem are less indolent than formerly
Like Gautier, Minister Cox caught
glimpses of Turkish women unveiled.
TT has often been my fortune, or mis-
fortune, to come Unexpectedly upon
some Of these beauties of the harem when
aloof from their eunuch or other guardian.
Those on our isles are fond of labyrin-
thine rock rambles. / often came upon
them in covies of half dozen in the
sweet hooks and shades of the woods
1t always struck me as strange that they
should have so much care for their faces
when they did not seem to be otherwise
fastidiOus "
Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-21

The largest amount OF land held in the
United States by an alien corporation is
that owned by the Holland Company, in
New Mexico. 1t embraces 4,500, 900
acres
Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1888-02-29
Aasrnes e.ssssAsg res I'll
vurB pnEssOGsCu.

TIE Rspabsis n nsmsess OF fss veg
is:s.sss Of Ksssssky have nraninoasi-
sssolvsd 70 pssssnt tbs rsns OF w. y.
Bradley, Of that STATE. to the kspassi'
esn sstisnsl convention - . candidate
for the yiss PRESIDENCY. Mr.. Bsadlsy is
one Of The ru,ss pssmlssus Rs9asi'esrs
ssa aus Of sbs most popslss eisssns OF
Ksnsosky. Asa candidate for governor
sssiass 0sussai Baskner last yssF. be
eat into the mocsasic msi irisy enss
msssIy aud almost led the country TO
believe that Ksnsaety might be chased
q . doabssai stats. Il h psobahis that
seoarsphied considerations gill pre-
vent NJ. Bndley's domination. bot. II
1 hs national CONVEX sisn should happs .
10 ctscs him upyn the tiekss, be would
make Q god candidate and good vice
pessidsns. II be suceeedsd In getting
The Democrats Of the United states -
sonplessiy on tbs ran - be did ihoss Of
Rsntuoky last year, be would cover
himself With glory and render lis party
. service which voaid net be fereottsn-
n The percentage Of Republican gain
In Kentucky veYs spread over the
south, The soiidtsy 81 that section vonid
disappear aud the Republican csnsi-
dates sould receive good many cleo
tosal vstss which they soaid not ex-
mast.
Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1888-02-29
ruE slsl,s.,os srx,KE.

TIE strike inausufated on ths Bar
lineton eystsm 90 Monday morning is
notable ~ being the most important
shat has tsten place In the west sisee
the colisyss o. the s:rihs on the Gould
south western system almost three years
ago, Il IL notable also from the fact
thst II IL undertaken, not by the Knights
Of Labor, bat without the sappost and
evan. n IL said, With the opposition OF
that order. TIE Brotherhood Of Loco
motive Epeineers. by which the strike
10 insasasa,ed. has long had the rsputa-
tion ~ being one Of the uost conssrss-
tive a. we'll ~ one Of tbs mos. poser
fal labor Organisations 10 the United
STATS. and. under the psuiens manage
msnt Of Cnief Arthur. IL has attained =
position OF tho utmost importaucs 10
the railroad and labor world.
There has long essn fseling OF es-
tssnssmsnt between the brotherhood
and tho Knights Of Labor. rhis feel
ing, according 10 the members Of ste
brotherhood. orig ins,ed from the feet
that the places Of members Of sheir
order who struck during ibe great iahsr
tsoubies % 1871 were taken by members
Of The rival order. kBiehis OF Labor
assers 10 their torn that the places Of
the slriksfs during tie recent trouble
on the Heading road were tsksn by
members Of tbs brotherhood. IL Il I'd
that ksigAis OF Lsbor ars Fastening
ffon rann,y lvania to take the place OF
ths memsess OF ta~ brotherhood wh5
have gase 90, 90 the Darlington strike.
II this 1, true. n Ia das 10 . desire on
the part Of the knlshts e 'ses even"
for The assls,sres alleged 10 have bsen
rendered 20 the Heading management
b. members OF The brethefhosd.
T1isss eomefoniss ID speedily
agreed apon the present. strike ls Tx ly
10 be q Ions and bitter one. II is Ger
eAia that both sides are dcab,fal OF the
outcome snd that both are prepared to
msks every possible ear, TO achieve
victory.
Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1888-02-29
nosvulsry 30 rss cssal rseJrcr.

Na,hias Is more inf xglicssie 30 the
observer OF earreet svssss than the hos
tiiisy Of thc soagh 81 asy pan looking
tosard the eonsirsssioa Of a canal BE-
tvsen the Ail.asis aai tae Pseiai bY
The N.auasusa roa,e. laers IL sppsr
entity no reason Cor this hostility, b1t
chs Fac, tia, Is exists - hsyaai d.s9a,s.
TIE ssusa hes 90 interest Ia nslxs
seps' ssinallns tAnama sessms. aai
oasstt 10 b. a. nush Interested as any
osher ogsoo Of ths osantfy IN the c0a
strasslou Of an inlpF oceanic ~aiaExty
anigr AmsTisaa auspices. AZ . matter
OF fass. aoEsvsr. taAi sss,tsa. tafoash
It's representatives ia congress, has
sseaiiasf'y ogpaasa every .fag1s,sisa
locking 10 tas eaassfass.sa os sasa
waterway.
Three years azo sas SlsArigasa
treaty negotiated by Secretary srssinx
hs,ssn ~as easaematd hy sac szasss
ny thIs treaty NtsAtAssa msjs t. tie
GATED States slBssss4aas more xalaa.
be tsan say esaes SoaasFg aAi svss
essn .hie 10 sesare as4 easss vsls4ble
than ses that the uas States hAt
been able 10 secure az - saat tiuaz,
TEE treaty ~, ea.y gave 10 ia
Tai ed SsAses tss rssh1 % bald a
canal shFesga tke territory % slsA
rasas. ba. yielded d1Rlaian aF,F shs
s,rip 81 eanisy thrsexe wnies shs
va,srsAS sasali se ieoasse. Il aasds
uasrs~ ssF'e OF eaaasry sxitn3.Ds fien
oeesa 10 ecssH. American scil. AS
gave 10 tie Caiis3 STATES fail poser g.
ssnirol The s>esl ss Il chose AEa - Sc
feed IL sese tesessaEy.
rns ssaiiasa, Of tie esentrY was ~
parratly eyxgshslning,y tn fasos ~ .ss
0 ,assgmstiou Of tie treaty. Bsa ou<
o. ,sessien 81 oy;eioz wzs heard. sna
a q was 10 the ssess Ieas ths sisaeas
60 ,e~sssees sseald Al oaes BE- tsasa al
vantage Of and thai AZ Aaestcsa essai
sseala b< easssresss5 esswsse sas A.
n stsc Ard The fae.as. Is shs safPsiss
Of h. sntsre sosctty. hesevsr. tAs sen
ais refused 10 ssSesw ise ,fsAis. Tas
vess Of syesy sssstsr fssn sas aassssfe /,
states vas rsees4sd 10 favor e ias sssu
fsmoies. Every vsss sessrds3 gsisst
lss soaesussssa vss shAa - ssssas
nsa,es. Tee gsesls vsss sasess>ed ssa