Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-05-01
UNDER THE GASOLINE.
The Confessions Of a Prosperous
and Well-Known Fakir.
A Man Who Always Knew What to Do
When He Got Strapped = Profitable
SpeculatiOns in Mouth-Organs and
Axle Grease-Other Rackets.

"There are heaps of fellows burning gaso-
line In different parts of the country who
call themselves dandy fakirs, but I am not
a bit modest in my barking, and I tell you
that am the king of them ALL" said Davy
Harrington, of Hobolzen, to New y ork
Sun reporter. give been in the business
eighteen years, and guess what I've made
and bowed in during that time wouldn't fall
far short of fifty thousand dollars. Not
that haven't been strapped at times, but
I've never been on my uppers, and never
see place that couldn't work for nights
lodging and three square meals in first
class house. never booze, and always keep
my face clean and my clothes slick. Let me
tell you, young man, that don't care what
your business is, if it is above ground and
in the light of day, or the light of gasoline
torch either, the secret of success is in max
ing a good front, keeping your clothes clean
and studying human nature. Be Jolly if
you can, and tlrn the laugh on every
body that tries to kid you. The crowd will
always be with you then. The Jaws ALWAYS
like to see the village smarties downed by a
fly fakir, and consequently it does me proud
to have clown say something cunning to
me and give me a chance to down him.
Then the gang gives him yell, and he looks
sheepish. He always answers back in
half-hearted way, and as he sneaks to the
rear one of his friends say: Gosh blameme
eff he didn't hev We there, HANK
"Then begin to rake IN the dimes and
quarters. My pertlckler line is selling any
thing there's money in. Don't care what
1t is; it's bound to go if it is new and good
for any thing, and at pinch viii sell
things that amt new, provided l can make
people think they are cheap. am always
skinning around, looking for job lots. 1 re-
member four years ago got hold of a lot of
German mouth-organs that were damaged
by smoke and water in a Broadway fire
There was twenty-five gross of them, and 1
took the lot at dollar a gross. The rock
bottom price on them was IS 40 gross. 1
took them home and sot the boys to fixing
'em up. Each one was wrapped in red
paper, and they was done up IN dozens in
red wrappers. The wrappers was all
spoiled, and every instrument had to be I'M
wrapped and wiped of. There wasn't one
in the hull lot that wasn't as good as the day
it was made. Well, couldn't play note
when got them, but sot right down and
tried, and in less than a week could play
Home, Sweet Home and The Last Rose
OF Summer When / got my hand in and
found it easy enough TO learn new tunes,
and when knowed four tunes took two
gripsacks full of the mouth-organs and
SL6EGcQ out
1.-THE first town Istruck was Hackensack,
and IN one night / sold nearly gross of
them at dime each. 1 came back home on
late train, and started out next day with a
bigger load, and struck Paterson did
well there, and went to Newark, Norris
town, Dover, Phillipsburg, Easton, 6craa-
ton, Wilkesbarre, and back through Belvi-
dere, Trenton, New Brunswick, Plainfield
and Elizabeth. Ny boys kept send
ing me stock ahead, until one cay when /
was waiting in Elizabeth for a box to take
over onto Staten Island / got telegram
telling me that had sold all but one, and
that the baby wouldn't give that one up. In
little moro than q month had sold the
whole twenty-five gross for over S14 gross
and cleared over $3.50. 1t was the best lob
1 ever did and it showed me that there is
nothing like music to catch the country
lads No; 1t wouldn't pay me to pay s.. 40
! for new lot and continue the business
Fakirs amt built that way Ii don't nay
to bum around the country and shout for
less than four or i've hundred per cent.
profit.
Il once made stake ON lot of pongee
handkerchief, selling them for ten cents
when they cost me about two, but the next
lot cost me five, and / lost money on the
trip. One hundred per cent. amt enough.
ssThe funniest deal ever made was to
buy out q lot of old-style wall paper at q
cent q roll and peddle that through Penn
s1auasnia- Ihad fellow with me that had