The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-26
The Peculiarltles of the Different
Nationalities.
New York Snn.l


In the days when the most of the peddlers
In New York were Irishmen the goods they
carried with them for sale We're mostly house
hold articles. When immigrants from Po-
land, the land peddlers, invaded the field.
wearing apparel was their chief stock in
trade. To them succeeded the Italians, who
sold plaster of Paris bric-a-brac, pictures,
models. and all artistic ware Since the
Hungarians have been in the field they have
taken to books. toys and stationery.
The business which is most thoroughly
monopolized in this city by native-born
Americans is that of truck owning. Nine
tenths of the carts, trucks and wagons owned
in this city and hired ont belonging to native
Americans. 1t is distinctive mark of an
old-fashioned ward. like the Ninth, to see in
'front.' OF nearly every door at night time a
truck or cart. y
The busiest night in saloon patronized
hy lrisnmen Is Saturday. Saturday is the
patronized by Germans.
A sailor, while his vessel is in port, is al
ways observed in New York to walk along
the middle of the sidewalk, whereas a
conntryman who comes from locality re-
mote from great river or the sea always
stoop line.
Whitewashers and kalsominers have lost
LIelr supremacy among the colOred people.
Inc biggest revenue, on the smallest capital
ana the least work. lis, now made in New
YORK in summer time by the colored women
who sell buttered hot corn and soft shell
crabs on street corners, just as it is done in
southern States, but to much more lucrative
custom.
When legal, paper is served upon China
man ne smiles Dlandly and places it within
the folds of his blouse When a legal paper
IS served upon an Irishman he does not
hesitate, as a rule, to denounce the plaintiff.
a Hebrew defendant usually makes some
offer OF compromise to the server of the pro.
cess, and the average German calls his
friends and family together to determine
whether he shall keep the paper after it has
been handed to him.
About the two most important sign posts
Of the year for old-fashioned Germans are
November and April. In the first-named
month new SaurGraut begins to be sold and
in the.second book beer makes its appearance
When an Irish born workman in the en-
ploy OIL the city, or of a contractor. Is killed
or disabled, leaving dependent family, his
friends get up ball in his benefit, and il
Yields anywhere from $50 to $50. The
money to pay the lawyers fees for defending
q criminal is often raised in the same way
such entertainments are almost entirely IN.
known among the Germans, nearly all OF
whom belong, or have relatives who belong
TO some benevolent social lodge.
Perhaps the rarest sight to be met with In
SEINE parts of New Yotk is that of Hebrew
brickiayer; They are almost as rare as Ger.
man laundrymen.
The only class of adult persons in New
York who drink soda water as their fayoritt
beverage are the Russian Hebrews in and
about Hester, Ludlow, Essex aud Division
streets. In summer time there are $50 street
stands for the sale of soda water within the
contracted boundaries of this district
The clock in saloon kept by German i.
usually about ten minutes fast, in a salooI
kept by an lrishman it is usually about ter
minutes slow. The law fixes the hour a
which saloons close. The saloons kept by
lrishmen cater for what is called s'latt
trade;" the Germans do not
1t Is the experience of most election inspec
tors that the quickest and most expedition.
voting on election day is done in district:
inhabited, wholly or chiefly, by native
Americans. And of these those born il
New England States are quicker than thu
Others
On New York thoroughfare the national
Ivy OF the storekeepers Is shown as follows
Where kerosene lamps are to be met with il
the show windows, Germans dominate tbt
neighborh0od; where electric lights ar,
found. Hebrews prodominate; the Italian:
use gasoline, and the Irish and American:
burn gas.