The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-26

FERRY AIIAoIKALSY.
QUEER CHARACTERS WHO MAKE 4
LIVING BY THEIR WITS.

of Passengers on New York Ferries.
Their Money Sometimes Earned.
OF the many curious classes OF charities
IN * vicinity of this city. the ferryboat
fakirs come very near being the most in
teresting. To the passengers and eommu-
tiers on the numerous lines Of ferries st
both sides Of the city they have been a
source of amusement for many years
Probably the most interesting and vel
come character on thsb boats IS an old negro.
He begins operations with the rush Of
traffic at 5 O'Clock in the afternoon
He takes 4 sent in the rear Of the mems
tabin, and just after the boat starts be
walks into the passslCeway between the
two cabins and begins to whistle, very
softly at first, The Mocking Bird" With
out single break be finishes the air. a
marvel Of sweetness and simplicity. Then
he begins it again. This time ahttle louder
and with variations.
Old men put down their papers and lis
ten intently; the conversation becomes
subdued and then ceases; the boys leave
their seats and stand at the entrance TO the
pasSageway. but the old darky never stops,
and all the time his wonderful exertion Is
! becoming more and more melodious
Finally he launches of into a series Of
sweet toned notes, and "a look of mingled
1 interest and admiration steals over the
faces OF all within hearing distance. Then
I he drops back into the air again and the
/ tune is finished very softly.
APPEALS TO WOMEN.
The old negro then walks TO the end
/ OF the cabin and, holding his hat out, bows
I low and passes around the seats, all the
! time whistling some lively little tune, in
| terspersed with melodiOus variations The
I nickeis, dimes and pennies rattle an accom-
| paniment TO his music and bis nightly col
I lections vary from S. 20 Si2. On Sunday
/ nights be can be seen on the boats running
! from Cortlandt street, and then he selects
! the ladies side of the boat. Standingunder
one of the chandeliers, with his hat IN his
! hand. he whistles Nearer, Ms God. TO
Thee" and repeats it with variations. All
of his selections on Sunday nights are pop
ular hymns, and for his sweet and soulful
rendition of them be is well repaid.
Lately the attention of the passengers
has been attracted by a deformed boy, who
works upon the different lines from early
morning until late at night. His entire
left side is paralyzed, shortening his leg
and drawing up his arm. The side Of his
face is also affected His clothing is poor
and scanty.
When the boat Is well out in the river
the boy enters the forward door OF the
lady's cabin and stands for a moment at
the threshold, apparently uncertain what
to do. Then he takes from an inside pocket
of his coat two lead pencils, sharpened and
provided with rubbers. Holding these in
his perfect hand he lirps slowly around In
front Of the seats, pausiDg a moment bCs
fore each passenger, mutely asking them
to buy
His face is picture of despair, and many
dime and nickel are dropped into his hand.
Nine out of every ten passengers refuse a
pencil after they have given him aims. but
il one is taken he continues his journey
holding the remaining one out for sale.
II that too happens TO be taken the little
fellow dives down and brings out two
more from his inside pocket. The little
scheme succeeds admirably, and he does
not dispose Of more than four or five pen
ellis day. The boy is a professional beggar
and under the eyes and training OF his
father.
ATHLETIC FEATS.
Among the most interesting characters
are two brothers between the ages OF II
and II years. As soon as the boat is well
on its trip they appear at one end OF the
cabin and one of them, taking or his hat,
saws:
Gentlemen, if you have not got any OBJ
jections we would like 10 entertain you for
few moments. Although we make our
living this way, we only ask for what you
think we are worth
Both bow, and with quick movement
the younger lad puts his foot in his broth
er's hand and is thrown high into the air
Turning back somersault he lands on his
feet on the floor. Picking himself quickly
up he mounts on his brothers shoulders
and again turns backward 10 the floor.
Three or four more combination feats OF
this nature are accom- plished. when the
two boys stop for amoment's rest and then
20 at It again. They turn forward and
backward somersaults, leap TO one aDoth-
ers shoulders, and finally walk around the
cabin on their hands
During trips where the cabin IS filed
they are roundly applauded for their work.
and both live nicely from the collections
they make They have az different times
filed small engagements, bat they say
there il more money in the ferry boats for
them, and besides they are their own mas
ters.
Another Of the deserving characters isan
Irish boy. who generally makes bis appear
ance in the cabin with the following re-
marks:
Ladies and gentlemen, II II win not
bother yon too much I'd like 10 give yoa a
little exhibition Of dancing. I will first
dance you an Irish reel and jig, next
clog, next shuttle and the last a wing
dance Please notice the different steps"
lie takes a small harmonica from his
pocket anu, after tapping the floor with
bis foot, higgins his Irish Jig. As he changes
the music his steps and the style Of dance
change. and. true 20 his word. he ends with
the wing dance II is clever piece of
work, for playing quick jigs j. not easy,
especially when one dances 10 his own nu-
SIC The boys steps are accurate ard /
light. and be is frequently applauded and
well repaid for rs work-Eew YORK /
World
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