The Portland daily press., 1890-12-06
SECOND HAND SHOES.
Where they Come from, Whore they
are Sold and what they Cost.
New York Star. ]

lN6W 1OTh
Nearly everything is soId at second
hand in New York. 1t is easy to under
stand why there is market for finery,
for pianos, for jewelry and for clothing,
for which prices are high and vary a
great deal, but shoes are sold so cheaply
when new that trade in shoes at second
hand should be small. Yet 1t is fact
that there is very large trade in second
hand boots and shoes, mostly shoes, be-
cause boots are worn by few at present
The second hand shoe stores are in base
ments in the poorest quarters of the
city.
They are generally in the neighbor-
hood Of second hand clothing stores, but
are distinct from them. Sometimes,
however, bargains in second hand shoes
are to be found in second hand clothing
stores, but they are odd pairs and an as
sortment is seldom supplied. On the
east side and in the First ward are many
second hand shoe stores, and in the bend
at Sixth Avenue and Carmine street Is
quite colony. Many of them are kept
by Hebrews and almost invariably the
proprietor is cobbler, who occupies his
time mending shoes, either for his own
customers or some other shop. All sorts
and sizes of shoes, representing the fash
ions of the past ten years or longer, may
be found for all ages and both sexes.
They are kept clearly BACKED.
Many of these shoes are from ash bar
rels and garbage boxes, having been dis
carded as past the worth of mending.
About the LIST Of May there is harvest
of old shoes, thrown out by tidy house
keepers and picked up by the ragpickers,
who send them to the second hand shops
Many men buy cheap shoes purposely,
because they do not like to wear shoes a
long time. They discard them without
half soling. AS long as shoes are repair
able on the uppers they are of service to
the second hand men, who patiently
patch and mend them and make them
worth selling.
Some of the second hand shops are
patronized by Hebrews, others by Ital-
ians, and some by colored people. Many
servants get shoes from their employers
and have them mended, thereby getting
DCulCL bhCy "
buy new.
The prices Of these second hand shoes
are low. 1t is almost rule that the
price shall be only trihe more than the
cost of mending. Twenty-Five cents a
pair is not an unusual price. A dollar a
pair is large price. The cost of shoes
is one Of the heaviest burdens to poor
families. Old clothes may be handed
down from one generation to another, or
made over, but the shoes require cash
outlay all the time, and the amount of
shoe leather that can be stamped out by
healthy youngsters is appalling
There is a steady trade in second hand
shoes among peddlers. They eagerly
bargain for old shoes as they travel
through the country. Many of the best
shoes in second hand shops are bought
by colored people who are inclined to be
particular about their footwear. In the
best second hand stores may be found
soiled fancy shoes for women, relics of
the stage, Oh the cast off finery of the
rich. Such shoes often reappear in east
side ball rooms. Most Of the customers
of the second hand shoe shops are thrifty
persons who have fair incomes, but are
saving money for some purpose, and do
not disdain to economize by buying sec
ond hand articles. : @