Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-12-25
SECONDHAND SHOES.
Where They Come From. Who're They Are
Sold, and what They Cost.

Nearly everything is sold ut second
hand in New York says the Sun. II
is easy to understand why there is a
mai ket for tinery, for pianos, for jewell
nv. aud for clothing. for whicl, prices
are high. and vary great deal. but
shoes are sold SO cheapy when new
i that trade in shoes mt second hand
should be small. Yet it is fact that
there is very large trade in second.
hand boots aud shoes. mostly shoes,
because boots are worn by few nj
| present. The secondhand shoe stores
are in Easements in the poorest quart
ers of the city. They are generally in
the ncighborhood of secondhand cloth
! ing stores. but are distinct from them.
Sometimes however, bargains in
secondhand shoes are to be found in
secondhand clothing stores. bat they
are odd pairs. aud an assortment 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 aud Carmine street is
quite a colony. Many OF them are
Kept by Hebrews, aud almost invari-
ably the proprietor is a cobbler, who
occupies his time meuding shoes. either
for his own customers or some other
shop. All sorts aud sizes of shoes. rep
reSenting the fashions of the past ten
wears or longer, may be found for all
ages and both sexes. They are kept
cleanly BACKED.
Many OF these shoes are from ash
barrels and garbage boxes. having been
| discarded us past the worth of mend.
ing. About the first of May there is u
harvest of old shoes. thrown out by
tidy housekeepers and picked up by the
ragpickcrs. VINO send them to the
secondhand shops. Many men buy
cheap shoes purposely, because they do
not like To wear shoes long time.
They discard them without half sol.
ing. As long rs shoes are rcpairaGie
on the uppers they are of service to
| the secondhand men. who patiently
patch aud mend them aud make them
worth selling.
Some of the secondhand shoe shops
are patronizel by Hebrews. others by
Italians. and some by colorcd people.
Many servants get shoes from tneir
employers and have them mended.
thereby getting better articles than
they could afford to bny new.
The prices of these secondhand
shoes are low. 1t is almost Il rule that
the price shall he only trlle more
than the cost of mcnding. Twenty
five cents II pair is not an unusual
price. A dollar pair is n large price.
The cost of shoes is one Of the heaviest
burdens to poor families. Old clothes
may be handed down from one gener-
alton TO another, or made over, but
the shoes rrqaire cash outlay all the
time, aud the amount of shoe leather
that can he stamped out by healthy
youngsters is appalling.
There is steady trade in second
hand shoes among peddlers. They
| eagerly bargain for old shoes rs they
| travel through the country. Many OF
| the best shoes in the secondhand shops
are bought by colored people, who are
| inclined to be particular about their
| footwear. In tho best secondhand
stores may be found soilcd fancy shoes
for women, relics of the stage. or tue
cast-ofl iinery of the rich. Sach shoei
often reappear in east side bathrooms.
| Most Of the customers OF the second.
| hand shoe shops are thrifty person.
who have fair incomes. but are saving
money for some purpose, and do mol
| disdaln to economi2e by buying second.
hand aSicles.