The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-11-16
SECONDHAND SHOES.
Where They Come From, Where They Are
Sold, and What They Cost.


Sold, and What They Cost.
From the N. Y. Sun.
Nearly everything is sold at second hand in
New York. 1t is easy to understand why there
is market for finery, for pianos, for jewelrY,
and for clothing, for which prices are high,
and vary great deal, but shoes are sold so
cheaply when new that trade in shoes at sec
ond hand should be small. Yet it is fact that
there is very large trade in secondhand
boots and shoes, mostly shoes, because boots
are worn by few at present The secondhand
shoe stores are In easements in the poorest
quarters of the city. They are generally in
the neighborhood of secondhand clothing
stores, but are distinct from them. Some
times, however, bargains in secondhand shoes
are to be found in the secondhand clothing
stores, but they are odd pairs, and an assort-
ment is seldom supplied On the east side and
in the First Ward are many secondhand shoe
stores, and in the bend at Sixth avenue and
Carmine street is quite a colony. Many of
them are kept by Hebrews and almost invaria-
bly, the proprietor is cobbler, who occupies
his time mending shoes, either for his own Gus
toners or some other shop. All sorts and sizes
of shoes, representing the fashions of the past
ten years 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 as past
the worth Of mending. About the first of May
there is harvest of old shoes, thrown out by
tidy housekeepers and picked up by the rag
pickers, who 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 soling.
AS long as shoes repairable on the uppers
they are Of service to the secondhand men, who
patiently patch and mend them and make them
| worth selling.
| Some of the secondhand shoe shops are pa
| tronized by Hebrews, others by Italians, and
| some by colored people. Many servants get
| shoes from their employers and have them
| mended thereby getting better articles than
| they could afford to 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 mendng. Twenty
| five cents pair is not an unusual price A
! dollar pair is a 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 secondhand shoes
among peddlers. They eagerly bargain for old
shoes 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 the
best secondhand stores may be found soiled
fancy shoes for women, relics of the stage, or
the cast-off tnery Of the rich. Such shoes often
reappear in east side bathrooms. Most of the
| customers of the secondhand shoe shops are
thrifty persons who have fair incomes, but are
saving money for some purpose, and do not dis
dain to economize by buying secondhand
| articles.