The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1891-02-14
THE
A Peculiar but Profitable Mode of Gain
"a LIyeIfhOOd.

A Peculiar but Profitable Mode of Gaining
a Livelihood.
a reporter met a crape-chascr the
other day for the first time to know who
and what he was. II was in Il local
florists shop. A rather seedy and lu-
gubrious individual entered, In his
hand he carried q small wire frame
with wire lettering. 1t was apparent
that it was one of those frames used by
florists in preparing wreaths and the
lk on the occasion Of funerals.
The florist seemed TO know the new
conner, and he saluted him Familiarity,
'Well, Jim, what is ftp" he asked.
Just a few scraps" said the meIan-
choly one, funerals this afternoon
"Well, l can't do much for you to-
day, Jim said the florist. Then he
rummaged among his flowers for a few
minutes and finally handed jim q few
punches of withered flowers and fern.
Its the best l can do" he said.
''Never mind" said the melancholy
one, II reckon / can make EN- do"'
Then he went away as lugubrious as
he was when he anne.
Lost some Of his family?" the re-
porter asked.
Gracious, no." answered the florist
with a laugh, Jim never had any family
hat I've heard of. Jim is u crane
chaser, you know" The reporter didn't
know, and then he was enlightened az
to Grape chasers. These gentlemen
seem to have shown a very considerable
degree of originality in their selection
of a calling.
They form a portion of that army OF
persons who in one way Or another
make a living out of the fact that men
must die. Some of the original mem
bers Of the army iave dropped out of
the ranks for good and for all. The
professional mourner, for instance. is
no longer to be seen. He is no longer
an institution respected even by the
small boys in the streets.
The Grape chaser is another sort of a
tradesman. If he was vain-glorious he
might call himself a florist, although
that would be rather stretching the
matter, since he bears bout She sama
relation to a florist proper that a penny
cake stand bears to a f~ull-fiedgcd
bakery.
The Grape chaser's mode of procedure
is simple. He reads the death columns
of the daily papers every morning,
hangs about undertaker's establish
ments in the eneme districts waiting
for accounts of deaths. He pays no at
tention save to those that occur in poor
families. He is at the scene o death as
soon as or before the Grape is hung on
the door. He goes armed with frames
that are appropriate for floral pieces.
BY the exercise of any vile that may
seem to at the occasion he manages to
secure interviews with some member
of the bereaved family. The Grape
chaser displays his frames. Lie argues
that he can supply floral pieces much
cheaper than any florist will, and this
is true, although he does not tell why
he can.
Sometimes he fails to obtain orders,
but many more times he succeeds, and
In his way does a more or less profitable
business, for although he sells so much
cheaper than a florist with the flowers
he uses for wreaths and the like are the
odds, ends and outcastings of the flor
lists stock. So his profits are fully in
proportion to his outlay.
The trade has It's ramiflcations too.
Near n of the local cemeteries there
Is 3 man who makes a business of buy
ing up the rusty old frames when the
graves are cleaned from time to time
and the wrecks of floral pieces taken
from them. He cleans and repaints the
frames, and her sells them for a song.
The Grape chasers are his best custom
ers. And so this queer business Is car
ried on.-N. Y. Mail and Express.