Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-25


WE'RE DOING A LIVELY DusrNEss-rHE BUNS
AND TRAMPs WERE OUT IN FoRcE-rwo OFF,
GERS IN CITIZENS cLoTHEs WORKED.
The drenching rain yesterday morning kept
the shoppers at home. but in the afternoon,
when the clouds had partly cleared away and
the suns rays were visible, there we're many
professions moving along the side streets, and
every head was turned in the direction Of down
town. The storm abated in time for the gov
eminent clerks who had half holiday and from
that time till midnigh. Pennsylvania avenue,
It'll and streets were crowded with shoppers
ana persons who were out to see the sights
Along the curbstones, near the principal
crossings and brightly illuminated stores, men
stood in line to watch the passing crowds and
only moved away upon the approach Of a
friend.
THE FAKIRs AND STREET MERcHANTs.
In the meanwhile the street arabs, fakirs and
others selling all sorts of articles along the
streets were not idle. These itinerant mer-
chants offered all kinds Of Christmas goods for
sale, from the colored boy with the tin horn to
the candy manufacturer and the toy dealer
The push-cart merchants were out in larger
numbers than usual and were permitted to do
business along the line Of the curb in some
places without interruption. This was espe-
cially the case on It'll street between E and
streets, in front Of the Post Office building,
where there was no one to complain and there
fore the keep moving" rule was not en-
forced.
CHEAP CANDY.
Mice clean candy, ten cents pound" one
Of the sons of Italy was crying, and he even
offered to sell three pounds for a quarter, de-
III hat
He probably called it clean candy because the
rain had given it a drenching earlier in the
day and there was no dust or dirt to be blown
upon his stock.
Another long -bearded man, who would have
looked like Santa Claus had his whiskers been
the proper color, had a large assortment Of
toys on his cart and his lungs were also used
to good advantage, and his customers kept him
busy for some time.
Fully dozen such vehicles were filled with
oranges, bananas, grapes and other fruit, while
a number of them carried stocks Of candies
and Christmas novelties.
THE BOYS WITH TIN HORNS.
The boys who sold tin horns had lots Of fun
as they pressed through the crowd footing their
cheaply constructed instruments in q deafen-
ing manner.
Sweet lavender cents package" was the
cry Of youngster who stood on Market space
and addressed his remarks to the ladies, whom
he assured that the fine quality of the article he
was selling could not he reproduced.
At most of the street corners men with large
bundles Of the latest novelties in toys held
forth and attracted large crowds. These men
Uade large sales for the reason that the toys
they offered were new and they had an oppor-
tunity to exhibit them to the best advantage
possible.
THE STREET FAKIRs.
The fakirs did not forget to come out last
night, although the majority Of the Washington
fakirs are out of town, where they are not so
well known and their swindling brethren from
other places came in to catch the trade. Fakirs,
like all other persons who sell snide goods, can
not operate in one town many seasons in sue
cession, for they become as well known as the
goods they sell, and persons purchasing from
them once or twice and getting swindled are
likely to know better next time.
The genuine street faklrs, who are able to tell
pleasing stories and hold their audiences for .
quarter of an hour at time, are not so plenti-
ful about here as they were a few years ago. A
number of those who belonged here have died
and others have gone to prey upon the unsus-
pecting of other communities
THE MAcERs WERE OUT.
The people who did not forget to get out in
the crowd last night we're those individuals
who beg for living and who are known as
buns" or .'macers." These people knew that
Christmas eve was a good time for them to
operate, as persons generally were In good
humor in anticipation of pleasant time today.
and the stories they told were calculated to
bring them in dollars instead Of nickels They
swarmed Pennsylvania avenue and street and
it is safe to state that they ana the army of
tramps collected fully $780,
WORKED TWO OFFICERS.
Two officers in citizens clothes were &C.
costed near Pennsylvania avenue and 9th
street by one of these "bums," who told pitt
ful tale of his suffering for want Of food and q
place to sleep, and one of the coppers recog-
nizing him as 4 man he had seen three days
ago inquired, when did you reach the city,"
Just came in today"
.'You are lying" said the officer, 'for I saw
you here three days ago."
Have been here three days and didn't
know it!" asked the knight Of the road. WAS
i drunk or sober?"
Here's nickel" said one Of the officers.
Here's another"
'Thanks."
The man crossed the avenue and before the
officers reached It'll street the same tramp &C.
costed them again and evidently thought the
officers would not recognize him.
ONCE TOO OFTEN.
His second appearance was q complete sur
prise to the officers, and one Of them asked him
if he ever did the ''stem racket"
II don't go that low he answered.
This is done by breaking the stem OF his
pipe and begging for a few pennies to purchase
a new one.
When questioned by the officers as to how
long he had been on the road he said this was
his first turn, assured the officers that he was
no hobby and said he would 'lamb'' out Of
the neighborhood.
The officers showed their badges to the man
and told him who they were, and he thanked
them for being kind enough to let him 60 with
out locking him up.
When the crowd thinned out the .'bums"
made themselves scarce. and disappeared to
cheap lodging houses to spend the night, and
many of them who got enough money will
probably leave here for another field today
and make room Tor others who are no doubt on
the road here.
The Suggestion Commended.