The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-04
NEAR 7iiN oFtIc!Nh Hoo7NLich.
lie Complains thnt he CAN No Longer Live
on the prrn Nf ~. q .lics.

on the PrCHS 'f ts'- tH"r.
Tho bo1tblacking business is rot what It
used to be. according t. Jack "h a, for many
years the Official bOotblncS IT, tie Mayor.
Aldermen. and commonalty Of tie city 81
New York. Just now tho Official huOtiiark Is
in hard luck. Besides the changes in tho
business which have tnkon away from his
income. he has had trouble with one Of lis
eyes. which was larccd. and an absccss
formed. which has prevented him from work
ing for somo time. Though ho is unalle to
work. he spends good part OF his tim" at the
City Hall thinking what hoothIachit@ there
used to be in tho old days before tho Italians
came into the business.
Tho official bootblack has won his title by
prescription and by the unofficial sanction OF
tho Hoard Of Aldermen md other city officials.
lie was born in the Fourth ward. rcar tho
Tombs. and he knew Asscmblyman Dry Dollar
sullivan before that great mnn grew w and
succeeded in thrdshinG in phvsical combat
seven prominent members Of the opposition.
From the tlme he was q small boy and first
went into business for himself Mr.. shea
Llacked boots around the City Hall Park.
Before Tammany came into power he was tho
favorite boo.blark around the city Hal! steps.
and with the triumph Of THinmany lie went
inside the City Hall and blackcd boots at tho
foot Of the marble pillars. He succeeded IN
keeping away inside opposition. and his ruuu-
ularity with the Board Of Aldermen resulted
in maxim. him tho official lootLlacl to the
Mayor. Aldermen. and commonulty Of t1o city
Of New York. with Office room in the rotunll
OF the City Hall.
Mr.. Shea wants o throw up his Office and hs
will DO obliged to any one who will find lin
another Job. He Is Disguised with the boot
backing business. and especially with y
post OF official boot black. He would lie EI"I 10
get lob as street car driver. or n assist
ant shipping clerk. or IN any caiMcty Whit,
he is entirely willing to let the TIL" and cmo!u-
ments Of his Office ITO his successor :.
used to be-" sighed Mr.. Shea. There WAS u
tim. years ago. wien was small h.y. ihat
and look ut III" hoo'tmoka doing business
around hc"r. There were several Of them
ana o '9%y , Wydo as ,s RID az = 1rTrG 81"
and nvcrybpdy wanted II patent i"&'l"r 81 n"
l4t on ms shoes before no went into mo { Jun
ell Cham Der.
Those we're the days when ttNro was,
money around hct". anH evc:yh"dT - :9r .- OF
Slime and it was nothing MIRO Than an cN,r,.
thank you for Il quarter ""ii" used &" lN"
men met. and there was no sCrn tang nS
standing; around here ia 'hn r"tHnd@ ana not
q soul leaning VI against :h's" r.arn'" pii-
those days. and have sat here i,nb ~evm tho
time when there wcrr sev"'"l mona ev""y nj
That wa, what made tn ,'l"n"i and ihos,
WEE the days when everybody hal H.
Tho" times are sYnH. i Is god az
tines sH Win Nav 2SS st@oG j. ,S "la ii
day lons without }. Il AMI GoiiS no'hirE ut
Few L""pc CON" in an. ont. When w'nt
into IL" boot lack tGsirr", II vas Il l"'r cay
Aldermen met il was good for -. bat it docs
no; make much "!"rrch"" now whether mo
IL a n \ lti,Ff n,'t a., ~
ar" not many what care to g" I'll" board meet.
ard those a. do 40 don't 80. heir hoes Sh!nrd.
"rh" Italians in tu0-o stands hHvc ruined
the business. Th" men us"t; 10 ""mr arosnd
ll!ihrs. So;n" ~ sh"n &" not cg'ao ana nv
others 70 around t. som" LIQUOR tore an ! at
in the ehnr in E.Gs {: ~. H. Mnt,. TIM, H.. ,:"@
to know whrr" til" Toni IT,. ct All! "a" cue-
tom. want TO Withdrew froln business, aIt
get into something where 'hrr" is . steady
man. Any gentleman who has hrvtt.in- thai
car DO is welcome t. me T.; his own :i""..
something w!I"re VIII got NOR 70 cat
Mr.. h"G has tried L. get q stand somewhere
wh"r" hi. cHst"r-r- can 81 '!""n IN !, mar
pillars in the IT. Hal rutnri:. II" has n
succeeded. tvr h. found thu stand room! hal
II commercial value. am! that il required ~ cash
capital tu get located in any I'urn whore It
would pay lie also found that :hc Italian
lootrii!"hs could ct III" ;Gon"N and lay HIGHER
the "nic" i"i!dtngS "loHE! tho 'iiy Hal
square. and every riac" cisr in TIC ~, .;htpr-
hood that h" conlh think Of bat in Ndin. iIIS
weight. u" has teen a WORTHY cuy ,cmrIoy"".
using n good quality @; l. lacking and r"riorr'-
Ing IL" cutie; Of lis OFF," faithfully ,durin&
done. an! he "ntnucs to i.H" awny. only tho
ghost OF Ii IN viii tie LETT. "ni after h" T. gone.
Office Of official Dootbl"ck vii! DO without az
occupant.