The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-24
AN ODD OCCUPATION.
Restoring Lost Articles Through
the Medium Of the Press.
An EnterPrisin& New Yorker Who De-
votes His Whole Time to NosiAs
About in Public Places for
Lost Articles.
cannot cure,

The professional finder is a feature
of New York city not found elsewhere.
The most successful man following this
profession is described by the Journal
as well-known but silent figure
around the cafes and hotel corridors
of the nineteenth precinct. This
finder has the eyes of a hawk, and as
he walks along the avenues he scans
every inch of sidewalk, including the
gutter, the latter being rich place
for finds. But he does not ply his trade
by chance, and anything he finds in his
unprotesslonal stFolls he looks upon as
the results of pleasure, not of busi-
ness. He listens at tables of the pop
ular cafes and picks up many an odd
job in this way, as gentlemen telling
of losses are referred to him as the
man of all others most likely to find
the missing article. When introduced
to the unfortunate loser this man is
particular to ask every detail about
the loss, on which street the loser was
walking when he discovered his mis-
fortune, and the course he had taken
from the time he was last cognizant Of
still having the article in his posses
sion. After he has obtained all the
data possible he wishes the party fare
well and goes forth to find. If the
stone or purse, or whatever it may be,
has not been picked up as accidentally
as it was lost, the professional will get
it and a fine present for delivering it
up to its owner. The professional
finder is an honest man, as honesty is
his best policy. Nobody, to see the
finder at work, would know that he
was scanning the ground for treasure.
He walks erect, but not even pin on
the sidewalk from house line to curb
escapes his gaze.
The finder gets his news tips princi-
pally from the morning newspapers.
He is one of the first to buy the papers,
long before the break of day, and he
turns only to the Reward and Lost
and Found" columns. The other news
in the paper is nothing to him. pres
ident may have been elected, an island
annexed or cabinet named-he cares
not Whenever the article advertised
has been lost going from one point of
the city to another, the finder starts at
the first mentioned place and travels
to the terminus. Oftener than would
be supposed he finds the prize and
realizes enough in the way of reward
to keep him in excellent style for a
week or more. He pays attention only
to the most valuable advertisements.
His eye is trained to look only in the
most likely places in which ring
would roll or diamond pin would
drop. Perhaps foot has trodden upon
the article and crushed it into the color
of the sidewalk: the merest hint of
gold or stone suffices to attract his at
tention Broadway is his best prom
enade, and Fifth avenue comes next,
closely followed by Sixth avenue. The
park is also fruitful source of income.
especially the drive. and on the walk
which skirts the fashionable drive the
professional finder takes many a sum-
mer stroll, not alone for pleasure. but
often TO his profit. When there is no
clew to an owner the finder is entitled
to his find. but he watches the news
papers for advertised rewards, and
keeps advertised himself. He says his
good name is of great value to him