The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1893-01-18
SIGNS ONTHE BOWERY
WHAT ONE MAY SEE ON ;lEW Works.
FAMOUS THOROUoHFARE.

People Of All Nationalities.
To those students Of human nature
who are quick to see the weak side of
every character save their own, trip
up the Bowery and Park row is always
fruitful Of good results There are SO
many sights, sounds and scenes novel
and interesting in the stirring comedy
drama, Struggle for Bread" that the
student cannot help feeling amused and
interested. Then, too, the fact that
nearly every one he meets is poorer than
himself imparts the Zest of complacency
to his pilgrimage, and he steps among
the hungry and wretched and the happy
and careless, keeps his hand on his pock-
etbook and his eyes on the shifting piano.
rama of life and makes notes.
The signs are the first things that take
the wanderers eye.
He notes "a Regular Dinner for thir-
teen Cents" and 1.-TWO Genuine Import
ed Havanas for Five Cents" with inter-
est. He feels that his barber charges
him too much when he sees that he can
receive tonsorial attention here for five
cents, with the added luxury of bay rum
for ten cents, and that q clean towel is
guaranteed with every shave.
A large and gaudy cartoon extolling
the merits of the "Flor de Maggie Cline
Cigar" attracts his attention A small
footnote says that it is changed every
day, and that while the merits of the
cigar will be dwelt lovingly upon, yet
the cartoons will also deal with timely
topics.
A clothing store near by has big
black signboard stating that this is the
headquarters of the Society for En-
couraging the Wearing of Clean Shirts"
whereof the proprietor is president. He
cannot but feel that the society is at
once beneficial, salutary and situated in
its proper field, Park row.
The notice over dingy doorway that
"black eyes will be made to look natural
for ten cents" causes him some vague
apprehension, as it is a silent witness
that he is in the land of fisticuffs and as
sault and battery.
But contemplation of the chalk writ
ten words that "a Delmonico lunch goes
with every glass of beer" gives rise to
more kindly feelings, and he soon for
gets his fears.
A red nosed man rapping with rat
tan at large and startling representa-
ton of 1.-The Wonderful Monstrosity,
Jumbeto, the Elephant Boy, Half Ele-
plant, Half Human, Now to Be Seen
Alive Inside holds him awhile But
he feels sure it is a fake and drifts on
to the auction Sale"
A sharp eyed person in his shirt
sleeves is extolling the merits of solid
gold, full jeweled, stem winding, Amer
lean movement watch, cased, chased,
turned and beveled, going at the ridicu-
lousy low price Of four dollars. Cap
pers are urging victims to buy, pullers
in are bawling the auction to all who
pass and the hurdy gurdy behind the
dime museum screen tries vainly to
drown their cries by its jerky render
ing Of Comrades, comrades, ever since
we were boys" while the man at the
door still raps the counterfeit visage of
the elephant boy and cries that the ad-
mission is but dime.
The crowd thickens; evening comes on.
The "oysters and CLANS one cent" man
lights his torch, Cinnamon, bloused and
pigtailed, heading for Chinatown; Ital-
ians with pushcarts turning toward the
bend, Greeks bound for James street,
negroes for South Fifth avenue Ger
mans for Avenue A. Hebrews for FL
bridge street, all homeward bound work
worn and weary, hurry past Beef
steak Johns" is crowded. The fifteen
cent lodging houses have each their
score of loungers at their dingy portals.
1t is night. Now the shooting gal
leries light up and the 'ping!" 'ping!''
of the 22-caliber bullets ring down
against the sheet iron targets. Men Turk
in alleyways and stink out to demand
aims. A crowd of roisterers come down
arm liz arm. They are college boys,
down OH the Bowery for fun.
A one eyed man has song sheets for
sale. He cries his wares and sells
several copies to the youths.
The variety theaters open their doors
and the Bowery amusement seeker
surges in to see the Irish-American Four
and McGiffin and McGuffin, the king
pins of song and dance.
The German and Hebrew theaters are
open, too, and have their crowds also.
The Elite Lady orchestra has tuned up
in the concert halls, and the Bowery is
at its best.
The bell at the family resort is clang-
ing for the first performance, and the
ticket seller opens his little window and
gets his change ready.
The clothing store "barkers" redouble
their efforts to catch trade by manual
force, and the Bowery roars with sounds
of life and trade. Saloons are doing q
rushing business now. Sailors, long
shoremen, mechanics, all out for drink
and recreation, make up the crowd.
A new venture, the "two-and-a-half
cent-a-cue" poolroom, has done such
good business that rivals have sprung
up on every side. These places are al
crowded. The frequenters are for the
most part evil looking, low browed
Al =. L II