The morning call., 1894-09-08

word, $50 week is what the handkerchief
man makes ont of the alleged forgetful-
ness of nose-gifted humanity. A great
many of the purchasers have never
known the mysterious uses Of a pocket
handkerchief, but all have the same excuse
Tor purchasing the cheap camhIic squares,
and that is, 81 left my handkerchief at
home" For nigh on eight years at 8
cents each or six for a quarter has the
handkerchief man sold his wares on the
drugstore corner. He doesn't do the
BaXteI-street act of seizing a customer by
the arm and rubbing his PROPOSES with a
silk wipe" to insure a ready purchase.
He rather follows out Mit1n's plaintive
remark that 'they also serve who only
stand and wait; and the sole lndncemen t
10 purchase that the handkerchief man
ever ulters is: Give cents-only five
cents; five cents" But it is quite wonder
ful the effect that muttered remark has on
the passer-bY, whether it be aTlstocTat or
plebelan. Never a man passes and hears
that refrain and sees those cambrics but
heSitates, feels in his pockets, and, If his
handkerchief be there, heaveS 81 III of
relief and loses himself quickly in the
madding crowd. Out of every huhQfed
ners0ns who pass the corner OF Clay and
kearny in day two find they have no
handkerchief and purchase one gladly,
only to throw 1t away at the end OF the
day when they arrive home and receive
the clean % or 30 cent "blower" from the
faithful and anxious spouse.
ihls handkerchief man is peculiar
person in his way. His name Is Roster and
ne Is OIL Ieulonic origin. LII you ask him
What MS profession is he simply answers
that he was educated for commerce" and
his choice, II broken, English shows that
hnn IL
seen refinement and the flow of better
days., and probably had more French
laundrled wipes" to his name than he
sells In week. And they say-the people
VINO BUY the "wipes"-that KOster is
wealthy. He never denies the soft i'm
peacnment, but he also never admits 1t.
lie lets the dead past bury its dead, and IL
you ask him questions that bear in that
direction he turns them off by remarking
In MS Soito yOce way" 50 cents, only
cents to the neglectful paSsers-by.
but sometimes the handkerchief man
gels confidential. When in such happy
MOOD he will tell you that he sells In
good average week no less than 100
dozen 0t wipes" Ii by little diplomacy
you get him to talk on his profits he will
ielI you tnat he makes / "a cents on each
WIDE. which he sells for cents. That
is a gross receipt OF 500 a week, out oil
whlch he gets SIS to his own share, an
wages Aha1 10 HOs
Dau for man who stands on the street
corner and peddles handkerchiefs; who
makes MS living, so to speak, on the Tor
geltulnesS, real or assumed, OF his fellow
Creatures.
The haudkerchiefs he peddles are made
IN the East In factories where, as tue
nandkerchief man says, millions are
turned out every year, else could not sell
so cheap mlne handkerchiefs." Not all
hosters stock In trade are 5-cent cam
Drlcs. Some are actually sold for 10 cents.
But, ne explains, II make my living out
oil Inc 5-cent handkerchiefs. the 1O-cent
ones are 100 dear to SELL Why? L Will
tell you. Probably my biggest trade Is
with the worKingmen. They don't want
anything more than scent bandker-
chief. have large trade, too. OF we'll
to-do people and always believe them
when they say they forgot theirs at home.
That KIND OF people indulge in quarter
or fouT-olt handkerchief and when re-
MIND them as they pass and they ind they
have FORGOTTEN they want a 5-ceDt hand
kerchlet TO use for the day and then throw
away. 1 have sold loads of handkercblefs
to Judge Murphy. Days gone by CEief
Crowley used TO forget his handkerchief
every other day. Both were good custom
ers of mine. Many fellow that's been
arrested has bought a handkerchief from
me as ne passed 10 prison and later may be
to the galiows.
some funny experiences? You bet L
nave. Inc funniest and awfullest l ever
mao was the day six years ago that man
went INTO saloon down here and cut his
throat. de asked for glass of beer, and