The Washington times., 1894-09-02
Jacob Marks, Of New York, Has Them
All in His Employ.
no REFERENCES REQUIRED
In His Selection Of Men He Trusts 20 His
Judgment Of Appearsnces-A Business Far
More Profitable Than the Public Has Any
Idea Of-Glassifcation Of ''Fakirs."


point, offered for sale almost every eoncsiv-
able article that could be construed into a
souvenir Of the National Capital or of the
great Knights 0: Pythias encampuient, which
has now passed into history.
These men, called ''fakirs'' By some, but
termed by others who know them better and
understand them more exactly, street
merchants, are a peculiarly energetic set Of
men, who, while apparently gifted with bus
one standard attainment-au unlimited gilt
of gab-and apparently Indifferent as to what
the public may say or think about them, are
extremely sensitive as 70 the proper name
under which their vocation should be placed.
"A 'fakir. said one Of the most intelligent
Of these men''-and reference 70 anv una
bridged dictionary viii prove thar be was
rights one Of a set of mOnkish mendi-
cants in India and neighbOring countries who
from religious motives practice or affect lives
Of severe Standardization 70 the extent even
of extreme ilthiness Of person Again, one OF
those fellows who stand on the street corner
or III buggy and dispOses Of medicine in
sealed packages, which are guaranteed 20
cure all manner OF diseases, bur which leave
the user of the nostrum in a worse condi-
tion that when he began to take it is q 'fakir.'
and still worse, the genuine simon-purs
fakir' is thief or a bIackleg, who should
not be permitted by the police authorities 70
stop an hour in any town where ne may chance
10 alight."
That the men who have been selling souve-
mir goods Of various sorts in the streets OF
Washington during the past week do not be-
long TO either Of these classes has been patent
70 any one who has observed the energetic
fellows as they disposed Of their various arti-
cles. and that they we-e not viOlatOrs Of law
Is evidenced by the fact that they were in no
TrrN
ties.
There were fully 800 Of these street mer-
chants" transacting business here during tbs
period of the h of P. eneampment, and IL i5
estimated that their profits averaged at least
S25 per man. This would mean that these
By some much-despised individuals were en-
abled by means OF their own energy 10 take
out of Washington when they left last night
for all Of them have departed and most OF
them are well on their way 20 Pittsburg 70
attend the annual reunion Of the Grand Army
OF the Eepubhc-nearly IS, 900.
KING JACOB MARKS.
An interesting fact connected with the
street business is that the merchants are con-
trolled by a king Jacob Marks, whose
headquarters are at No. A Ann street. New
York city. Mr.. Marks brought 20 Washing
ton a staff Of forty men. who have Travelled
with him for many years and who have at
which have been held IN the United States
during the past twenty years.
Mr.. Marks staff comprises some Of the most
experienced men in the business, VINO from
long trial have been found 10 be absolutely
honest and thoroughly reliable. He pays the
railway fares of this star 70 every city II
which he desires TO DO business and settles
their hotel bills while there. He also takes
with him, or rather has shipped in advance OF
his arrival. large stock OF every sort OF
goods that is likely to be IN demand during
the period Of the fair or other attraction which
he desires to visit. There are number u
lines of souvenir goods that the Arm Of which
Mr.. Marks is a member controls, while many
of their goods are imported IRON Germany
and France, the cheap articles coming from
, the former country and the fne goods IRON
the latter.
While Mr. Marks has sucn q large regular
staff he does not limi. its membership 10
forty. and any one who has an adapta0iity
for the vocation can, If his appearance indl-
Gates honesty ana energy. secure q position
with him. The applicant Is not asked 70 pro-
duce letters Of recommendation. 1Ir. Marks
takes quick view Of the man and if the in
preston created is favorable the party Is at
once furnished with q stock Of goods and
told TO 90 ahead. The articles are charged az
a certain price and the street merchant has
all the profit he can make over that The.
amount of profit which be will derive depends
I
To be successful and 10 secure the highest
profits the street merchant must be a good
Judge of human nature. He must also be
able to explain the merits Of his goods and
10 tell 70 a certainty the customer who IS
willing to give a quarter OF a dollar for an
article, the like OF which he has sold to some
I one else for nickel.
GENEALoGV or THE MONARCH.
Although the king invests largely in all
sorts OF medals, etc, which are made for
/ special occasions. and street sales may be
comparatively dull, experience has taught
/ him that that is no cause for dependency, as
( there is really a great demand for such goods
I even after visitors have started on their re-
/ turn home. So one or more street merchants
/ are assigned to accompany each train with 3
/ liberal supply CT these goods, and his face 10
I 4 welcome one TO hundreds OF persons who
/ have forgotten or neglected TO provide a keep
/ sake of this sort for the folks at home. Thus
/ it happens that almost before he Is aware OF
/ il the stock, which under other circumstances
| would have proven to be dead. Is turned
/ into cash, and the shrewd merchant is hand
I sOmely remunerated.
King Marks is a man who, as he saws OF
| himself, has been successful in everything he
/ has undertaken. He Is about thirtv-eighs
| years Of age. is about five feet nine inches
/ tall. and will weigh probably about 160
/ pOUuUS. lie dresses PLAINLY OUT letaLty, LltE6
I being no attempt at ostentatIOn IN his make
I up. His face is clean shaven. except that he
wears heavy mustache. which is jet black.
Mr.. Marks Is a native of England and WAS
/ brought by his parents to New York when
child three years Old. At the age OF eleven
I years he started into business as Il newsbOy,
! and after following that vocation for about
six years became driver of mules on the
Erie Canal. He spent year or more in the
latter line. and in that time acquired a great
/ command of language, which he says has
served him in good stead ever since By tho
time he had reached the age of eighteen he
had saved uD : 100 and he determined TO go
/ into business for himself Il WAS at the tim9
of the Washington centennial exercises in
I New York. and the dime saving banks were
lust coming into netice. Marks saw at on.
that thev were bound to take With the publ g.
and he invested his entire CAPITAL in them He
went on the street and in due time sold out at
a profit of 5000
He then determined to be an employer Of
street merchants and when the next biz
demonstration of a week took place, which
was in Pittsburg. he had 100 men under him.
He was at Chicago from the Gay OF the d sdi-
cation of the buildings to the close of the ex-
position and during that period his staff
averaged 200 men in constant employment,
while his sales avera ;eu Ilt m $500 TO $1,000
per day. Marks sent two en- to do the Ant
werp exposition. bu the attendance there was
so small that the sales did not justify their re-