The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-07-16
STREET TAXING.
ODD BUSINESS CONDUCTED
UPON AN EXTENSIVE SCALE.
Home of the street Fakirs in the
Metropolis Controlled by Boss
Fakirs - Tho Wares
and Profits.
Nm STREET &c tbc I

the street fakir, and, accord
~ ing to the men engaged in
(. the business themselves,
Thomas p. Barrett, long since dead,
was the father of the craft He it
vas, some thirty years ago, who first
set up rs "boss fukir." Such is the
familiar name applied to the pro
prietors by the men of the push carts
The "boss fakirs, two or three of
whom practically control the business
in New York, describe themselves as
dealers in street novelties.
If one happens to be in the vicinity
of Ann street and Broadway any night
in the year and chances to turn in TO
inspect Theatre alley, he will find any
where from fifty to n hundred push
carts, bearing the label, Licensed
Nender. The majority Of them,
licenses and all, are part OF tho stock
in trade of the "boss fakirs." When
it becomes necessary to throw out II
greater number of men than there are
carts, during the holiday season or
before the Fourth Of July, for in
stance, the "boss fukirs" are able TO
hire additional carts, AMI licenses,
too, in Baxter street. The renting of
such property, 1t seems, is one of the
peculiar irregular industries OF the
city. The Baxter street Italians re-
ceive twenty-five cents day for the
rental of surplus carts and vendors
licenses.
While the carts are n necessary
article in the street taking, the goods
TO be sold are, of course, the all i'm
portant factors. Where do the "boss
fukiIs" get them? Whore don't they
get them? Sometimes they are selling
books, again it is leather goods, at
Christmas time toys and novelties, in
July firecrackcrs, bombs, fireworks
and the like
AS rule the "boss fakir5" obtain
their wares at auction sales and sales
by the Public Administrator. Then
at the close of n season they will enter
some one of the large notion houses
or department store houses and
clean up the Job lots AMI sample lots.
This operation is tempered with
judgment. If tie goods are season
able they are at once placed on the
carts and sold If they are not adapted
for immediate uses they are carefully
assorted. The "boss fakir" is n keen
one, and never attempts to sell fire
crackers, straw hats and palm leaf
fans in January, nor will he put out
his china dolls, Noah's Arls, Christ
mas books aud papier macho Santa
Clauses in July. Then, too, in look
ing over his purchases lie may find
some choice goods-a dress pattern OF
silk, or n carton OF underwear, or
something of real value. These, the
chances are, he will sell to another
specialist III the city, man who fol
lows another old and systematic call.
ing-the dealer in pedlers' supplies
The 'street fakirs" who are en-
ployed by the "boss fakirs" are cor
rallied mainly in the Bowery lodging
houses. As general thing they do
not make any deposit for the goods.
They are consigned to them on trust.
and though 1t is undeniubly true that
many OF them are hard characters, it
IS rare occasion that they do not
turn up to render an account of then
sales. The "boss fakir" always counts
upon securing the return OF his orig
iunl outlay, and profit besides. This
profit no shares with the "strect
iakir" in equal parts, deducting, how
ever, twenty-five cents day for tho
use OF the push cart.
The profits ON street novelties vary
widely. Sometimes huckstcr nuke.
rs high rs $40 or S12 day Again
L., L
sometimes the "boss fakir" has to- al
vance small amount to carry his
salesman over the night If the re
turn has been considerable-S1 OF
S12-thc "strcet fnkir' sets abou
spending it in the Bowcry dives. liz
won't work again until reduced TO his
last cent-that is, ms rule.
There is still another branch OF the
"boss fakir's" business which ne JIM
trusts only to responsible men, who
follow u circus throughout tho cOuu.
try, attend conventions, country fairs
the trotting circuit, and large gather
ings, from u camp meeting TO q cen
tcnnInl celebration. The "boss fnkir. 81
for instance, may take it into his heal
TO run opposition to the "cindy
butcher i'm other words. tho mut
who has bought the privilege t. dis
pense pink lemonade. peanuts, OF
fashioned molasscs candy, popcorn
balls and the like at the circus. O.
course, tho fakirs can't sell inside On,
tent
The populnrizing OF % new toy o..
novelty is still another branch of On.